Copy of facts published on Facebook and previously in the Upper Merion Township e-Newsletter.
During the late 1800s, a treasure trove of Ice Age fossils was uncovered near limestone quarrying operations at Valley Forge. The fossil site, known as Bone Cave or Port Kennedy Cave, was formed approximately 750,000 years ago. Site excavations in the early 1870s and mid-1890s resulted in more than 1,200 fossils being collected, which had been placed in the collections
In 1922 and 1923, some residents and manufacturers wanted to divide the township into two separate townships using the voting districts as a guide. There were two districts-Upper and Lower. The Upper District consisted of King of Prussia, Port Kennedy, Abrams, and Red Hill. The Lower District contained the more populated areas of Gulph Mills, Swedeland, Swedesburg, Rebel Hill, and
Swedeland was originally founded as “Matsunk” by Swedish settlers in 1710. Situated along the Schuylkill River and the Matsunk Creek, it was originally occupied by about 19 homes and the Potts Farm, including Swedish families named Rambo and Yocum. The name Matsunk was changed to Swedeland sometime in the 19th century, but before 1876 when the Swedeland post office was
On April 7, 1950, a grocery store on DeKalb Pike near Gulph Road was destroyed by a fire. The other two volunteer fire companies located in the more populated southern and eastern sections of the township, Swedeland and Swedesburg, were prevented from a timely response because they were delayed from a freight train crossing DeKalb Pike at King Manor. This