Past Meetings

The Society's meeting on June 18th 2006 was another of our on-site Walkabouts:

A Walk Through Historic Port Kennedy

   Led by Mr. J. B. Post

Based on the Port Kennedy materials presented in the Winter 2006 issue of the Quarterly, we walked around this once thriving but now abandoned community along the Schuylkill River, adjacent to Valley Forge National Historic Park. We attempted to discern the location of buildings and streets, and the economic activities that once existed. Mill foundations, kiln locations, vanished and still existing houses were examined.

We then continued for a not too strenuous trek of the adjacent quarries, long out of use, with an emphasis on the location of now vanished buildings, and the rail spur that connected these quarries to the Reading Railroad’s main line flanking the Schuylkill River.

For some photos of our latest Port Kennedy Walkabout, click here.

If you would like to conduct your own walking tour of this historic but often overlooked area, here are the directions:

From the intersection of Routes 23 and 252: Take Rte. 23 East past the Washington Memorial Chapel and continue approximately ½ mile. Rte. 23 guides right and down a hill, with County Line Rd. intersecting on the right and Trooper Rd. on the left. Turn left onto Trooper Rd. and then almost immediately turn left again onto Station Rd. and continue to the circle at the old Port Kennedy Station. Park around the circle. Do not turn on to Cinder Lane — it is private.

From the junction of Routes 202 and 422: Take 422 North to the Rte. 23 West exit. Follow 23 West and continue about 400 yards part the entrance the Valley Forge National Historical Park to Trooper Rd. Bear right onto Trooper Rd. and then almost immediately turn left again onto Station Rd. and continue to the circle at the old Port Kennedy Station. Park around the circle. Do not turn on to Cinder Lane — it is private.

"Port Kennedy railroad station and hotel around 1915." Library of Congress.