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The Law of Nature

Long ago, in the early 1860s, Broomall’s Run, a small stream owned by a prominent local family, supplied fresh water to the residents of Media, PA. Some years later, a dam was added creating Broomall’s Lake for the sole purpose of harvesting ice to enable the community to store their fresh produce from the neighboring farms. Broomall’s Lake’s namesake, John Martin Broomall, believed in his country and in our soon to become, Borough of Media. A civil rights activist, teacher, lawyer, judge, member of the US House of Representatives, and a friend to Abraham Lincoln, Broomall fought against slavery and participated heartily in his local community.

He attended Samuel Smith’s Quaker boarding school in Wilmington, Delaware and after graduation began studying law under John Bouvier, a prominent lawyer in Philadelphia. He continued the study of law under U.S. Congressman Samuel Edwards, was admitted to the Delaware County bar in 1840 and commenced practice in Chester, Pennsylvania. In 1848, Broomall was appointed deputy attorney general for Delaware County by Attorney General Cooper.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1851 and 1852. He served on the State revenue board in 1854. He was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention. He moved to Media, Pennsylvania, in 1860 and continued the practice of law.

Broomall served in the Union Army as Captain of Company C, Twenty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Infantry, from June 18 to August 1, 1863.

In 1862, Broomall was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth, Thirtyninth, and Fortieth Congresses. An active opponent of slavery, he signed the 13th amendment to the Constitution. He also advocated for a universal suffrage amendment. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Accounts during the Fortieth Congress.

In 1874, Broomall resumed the practice of law. He and his law partner William Ward began investing in real estate in Chester, Pennsylvania, building homes in the south ward. Broomall was a delegate to the State constitutional convention. In March 1874, he was appointed President Judge of the newly created Thirty-Second Judicial District of Pennsylvania by Governor John F. Hartranft and served until January 1875.

Broomall was an originator and President of the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company as well as the first president of the Chester Gas Company. He was elected as the first president of the Law Library Association of the Delaware County bar and as president of the Delaware County Institute of Science.

In 1894, Broomall died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was interred in the Media Cemetery in Upper Providence Township, Pennsylvania.

True to his spirit of sharing and community values, Judge Broomall’s heirs and subsequent property owners leased the lake to the Delaware County Fish Protection and Anglers Association.

Traveling forward to the year 1919, Broomall Lake Country Club’s (BLCC) founding father, Frank Hadley, along with 6 other gentlemen, purchased the property to establish the Media Swimming and Rowing Club.

In 1967, the Media Swimming and Rowing Club was renamed Broomall’s Lake Country Club in honor of Broomall.

This not-for-profit organization, created for the purpose of comradery, kinship, and the preservation of our natural resources, became an immediate sensation!

Gold Medal Olympians such as Johnny Weissmuller, Ethyl Lackie, and Duke Karanarnoku displayed their prowess in swimming and diving competitions at the Sesquecentennial Exposition of 1926 at Broomall’s Lake, and the club was host to many community events.

Over time, the dam, which has Third Street atop it, showed signs of age and by 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had declared it unsafe. In 1996, Media Borough closed the street to vehicular traffic, only allowing for pedestrians to cross.

In 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection breached the dam, partially removing it, due to its deteriorated condition.

Throughout the years, a number of lawsuits and citizens’ groups concerns over rezoning have emerged; officials at all levels have been attempting to resolve this matter. June, 2022. Delaware County Solicitor William F. Martin offered an update on the situation that has impacted the county, the club and Media Borough for decades. “A tentative agreement has been reached that could protect acres of Broomall’s Lake Country Club, which could potentially end years of litigation. It will not result in public access to that property, as the property remains private property that will be limited in what the private owners can do to it” explained Martin. “In addition, the par,king lot will be able to be used by club members and by Delaware County for employees and jurors as needed, as stipulated by a year-to-year lease agreement.”

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