Dock Creek Controversy

Date Range

1739 – 1739

Title

Dock Creek Controversy

What occurred

Local tanneries and other businesses in what is now Southeast Center City were dumping waste into Dock Creek, polluting its waters. As a result, the creek smelled terrible, surrounding property values dropped, disease spread and firefighting was inhibited. People living in the neighborhood, including Benjamin Franklin, petitioned the Pennsylvania Assembly to forbid businesses from dumping in the creek. This lead to an early victory for public rights over private ones, but it proved to be symbolic. Business continued to dump waste in the creek until it was eventually covered over. Today, what used to be Dock Creek is now a part of the Philadelphia sewage system.

Location

Center City, Philadelphia, PA

Image Citation

Wikimedia

Student name(s)

Clara Iodice