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White Deer Hole Creek

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White Deer Hole Creek
Physical characteristics
MouthWest Branch Susquehanna River, Gregg Township, Union County
Length20.5 mi (33.0 km)

White Deer Hole Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River located in Clinton, Lycoming and Union counties in Pennsylvania, in the United States. White Deer Hole Creek is 20.5 miles (33.0 km) long and flows east. It has the smallest watershed of the major creeks in Lycoming County.

As of 2006, the creek and its watershed are relatively undeveloped, with nearly 72% of the watershed covered by forest and almost all of the rest given to agriculture. White Deer Hole Creek flows through only two unincorporated villages and a hamlet. The eastern end of the creek is the most developed, with both villages, the hamlet, and most of the farms located in the 7 mi (11 km) stretch west of the creek's mouth.

The western part of the creek is in the Tiadaghton State Forest and has very high water quality. This part of White Deer Hole Creek is the only major creek in Lycoming County classified as "Class A Wild Trout Waters", while the rest of the creek and its major tributary (Spring Creek) are stocked with trout for fishing. Historically, two paths (or trails) of the native indigenous peoples ran along parts of White Deer Hole Creek.

Name

There are two different etymologies given for White Deer Hole Creek's unusual name. According to Donehoo's A History of Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania, the Lenape name for the creek was Woap-achtu-woalhen (literally "white-deer digs a hole"). The English name is just a translation of this, meaning "where the white deer digs".[1] The earliest map reference to the creek (in 1755) lists its name as Opauchtooalin, while a 1759 map gives its name as both Opaghtanoten and its translation, "White Flint Creek". All of these names are seen as corruptions of Woap-achtu-woalhen, and by 1770 a map refers to the creek name as "White Deer hole" (sic).[1]

White Deer Hole Creek (much muddier) just downstream of Spring Creek, near Allenwood and the site of the mill that may have given it its name.

In 1787, Caleb Farley settled on White Deer Hole Creek with his four year old son John, and by 1789 built a mill on the creek. Meginness’ History of Lycoming County quotes John Farley's story (told in 1870, when he was 88) that White Deer Hole Creek got its unusual name when an early settler killed a rare white deer at a hole or pond near the creek, where the mill was built. Farley described the “hole” as "a large circular basin of low ground of some ten acres in extent that originally existed where my father built his mill. This basin was pretty high at its sides and lowered gradually towards its center, where there was about an acre of ground that was always dry and covered with bushes, but more or less surrounded at all seasons of the year by standing water a sort of pond. But after my father's mill and dam were built the water of the dam overflowed and covered the most of the hollow basin of ground." [2] The mill was located a short distance west of the mouth at the unincorporated village of Allenwood (then called Uniontown), now in Gregg Township, Union County.

"White Deer Hole Creek" is the only stream so named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System and on its maps of the United States as of 2006.[3] Although the whole creek (from source to mouth) is now referred to by this name, according to Wolfinger, in 1870 the name applied only to the section of creek from the confluence with Spring Creek east to its mouth. The main branch west of Spring Creek was then called "South Creek".[4] In 1892, Meginnes also called this part of the main branch "South Creek", but this name for the creek has disappeared as of 2006. However, there is still a "South Creek Road" in Gregg Township, which runs on the right bank of the creek from near the mouth of Spring Creek west to the county line.[5]

White Deer Hole Creek has also given its name to the valley it flows through, which is about 17 mi (27 km) long and 8 mi (13 km) across at its widest. Meginness reports that many in 1892 referred to the valley just as 'White Deer valley' (dropping the word 'Hole') and this usage is common as of 2006. Some confusion as to the name of the creek and valley arises since White Deer Creek is the next creek south of White Deer Hole Creek (they are on opposite sides of South White Deer Ridge.) The Lenape name for White Deer Creek was Woap'-achtu-hanne (translated as "white-deer stream").[1]

Geography

Map showing White Deer Hole Creek, its tributaries, and watershed

As the crow flies, Lycoming County is about 100 mi (160 km) northwest of Philadelphia and about 165 mi (265 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh. The source of White Deer Hole Creek is located at 41° 05' 19" North, 77° 11' 38" West[3][6] in Crawford Township in extreme eastern Clinton County. The source and the western half of the creek are located in the Tiadaghton State Forest. The creek flows east and soon crosses the Lycoming County line into Limestone Township. After a short distance it flows into Washington Township, where it curves in a more northerly direction and eventually passes through the village of Elimsport. More of the creek is found in Washington Township than any other township.

