Rock Creek (Monocacy River tributary) explained

Rock Creek (Monocacy River tributary) should not be confused with Rock Creek (Potomac River).

Rock Creek
Map:Gettysburg Day2 Plan.png
Map Size:250
Pushpin Map Size:250
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type3:Region
Subdivision Name3:Adams County
Subdivision Type4:Townships
Subdivision Name4:West: Cumberland, East: Mount Joy & Straban
Subdivision Type5:Cities
Subdivision Name5:Gettysburg, PA, Barlow, PA
Source1:Susquehanna drainage divide
Mouth:Monocacy River
Basin Size:65sqmi[1]
Tributaries Left:coordinates shown right-justified
Tributaries Right:coordinates shown left-justified
Custom Label:Namesakes

Rock Creek is an 18.9adj=midNaNadj=mid tributary of the Monocacy River in south-central Pennsylvania and serves as the border between Cumberland and Mount Joy townships. Rock Creek was used by the Underground Railroad (at McAllister's Mill, "slaves would slosh through the water to throw off the tracking dogs that were pursuing them")[2] and flows near several Gettysburg Battlefield sites, including Culp's Hill, the Benner Hill artillery location, and Barlow Knoll.

Rock Creek intersections, north-to-south
IntersectionLocation/DescriptionCoordinates
SourcesOn drainage divide with Conewago Creek


39.9215°N -77.1891°W[3]



