THE EVENING BULLETIN, PHILAD

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Wissinoming Duck, Grape, or Scare

Please give history of Wissinom- meaning "place of wild grapes," ing and how it was named?(L. P. others say it comes from "Wischanemunk," the "place where we W.) Old northeast district on the were frightened." Probably both Delaware River, between Brides- are wrong. The original Indian burg and Tacony, was first settled name for the north branch of i by the Swedes (Peter Cock, et al.) Frankford Creek was, spelled vanI in 1675. In later years section be- j ously, "Quessinawomink," "Quissinomink," or "Kwisslnomink," posI came quite a popular summer re- sibly meaning Duck Creek, and protreat for Philadelphians. By the I nounced "Wissinoming" in English; 19th century a settlement devel- phonetic spelling was adopted. WisI oped around the railroad station sinoming Creek rose near the old there which rapidly grew into a Wheat-Sheaf Tavern, on the BusBusresidential community and promot- I tleton and Wheat-Sheaf turnpike, ed the building of fine churches and I and flowed southeast. schools. The locomotive pioneer Matthias W. Baldwin (1795-1866) I applied the name Wissinoming to his country seat, opposite the Wissinoming railroad station, about the year 1853. Close neighbors of the Baidwins were the Castor and Lardner familiees. The origin of the Indian name, Wissinoming, is somewhat in doubt. Some historians I claim it is from "Wisachgamen," I