White Deer Hole Creek then flows into Gregg Township in Union County. Its course meanders more the further east it flows. It receives its only major tributary, Spring Creek, in Gregg Township, 3.6 mi (5.8 km) west of its mouth. Spring Creek rises north of Elimsport in Washington Township and flows generally east-southeast, passing through Pennsylvania State Game Lands No. 252 and just south of the grounds of the Federal Correctional Institute, Allenwood.

There are at least fifteen tributaries on the south side of White Deer Hole Creek (the creek's right bank): all are smaller streams (most unnamed) flowing down the side of South White Deer Ridge, including the streams in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Gaps of the ridge. There are only about one third as many tributaries on the north side (the left bank), including Spring Creek. [5] [7]

After receiving Spring Creek, White Deer Hole Creek flows just south of the hamlet of Spring Garden, then south of the village of Allenwood, where it has its confluence with the West Branch Susquehanna River at 41° 06' 02" North, 76° 53' 22" West. [3] [8] The direct distance between the source and mouth is only about 16 mi (26 km).[9] U.S. Route 15 runs north-south here along the West Branch Susquehanna River and crosses White Deer Hole Creek just before it enters the river. The Union County Industrial Railroad also crosses the creek, between the highway and the river. Pennsylvania Route 44 runs east-west roughly parallel to the creek between Elimsport and Allenwood. Township roads run along the eastern two-thirds of the creek, and smaller more primitive roads follow it nearly to its source.

White Deer Hole Creek, very near its mouth, looking west from U.S. Route 15 in Gregg Township

It is 17.7 mi (28.4 km) from the mouth of White Deer Hole Creek along the West Branch Susquehanna River to its confluence with the Susquehanna River at Northumberland, Pennsylvania. [10]

The elevation at the source of White Deer Hole Creek is 2180 ft (664 m), while the mouth is at an elevation of 445 ft (136 m). The difference in elevation (1735 ft or 528 m) divided by the length of the creek of (20.5 mi or 33.0 km) gives the average drop in elevation per unit length of creek or relief ratio of 84.6 ft/mi (16.0 m/km ). The meander ratio is 1.14, so the creek's path is not entirely straight in its bed.[11]

For its entire length, White Deer Hole Creek runs along the north side of South White Deer Ridge, (an east-west ridge of the Appalachian Mountains). North White Deer Ridge and Bald Eagle Mountain form the northern edge of the creek valley.

White Deer Creek is the next major creek to the south. It flows along the south (other) side of South White Deer Ridge in Union County and is just 1.9 mi (3.0 km) south (as measured along the West Branch Susquehanna River).

The next major creek to the north is Muncy Creek, 10.22 mi (16.45 km) away as measured along the river, but on the opposite bank. The next creek to the north on the same bank is "Black Hole Creek", 4.0 mi (6.4 km) north (as measured along the river), on the north (other) side of Bald Eagle Mountain. It is fairly small (with a watershed of 21.1 mi² or 54.6 km²) and flows into the West Branch Susquehanna River at the borough of Montogmery.

Watershed

Map of the West Branch Susquehanna River (dark blue) and Major Streams in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. White Deer Hole Creek (purple) is the only major creek in Lycoming County south of the river, rising in Clinton County and entering the river in Union County.

The White Deer Hole Creek watershed is in Clinton (0.08%), Lycoming (4.40%), and Union (3.67%) Counties, with the percentage it accounts for of each county by area given in parentheses. It lies between the West Branch Susquehanna River (and several of its minor tributaries) to the north and east, and the White Deer Creek watershed to the south.

The White Deer Hole Creek watershed has a total population of 2,672 (as of 2000) and a total area of 67 mi² (174 km²). Of that area, 48 mi² (124 km²) are forested and 19 mi² (49 km²) are given to agricultural uses. By area, 1.1% of the watershed lies in Clinton County, 81.6% lies in Lycoming County, and 17.3% lies in Union County.[12] The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has designated the White Deer Hole Creek Watershed a high quality watershed. [13] Spring Creek is the only major tributary of White Deer Hole Creek, draining an area of 21.1 mi² (54.6 km²) and accounting for 31% of the total White Deer Hole Creek watershed. All other named tributaries are less than 5% of the total (unnamed tributaries are difficult to check).[10]

Pennsylvania receives the most acid rain of any state in the United States. Because White Deer Hole Creek is in a sandstone, limestone, and shale mountain region, it has a relatively low capacity to neutralize added acid. This makes it is especially vulnerable to increased acidification from acid rain, which poses a threat to the long term threat to the health of the plants and animals in the creek. [14]

Trout Fishing, etc.