Leedy Rd39.8987°N -77.19°W
39.894°N -77.1945°W
Keller Rd39.8884°N -77.1993°W
BranchCrosses US 15 at milepost 13.2 north of Hunterstown Rd bridgealign=right 39.8704°N -77.2138°W
BranchExtends beyond Shriver's Corner Road (at Goldenville Rd) to just beyond Rentzel Rd: 39.9119°N -77.1955°Walign=left 39.8647°N -77.2185°W
Cumberland/Straban township border39.8567°N -77.2233°W
Survey lineBorough line
"Site 59" on creek in Cumberland and Straban townships "intended for flood control".http://www.adamscounty.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=QIQ6Hv1Uxdc%3D&tabid=154&mid=516
Blocher's RunFlow from Marsh Creek (west) & Conewago Creek (north) triple pt on Oak Ridge:39.8588°N -77.2448°W
| align=left |39.8477°N -77.2258°W|-| | Harrisburg Road site of former 1846 covered bridge built by Joseph Clapsaddle[4] near Barlow Knoll| align=center|39.8447°N -77.2228°W|-| Run| drainage from the east| align=right||-| Run| Drainage along former site of Alm's house from Gettysburg College's Quarry Lake & Oak Ridge triple point (with Willoughby/Pitzer Runs)| align=left|39.8381°N -77.2214°W|-| Stevens Creek[5] | | align=left|39.8369°N -77.2215°W|-| Island| Depicted on 1916 Gettysburg National Military Park map[6] ||-| Run| (Depicted on battlefield map at right)| |-| Railroad| Early's Confederates burned the trestle on June 27, 1863 https://web.archive.org/web/20110901180654/http://voicesofgettysburg.com/sarah/(rebuilt days later & in 1912)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mrklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6469,5588916&dq=gettysburg-and-petersburg+turnpike&hl=en||-| US 30| 1807 3-arch https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wOIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1QAGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4006,2703629&dq=covered-bridge+gettysburg&hl=en stone bridge of 60feet,[7] 1853 covered bridge,[4] 1919 Lincoln Highway bridge,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X9slAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6351,4283932&dq=slate-belt-railroad&hl=en replacement http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/transportationfundingcrisis/pdf/District%208-0.pdf| align=center|39.8483°N -77.2197°W|-| PA 116| Site of former 1853 90-foot covered bridge built by John Finly[4] and 1932 concrete bridge.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z4olAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s_IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5690,2442021&dq=covered-bridge+gettysburg&hl=enhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9qclAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DvMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7133,5236709&dq=covered-bridge+gettysburg&hl=en| align=center|39.8308°N -77.2178°W|-| Survey line| Borough line||-| Winebrenner Run| https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9a4lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RvUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7176,4901761&dq=winebrenner-run+gettysburg&hl=enhttps://books.google.com/books?id=ufawhIVUg0MC&dq=%22Winebrenner%27s+Run%22+gettysburg&pg=PA147| align=center|39.8296°N -77.2179°W|-| Rock Creek Ravine| Location noted in several battle records| align=center|39.8264°N -77.2176°W|-| Jones Bridge Run?| Flows north of Culp's Hill to confluence just upstream of island| align=left|39.8221°N -77.2175°W|-| Survey line| 1893 Warren survey line for Gettysburg Battlefield crossed creek http://www.gdg.org/Research/Authored%20Items/BCRReports/1893.html||-| Benner Run| Flows southeast of Benner's Hill artillery location ("Ladys Run" in 1886)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bFQmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JgAGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3283,5222365&dq=gettysburg+1886+cavalry&hl=en | align=center|39.8196°N -77.214°W|-| Ford| between Spangler Spring and farm (Z. Tawney during the battle)||-| Spangler Spring Run| Drainage southward from Stevens Knoll| align=left|39.8141°N -77.2151°W|-| Guinn Runhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HpEjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eKMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1396,3411367&dq=groundbreaking+cyclorama+gettysburg&hl=en|| align=left|39.8108°N -77.2144°W|-| | Former site of McAllister's Mill dam (destroyed by 1870 flood)http://civilwartalk.com/forums/showthread.php?172873-Mill-Pond-at-Culps-Hill...Importan...||-| Run| (Depicted on battlefield map at right)| |-| Ford| 1889 road downstream of McAllister's Millhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CNk9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=YDcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2006,1299655&dq=mcallister's-mill+gettysburg&hl=en| |-| Baltimore Pike| 1802 turnpike bridge[8] (north of PA 97 terminus)| align=center|39.805°N -77.2114°W|-| Run| Flows under Baltimore Pike| align=right|39.8026°N -77.2108°W|-| Run|| align=right|39.7987°N -77.2079°W|-| Run|| align=right|39.794°N -77.2093°W|-| US 15| Near site of Battle of Gettysburg field hospital at George Bushman Farm:39.7908°N -77.215°W||-| White Run| Drainage from Lake Heritage, Pennsylvania| align=right|39.7847°N -77.2056°W|-| Run| Drainage from Weikert Hill and Round Top, Pennsylvania| align=left |39.7812°N -77.2117°W|-| Wright Avenue Run| from Big Round Top| |-| Sachs Road| 1891 bridge[9] | align=center|39.7825°N -89.387°W|-| Little's Run| "Two Taverns Run" in 1901 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZekxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bOUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2713,2499723&dq=horner's-mill&hl=en when bridge was built at Little's Tavern | align=right|39.7793°N -77.2126°W|-| Soloman Road| 1895 steel Burr arch bridgehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zf0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jAAGAAAAIBAJ&dq=ellery%20ingham%20gettysburg&pg=2341%2C6709815 "Lott's Bridge"https://www.google.com/archivesearch?q=%22Lott%27s+Bridge%22&scoring=a at "Lott's fording"[10] & 1977[11] ("Lott's Bridge") near Pine Bank Cemetery| align=center|39.7723°N -89.532°W|-| Run| | align=left|39.7716°N -77.212°W|-| Rock Creek Ford| Former ford just upstream of bend in creek with overhanging cliff| align=center|39.7715°N -77.2191°W|-| Distributary| Former headpoint of millrace| align=right|39.7583°N -77.2254°W|-| Dam ruins| Former 1798 Black's/Horner's Mill dam to provide head for millrace (rebuilt 1937)[12] | align=center|39.7715°N -77.2191°W|-| Plum Run| Named "Rock" Run in 1821[13] | align=left||-| PA 134| Taneytown Rd at Barlow: 1841 covered bridge,,[14] 1923 & 1989 concrete bridges| align=center|39.7567°N -77.2314°W|-| Run| Flow from southwest of Big Round Top | align=left|39.7544°N -77.2326°W|-| Run| | align=left|39.7542°N -77.2328°W|-| Cromer's Ford| Former ford for Chapel Road route south to Taneytown Rd[12] (horse team, wagon, & driver swept away in 1875)[15] In 1902, a new bridge was built over the Tiber on Chambersburg Street.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7KglAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3vIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6593%2C705385

