USGS “PENNSYLVANIA”, Delaware-Pennsylvania
Posted by: 
seventhings
N 39° 47.677 W 075° 42.822
18S E 438896 N 4405205
USGS “PENNSYLVANIA” is a bench mark disk mounted in the top of a dressed gneiss stone, set in 1892, that marks the DE-PA state boundary line along Delaware’s circular northern boundary with Pennsylvania.
Waymark Code: WM2986
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 09/25/2007
Views: 43
USGS “PENNSYLVANIA”, DE-PA, is a bench mark disk set by the US Geological Survey (USGS). It is mounted in the top of a dressed, gray gneiss frustum set in 1892 by the US Coast & Geodetic Survey (USCGS) under the supervision of W. C. Hodgkins to demarcate the boundary between New Castle County, DE and Delaware County, PA. The stone is 6.0 miles northeast of the western terminus (at BOUNDARY MON INIT DE MD PA = ARD CORNER, PID = JU3827) of Delaware’s circular northern boundary line with Pennsylvania. The station is located along the northeast side of State Highway 41, about 8.2 miles north-northeast of Newark, DE, about 3.7 miles south of Kennett Square, PA, about 1.4 miles northwest of Hockessin, DE, and on the Chester County, PA, - New Castle County, DE, boundary line. Neither the stone nor the bench mark disk is in either the Geocaching or National Geodetic Survey databases, but the stone is in the Waymarking database at (
visit link) .
The stone in which the disk is mounted is a 10-inch by 10-inch gneiss monument that projects 16 inches, and is in fairly good condition. It is inscribed with a cut "D" on the south face, "1892" on the east face, "P" on the north face and "6" on the west face. It lies about 80 feet northeast of the northeast edge of State Highway 41 (known as Lancaster Pike in the area of the stone), 70 feet northeast of the northeast leg of a "Pennsylvania Welcomes You" sign, 151 southeast of the southeast face of a building housing D'Urso's Hair Fashions, and four feet northwest of the northwest corner of a small building that supports a sign for Hockessin Nursery Outlet (not in business). The stone sits northeast of a chain link fence, but there is a large open gate in the fence about 100 feet northwest.
The disk has been badly damaged. It appears to be stamped PENNSYLVANIA – 356 (feet above sea level). Originally, it may have been stamped DELAWARE, as well, but the damage is too great to confirm that stamping.
To reach from Exit 5 off Interstate Highway 95 just north of New Castle, DE, go north on State Highway 141 for about 2.6 miles to Exit 6B off State Highway 141. Take Exit 6B to State Highway 2 westbound. Go west on State Highway 2 for about 0.6 miles to the intersection with State Highway 41. Turn right and go northwest on State Highway 41 for about 6.2 miles to the state boundary line and the stone and disk on the right.