Rock Lake

Rock Lake, or Lower Lake, is nestled in the center of Eastern University’s campus. This artificial lake is surrounded by thick foliage, and often a great blue heron can found along its edge. In 1912-1916, when the Walmarthon estate was first built, the Rock Lake was once the water lily pond. A bridge near the baseball and softball fields provides a window into this sanctuary.

Rock Lake, or Lower Lake, is nestled in the center of Eastern University’s campus. This artificial lake is surrounded by thick foliage, and often a great blue heron can found along its edge. In 1912-1916, when the Walmarthon estate was first built, the Rock Lake was once the water lily pond. A bridge near the baseball and softball fields provides a window into this sanctuary.

This lake was best known as being the home for many species of wild birds over the course of ten years. They were brought on campus through the combined efforts of Eastern Biology professor Joe Sheldon and local dentist David "Fritz" Walker. Breeds included African geese, peacocks, Mandarin ducks, and dozens of other aquatic fowl, though perhaps most memorable were the paired swans.

The first pair of white swans were purchased by Walker and his wife Ruthie for $750 in the 1980s after seeing them in a lake in Pittsburgh. Walker brought the swans to Eastern for his friend Sheldon to take care of them – and by 1990, a dozen aquatic fowl consisting of five species were living on campus. Eastern helped take care of the birds by feeding them 3,000 pounds of food a year, primarily out of the school's budget though the Athletic Department completed a fundraiser to help gather food for the waterfowl.

Not everything went smoothly. In April 1989, Beatrice the white swan was beaten severely by two Villanova students who were later caught and fined. After three weeks of intensive care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Beatrice recovered from her injuries and returned to her mate Bart. Later, Penny and Paul, a pair of black swans, were attached by a pair of Golden Retrievers who were owned by a Radnor couple that lived about five minutes from campus. And eight years ago, a snapping turtle living in the lake killed a swan.

Since then, Rock Lake has undergone a number of restorations. John Munro, Eastern '73 alumni, helped to renovate all three lakes on campus, helping to reform them and stagger their heights. Rock Lake is at a seven-foot lower elevation than Willow Lake and ten feet lower from McGraw Lake, and it has since been drained to a depth of five feet. In 2014, bridges were replaced across campus, including the bridges crossing alongside Rock Lake.

"For flock they smooth the waters." The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 30, 1990. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1843255052/C0DCDCAEAE204752PQ/1?accountid=45483&sourcetype=Historical%20Newspapers

Refurbish/Replace Pedestrian bridges, map, Summer 2014.

"Choked ponds to be pristine again." The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 13, 1994. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1843840555/DB5DAC2F11254C78PQ/2?accountid=45483&sourcetype=Historical%20Newspapers

"Lakes & Ponds." Folder in Eastern University Archives. Warner Memorial Library, St. Davids, PA, 19087.