White Deer Hole Creek has very high water quality. White Deer Hole Creek is designated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as "Class A Wild Trout Waters" stream for about half of its length, from the source downstream to the Township Road 384 (Gap Road) bridge. The unnamed tributary in the Fourth Gap of South White Deer Ridge is also designated as "Class A Wild Trout Waters", from its source to mouth.

According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Class A Wild Trout Waters are "streams which support a population of naturally produced trout of sufficient size and abundance to support a long-term and rewarding sport fishery".[15]

The unnamed tributary in the Fourth Gap of South White Deer Ridge is also rated "Class A Wild Trout Waters".

The rest of White Deer Hole Creek downstream from the bridge, as well as Spring Creek, have been designated as approved trout waters by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This means the waters will be stocked with trout and may be fished during trout season.[16]

There are several trails for hiking throughout the western part of the creek and its watershed. The Pennsylvania Mid State Trail runs just west of the source. As part of the Tiadaghton State Forest, many of these trails are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Some may be used for cross country skiing in winter. Camping with a permit is also possible.

History

Native American paths

The first recorded inhabitants of the Susquehanna River valley were the Susquehannocks, an Iroquoian speaking people. Their name meant "people of the muddy river" in Algonquin, but their name for themselves is unknown. The Susquehannocks were decimated by diseases (intoduced by European settlers) and warfare (with other Native Americans), so that by the early decades of the 18th century, they had largely died out, moved away, or been assimilated into other tribes. The lands of the West Branch Susquehanna River valley were then chiefly occupied by the Munsee (or Wolf) phratry of the Lenape (or Delaware), and were under the nominal control of the Five (later Six) Nations of the Iroquois. Two important paths of these native indigenous peoples ran along parts of White Deer Hole Creek.

The Great Island Path was a major trail that ran north along the Susquehanna River, from the Saponi village of Shamokin, fording the river at the modern location of Sunbury and then following the west bank of the West Branch Susquehanna River north until White Deer Hole valley. There the path turned west (at Allenwood) and followed White Deer Hole Creek until about the present location of Elimsport, where it headed northwest, crossing North White Deer Ridge and passing west through the Nippenose valley, then turning north and crossing Bald Eagle Mountain via McElhattan Creek and running along the south bank of the river to the Great Island (near present day city of Lock Haven). The stretch from the mouth of White Deer Hole Creek to the Nippenose valley is the approximate route of Pennsylvania Route 44 today. From the Great Island, the Great Shamokin Path continued further west to what are now the boroughs of Clearfield and finally Kittanning.[17]

Culbertson's Path was the second major trail, which followed White Deer Hole Creek west from Allenwood, then left it to follow Spring Creek north, crossing Bald Eagle Mountain and following Mosquito Run to the river at the current borough of Duboistown. Here it crossed the river to "French Margaret's Town" (part of where modern day Williamsport is) before joining the major Sheshequin path, which lead north up Lycoming Creek towards the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, modern New York, and the Iroquois there. These trails were only wide enough for one person, but the early inhabitants of White Deer Hole valley broadened the latter trail to DuBoistown to take grain to Culbertson's mill on Mosquito Run (leading them to call it "Culbertson's path").[17]

White Deer Hole Creek near the First Gap in South White Deer Ridge. There are now hiking trails along parts of the creek.

Lycoming County boundaries

When Lycoming County was organized on April 13, 1795, the bill passed by the Pennsylvania legislature defined the new county's boundaries using White Deer Hole Creek in the south, stating:

That all that part of Northumberland County lying northwestward of a line drawn from the Mifflin County line on the summit of Nittany Mountain; thence running along the top or highest ridge of said mountain, to where White Deer Hole creek run, through the same; and from thence by a direct line crossing the West Branch of Susquehanna, at the mouth of Black Hole creek to the end of Muncy Hills; thence along the top of Muncy Hills and the Bald Mountain to the Luzerne County line, shall be, and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be henceforth called and known by the name of Lycoming County. [emphasis added][2]

The borders of the county have changed considerably since. Until 1861, what is now Gregg Township in Union County was a part of Brady Township in Lycoming County. Thus until the start of the American Civil War, almost the entire length of White Deer Hole Creek and 98.9% of its watershed were part of Lycoming County.

