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Nearly four decades before William Penn arrived in what is now Pennsylvania, a navigational error brought the first European settlers to what is now Philadelphia’s Fox Chase community.
The Swedish settlers missed the entrance to the Christina River in Delaware in 1645 and went up the Delaware River, eventually landing along Pennypack Creek. There they built a fort and some cabins that became the foundation of Fox Chase as it’s known today.
The fort eventually became the Ury House, what was once the oldest house in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, Ury House was torn down in 1973.
These days, Fox Chase in Philadelphia’s Northeast section has a strong legacy of community service. That legacy is embodied and preserved in places like the Ryerss Museum and Library which sits on top of a hill at 7370 Central Ave. Inside is a surprising collection of antique artifacts and artwork, a lending library and a glimpse into life in the 19th century.
Built in 1859, the museum was once the summer home of the Ryerss family, whose Quaker ancestors came to Pennsylvania with William Penn. The family became wealthy through ownership of a railroad and banks. They were fascinated with China, and made many trips there and purchased artworks, which are now housed in a gallery at the museum.
Another gallery presents American and European art along with artifacts and souvenirs from the 1876 Centennial – held in Philadelphia to celebrate the nation’s 100th birthday – and many of the items are housed in cabinets from the exhibition.
The Ryerss family was enamored of its pets, and paintings of the dogs and horses adorn the walls throughout the museum. The family helped establish the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Philadelphia, and there’s even a pet cemetery on the grounds.
A hidden gem even for neighbors
The Ryerss family deeded the property to the city of Philadelphia in 1905, which now operates the facility as a museum that’s open to the public Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is free.
There’s a book sale on the first Saturday of the month. Access to the library is also free, although this library is independent from Philadelphia’s Free Library System. You can get a paper library card at no charge. There are storytelling programs for children and activities such as scavenger hunts.
“It’s always been a place where people from the neighborhood can come in and borrow books, or volunteer with our programs, or enjoy the museum and come to our events,” said Martha Moffat, site manager at the Ryerss Museum.
“Nearby residents who visit are often surprised on their first visit. They’ll say ‘I’ve lived here for 20 years’ and they’ve never come in,” Moffat said. “They come in and are amazed that this is here and they haven’t come here before. They sign up, they become a library member, they come to our events, I guess [we’re] hidden gems even for our neighborhood to a certain extent.”
Less than a mile down the road is Northeast Lions Park at 7964 Oxford Ave. It’s another civic project that’s a point of pride in the neighborhood.
“They probably did it about 31 years ago and they maintain it,” said Kate Friend, president of the Fox Chase Civic Association. “The Rockledge/ Fox Business Association will do, like, two events a year. They’ll do an art in the park in May and then during the holidays, they’ll do the tree lighting. So that brings people together.”
Trails, parks and more
In addition to the history, Fox Chase offers nature lovers lots of options to enjoy the great outdoors, including Pennypack Park and Pennypack Trail.
Pennypack Trail was built on the abandoned Fox Chase-Newtown SEPTA rail line. It is a 6.2 mile crushed stone path along a corridor beginning at Rockledge Park (201 Rockledge Ave., Rockledge, PA) and continuing north to the Bucks-Montgomery border at County Line Road.
Pennypack Park was being named after the Lenni Lenape word for slow-moving water. It stretches nine miles, following Pennypack Creek southeast as it runs from Montgomery County to the Delaware River.
The park covers more than 1,600 acres of woodlands, meadows, wetlands and fields.The landscape includes miles of paved and unpaved trails that are great for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding.
The Pennypack Environmental Center at 8600A Verree Rd. is also accessible via a short detour from the main paved trail in Pennypack Park. The center resides on the ancestral land of the Lenape people, and was originally dedicated as a bird sanctuary in 1958. Today, it hosts an outdoor amphitheater, exhibits, a reference library and campfire and picnic areas.
Nearby restaurants offer a respite from a day of hiking.
John’s Sushi House at 7980 Oxford Ave offers not only raw fish but Japanese cuisine such as chicken teriyaki and grilled chicken. Long-time residents said it’s popular with a younger crowd. It occupies a building built in 1683, making it the oldest existing building in Fox Chase.
Le Souk Market at 7952 Oxford Ave. is operated by a Palestinian and Algerian couple, and offers Middle Eastern sweets and a signature spice blend. There’s also a smorgasbord of dried fruits, candies, ice cream, crepes, and thick, strong Turkish Coffee (so strong you could probably start a jet engine with it).
The couple also own Bisho’s, a Mediterranean restaurant at 7950 Oxford Ave.
Long-time restaurants frequently mentioned by residents include Joseph’s Pizza Parlor at 7947 Oxford Ave. They offer thin crust pizza and an excellent rigatoni with olive oil instead of marinara sauce.
Riekers Prime Meats at 7979 Oxford Ave. features German style meats and dishes for takeout, such as sausages, hot dogs and an excellent German potato salad (made with vinegar, not mayonnaise).
Just outside of Fox Chase in Rockledge, the Danish Bakery at 107 Huntingdon Pike has a great reputation for sweet treats, including a terrific chocolate-vanilla cake. Shenks Bakery at 7960 Verree Rd. also gets a big thumbs up.