See also

Notes and References

  1. Watershed Alliance of Adams County. Gettysburg, PA. "Watershed Profile: Rock Creek Watershed." Accessed 2010-08-21.
  2. Book: Nasby, Dolly . 2005 . Gettysburg . Google Books . 0-7385-3651-2 . Arcadia Publishing . 2011-03-11 . McAllister's Old Grist Mill … housed an Underground Railroad hideout..
  3. Web site: The National Map . NHD Viewer . . . 2011-07-21.
  4. News: March 22, 1872 . Local History: The Wooden Bridges Built by Adams County: Chapter IV . . Gettysburg Compiler . 2 (col 7) . 2011-04-26 . 1841.--Contract with John Camp, for a covered bridge of two spans of 60 feet each, across Rock creek, at Horner's mill, on the Taneytown road--dated January 4, 1841; price $2,000. Commissioners, Daniel Diehl, Joseph J. Kuhn and William Douglass. This bridge was swept away by a flood about a year ago, and has since been replaced by another of the same character, on foundations several feet higher..
  5. Book: McPherson, James M . James M. McPherson . Atlas of the Civil War. Atlas of the Civil War .
  6. John T. Palmer Co . . 1916 . tbd .
  7. News: March 15, 1872 . Gettysburg Compiler . Local History: The Wooden Bridges Built by Adams County, Chapter III . Adams County Historical Society "Bridges" file.
  8. News: November 15, 1802 . Adams Sentinel . Commissioners Office . Adams County Historical Society "Bridges" file.
  9. News: August 21, 1891 . Court Proceedings . Google News Archive . New Oxford Item . 2011-09-11 . The report of viewers to view bridge site over Rock creek at the place where the public highway leading from the Gettysburg and Taneytown road to the Baltimore pike, crosses said creek on the line of the townships of Cumberland and Mountjoy, was confirmed nisi. The report was favorable to a bridge.. (column 4)
  10. News: April 30, 1895 . To Bridge Builders . Google News Archive . Gettysburg Compiler . 2011-09-11.
  11. News: November 16, 1976 . County Plans New Rock Creek Bridge . Google News Archive . . 2011-09-11.
  12. Book: Geiselman (''[[née]]'' Plank), John Henry . Cleveland, Linda K . Reflections . Preface: Sanders, Audrey J . 2008-03-19 . 1996 . Brentwood Christian Press. Columbus GA . 26–7 . in the spring of 1923 they tore down the old covered bridge [and] erected a temporary bridge, up the creek… Mrs Heintzelman was in the [former miller] house busy baking. …carried her up to the…store… the cat was on the sewing machine and the dog on the table. …the oven door open and now the pies were floating around in the kitchen. … The flooding…broke up the temporary bridge. …formed a dam [into] the new bridge. construction
  13. W. Wagner . 1821 . Map of York & Adams Counties . D. Small . 2011-05-28.
  14. News: April 4, 1923 . Will Ask For Two County Bridges . Google News Archive . Gettysburg Times . Times and News Publishing Company . 2011-04-28 . The present structure at Barlow is a girder bridge of two fifty-five foot spans. It was built more than 70 years ago, according to the Commissioners. At one time 52 years ago, the structure was washed away from its moorings and carried on a much-swollen Rock Creek for a distance of half a mile. It was brought back; a few additions were made and only slight repairs have been made since that time. The bridge now has a roadway 16 feet wide. This is to be increased to 20 feet and all abutments and piles are to be reinforced with concrete.
  15. News: January 5, 1946 . Half Of Longest Bridge In County Collapses As Ice Breaks Pole Props . Gettysburg Compiler . The breakup of ice on the creek had carried away 10 telephone pole props the highway department had used to bolster the 96 foot section. ... Twenty or more years ago...a concrete pier was built in the middle of the span.
  16. News: Stewart . Jon . August 17, 2008 . Straddling the Mason-Dixon line . FrederickNewsPost.com webpage . . 2011-02-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711023851/http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/business/display.htm?StoryID=78914 . July 11, 2011 .
  17. at confluence point (Rock Creek west bank and Marsh Creek north bank) at water level & at base of 8 foot embankment)
  18. Book: 978-0-8078-2624-9. Gettysburg--the first day. Univ of North Carolina Press. 2001-07-01. 2012-01-19. 217, 238, 254. Harry Wilcox Pfanz.
  19. Book: 978-1-4343-8630-4. The Flying Dutchmen. Author House. 2008. 2012-01-19. 174. Andrew B. Suhrer.
  20. Book: 978-1-56837-275-4. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Reports (v. 1-12, serial 1-12). Broadfoot Publishing. 1995. 2012-01-19. 95. Janet Hewett.
  21. News: Barlow's Knoll Revisited. Military History Online. 2001. 2012-01-22. Blocher’s Knoll had a distinct disadvantage. Though the swollen Rock Creek itself was a barrier of sorts, the trees along that stream as well as Blocher’s Run would give cover to advancing soldiers. Barlow sought to balance that by sending four companies of the 17th Connecticut across the bridge to the Josiah Benner homestead on the far side of Rock Creek. They were there as skirmishers to blunt the advance of Gordon’s troops and alert their comrades.. Charles Teague.
  22. Perles . etal . September 2006 . Vegetation Classification and Mapping at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site . . Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/058 . 2011-06-07.
  23. Book: Balch . William Ralston . Butler . John M. . 1885 . The Battle of Gettysburg: An Historical Account . Google Books . . Lane S. Hart . 2011-06-09.
  24. Julius Bien & Co. Lith. . 1904 . Map of the Battle Field of Gettysburg . Gettysburg National Park Commission

