Sinkholes are not new to the Conshohocken, Whitemarsh, and Plymouth area. Back on August 3rd of 1938, the Knode family had one open up in their back yard. The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin published photos of the sinkhole with the headline, “There was a rumble and the tree just disappeared.”

From the paper:

“Mrs. Clarence Knode and her daughter, Joyce, inspect spot in backyard of their home on Ridge pike, east of Conshohocken, where a full grown Maple tree vanished into the earth. Quarrymen said that years ago a subterranean river was discovered in the vicinity and declared it may have undermined part of the area.”

The location described as the location is likely in Whitemarsh Township.

Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center. Temple University Libraries. Philadelphia, PA. You can view the collection here.