Enjoy all the muddy, stinky, boggy, sticky wet places. They are special and need to be protected.
This virtual has it all geology, sacred site (please be respectful), history, nature, recreation, beauty and a smilie(s)
History: Lenni Lenape tribe inhabited a village close to the spring and designated the spring “Aquetong”, meaning “at the spring among the bushes”. William Penn acquired Aquetong Spring in the early 1680’s as part of his peaceful treaty with the Lenni Lenape (Treaty of Shackamaxon).
As of the early 1800’s, Aquetong Spring is known to have supplied enough water to turn two grist mills regularly throughout the year, and to have concurrently powered a paper mill, a fulling mill, two merchant mills, four saw mills, and an oil mill.
Around 1870, the 15-acre Aquetong Lake was created by constructing a dam at the east end of the property. This provided additional power for the local mills and a recreational area for the public. A fish hatchery was constructed at the base of the spring outfall,. Shad, brook trout, and terrapin turtles were raised in the hatchery, which was available for public viewing for 25 cents per person. (hatchery ponds were right below the falls.)
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission acquired the property from its last private owners in 1993.
The aging and dangerous dam was removed.
Geology:
The cold-water limestone spring, which flows at a rate of about 2,000 gallons per minute at approximately 53ºf, is known to be the largest of its kind in the area.
Formations underlying the Aquetong Watershed include the Stockton Formation, Stockton Conglomerate, Beekmantown Group, Brunswick Formation, Leithsville Formation, diabase, Brunswick Formation, and the Allentown Formation (Answer this for credit, Name of doctor who owned house on site, info near GZ). These formations are sandstone, sandstone conglomerate, dolomite limestone, diabase, and shale. Dolomite and limestone formations cause karst geology, which when combined with a geological fault, have resulted in the formation of Ingham Spring. (what’s that mean? This area was once under the sea, when Atlantic widened sediment filled up the shallows seas.) There was a lime kiln near Aquatong Rd. in one of several ponds up stream. stories are told of a body going in one pond and turning up here. Also tales of cave divers exploring here.
Nature:
The Aquatong Watershed Association has aided in removing invasive plants and put in plantings. The watershed here is is vital area to keep water pure. Aquetong Creek is classified as a high quality cold-water fishery
The park was saved from home development by Solebury Township and has paved and unpaved walking trails, even the remnants of an old mill and house.
To claim credit answer the question found mixed within the above description. That information can be obtained on the plaque near GZ.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.