    Nicholson, John P; Cope, Emmor; Hammond, Schuyler A

    . . 2011-06-07 . 2011-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721171905/http://www.simmonsgames.com/research/authors/PAGovtMisc/AtGettysburg/Map.html . dead .
  25. [Alexander Dobbin article] ]. . 2011-12-04 . Rock Creek Church…located one mile north of the future town of Gettysburg (located near the junction of Carlisle Street and the Mummasburg Road) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101128213951/http://thegettysburgexperience.com/past_issue_headlines/2010/january2010/alexanderdobbin.html . 2010-11-28 .
  26. News: December 22, 1975 . Out Of The Past: 150 ears [sic] ago |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a4YlAAAAIBAJ&pg=3089,785298&dq=black%27s-mill+rock-creek&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |access-date=2011-09-11}}| align=center|39.754°N -77.2326°W|-| Run| Upstream of site of former ford at Benner Rd| align=center|39.7456°N -77.2324°W|-| Run| Near former intersection of Taneytown Rd & Basehoar-Roth Rd, and upstream of former Swetland Rd ford| align=right|39.7401°N -77.219°W|-| Mason-Dixon Rd| ("Rock Creek Rd") site of 192-foot, single-span 1890 Burr arch bridge (east span collapsed January 5, 1946)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YI0lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vfIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1642%2C3714805[15] | align=center|39.73°N -90.819°W|-| Lousy Run| Near The Links| align=right|39.7234°N -77.2289°W|-| Mouth| Confluence with Marsh Creek ("The Points")[16] | align=left|39.7202°N -77.2177°W[17] |-|}

    Tributaries

    .
  27. News: June 27, 1899 . Public Sale of Real Estate . Google News Archives . Gettysburg Compiler . 2011-04-26.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rock Creek (Monocacy River tributary)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.