History and Names
The Delaware Indians were the original settlers of the area around this river, which they called Ganshohawanee, meaning "rushing and roaring waters," or "Manaiunk". The river was later given the Dutch name Schuylkill by its European discoverer, Arendt Corssen of the Dutch West India Company. One explanation given for this name is that it translates to "hidden river" and refers to the river's confluence with the Delaware River at League Island, which was nearly hidden by dense vegetation. Another explanation is that the name properly translates to "hideout creek".
Thomas Paine tried in vain to interest the citizens in funding an iron bridge over this river, before abandoning "pontifical works" on account of the French Revolution.
Patriot papermaker Frederick Bicking owned a fishery on the river prior to the Revolution.
The restoration of the river was funded by money left for that purpose in Benjamin Franklin's will.
The river is also known to have been on fire more than once throughout history.
Read more about this topic: Schuylkill River
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“Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit.”
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“Consider the islands bearing the names of all the saints, bristling with forts like chestnut-burs, or Echinidæ, yet the police will not let a couple of Irishmen have a private sparring- match on one of them, as it is a government monopoly; all the great seaports are in a boxing attitude, and you must sail prudently between two tiers of stony knuckles before you come to feel the warmth of their breasts.”
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