Early inhabitants

The only known Native American inhabitant of the valley was named "Cochnehaw" and lived near the mouth of White Deer Hole Creek. The first settlers came to the valley around 1769 or 1770 and by 1778 there were 146 landowners on the township tax rolls (although many of them are thought to have resided elsewhere.)

During the American Revolutionary War, the "Big Runaway" occurred in 1778 and 1779. Throughout the West Branch Susquehanna valley, settlers fled from feared and actual attacks by the British and their Native American allies. Settlers from White Deer Hole valley fled south to Fort Augusta, near what is now Sunbury. Homes and fields were abandoned, with livestock driven along and some few possessions floated on rafts on the river. The empty houses and barns were burnt by the enemy.

Recovery seems to have been slow. In 1787 there were only fourteen families in the whole valley. Five of the families lived on the river's banks, five more on the creek between the mouth of Spring Creek and the river, two families lived on Spring Creek, and the remaining two on White Deer Hole Creek west of Spring Creek. Six of these families left the area not long after 1787.[4]

The first grist mill was built on the creek in 1791 or 1792, with four more mills eventually being built (in 1798, 1815, 1817, and 1842). The land was cleared of timber and sawmills were built, but these were small scale operations.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Donehoo, Dr. George P. (1999). A History of the Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania (PDF) (Second Reprint Edition ed.). Lewisburg, Pennsylvania: Wennawoods Publishing. p. 290. ISBN 1-889037-11-7. Retrieved 2006-11-09. ISBN refers to a 1999 reprint edition, URL is for the Susquehanna River Basin Commission's web page of Native American Place names, quoting and citing the book {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c Meginness, John Franklin. "Chapter XXXIX. Washington, Clinton, Armstrong, and Brady [Townships].". History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania: including its aboriginal history; the colonial and revolutionary periods; early settlement and subsequent growth; organization and civil administration; the legal and medical professions; internal improvement; past and present history of Williamsport; manufacturing and lumber interests; religious, educational, and social development; geology and agriculture; military record; sketches of boroughs, townships, and villages; portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, etc. etc." (1st Edition ed.). Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co. ISBN 0-78840-428-8. Retrieved 2006-03-21. (Note: ISBN refers to Heritage Books July 1996 reprint. URL is to scan of 1892 version with some OCR typos). {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey (August 2, 1979). "Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: White Deer Hole Creek". Retrieved 2006-06-14. {{cite web}}: Check |first= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Wolfinger, J.F. (September 2, 1870). "White Deer Hole Valley". Lycoming Gazette and West Branch Bulletin. p. 4. Retrieved 2006-06-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b Pennsylvnia Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. "2005 General Highway Map of Union and Snyder Counties (Note: shows White Deer Hole Creek and almost all streams feeding it)" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-03-22.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ USGS. "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map, Carroll Quad". www.topozone.com. Retrieved 2006-06-16.
  7. ^ Pennsylvnia Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. "2005 General Highway Map of Lycoming County (Note: shows White Deer Hole Creek and almost all streams feeding it)" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-03-21.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ USGS. "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map, Allenwood Quad". www.topozone.com. Retrieved 2006-03-21.
  9. ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Retrieved 2006-03-21.
  10. ^ a b Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (2001). Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF). Prepared in Cooperation with the United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey. Retrieved 2006-03-28. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Shaw, Lewis C. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams Part II (Water Resources Bulletin No. 16). Prepared in Cooperation with the United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey (1st Edition ed.). Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Resources (no ISBN). {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Chesapeake Bay Program: Watershed Profiles: The White Deer Hole Creek - At Allenwood Watershed". Chesapeake Bay Program Office, 10 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403. Retrieved 2006-03-21.
  13. ^ Lycoming County Planning Commission (2001). Water Supply Plan (PDF). p. 18. Retrieved 2006-03-21. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. "Acid Precipitation". Retrieved 2006-09-11.
  15. ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. "Map of Lycoming County Fishing and Boating Opportunities". Retrieved 2006-03-22.
  16. ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. "Map of Union County Fishing and Boating Opportunities". Retrieved 2006-03-22.
  17. ^ a b Wallace, Paul A.W. (1987). Indian Paths of Pennsylvania (Fourth Printing ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. pp. pp. 42, 63–64. ISBN 0-89271-090-X. (Note: ISBN refers to 1998 impression.) {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
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