McGraw Lake

The McGraw Lake, previously known as Upper Lake, is near the Gatehouse and inbetween the Gymnasium and Doane Residence Hall. The Historic Waterwheel branches off of it past a small, man-made canal, and the Log Cabin was located on its shores until 2010. Within the lake live numerous gold fish, some of which have grown to be over a foot long, and many turtles live in the lake. The lake was named McGraw Lake in honor of Joseph L. McGraw in 2003. As stated by a dedication plaque near the edge of the lake, he was honored "for his dedicated service as Chief Facilities Officer to the Eastern Community from 1979-2002." Currently, the pedestrian walkway along McGraw Lake is undergoing construction to become a drivable path starting in August 2024.

The McGraw Lake, previously known as Upper Lake, is near the Gatehouse and inbetween the Gymnasium and Doane Residence Hall. The Historic Waterwheel branches off of it past a small, man-made canal, and the Log Cabin was located on its shores until 2010. This lake - though technically, it is a man-made pond set at a five-foot depth – was once used as a boating lake for the Walmarthon estate. In the winter, McGraw Lake freezes over; pictures can be found of people ice skating on its icy surface as far past as the 1970s.

In January 1971, oil flowed into the lake, originating from Valley Forge Military Academy due to a lost 8,000 gallons of grade 2 heating oil. Eastern built two separate straw dams to try and catch the oil, which resulted in the oil only going to Upper and Lower Level lakes and missing Willow Lake. Two months later, the lakes were nearly oil free, though 100-150 fish out of 1,000 were lost, and seagulls and mallards were seen on the lake, having been drawn towards the oil spill.

Upper Lake thus became an artificial standing pond, adjusted to be at a three-foot higher elevation above Willow Lake and ten-feet higher than Lower Lake. In 2002, a reed bed was installed to help alleviate the algae growth on the water's surface. Within the lake live numerous gold fish, some of which have grown to be over a foot long, and many turtles live in the lake.

The lake was named McGraw Lake in honor of Joseph L. McGraw in 2003. As stated by a dedication plaque near the edge of the lake, he was honored "for his dedicated service as Chief Facilities Officer to the Eastern Community from 1979-2002." In 2014, a large scale restoration occurred to treat the algae and vegetation overgrowth at both McGraw and Willow Lakes, and bridges were replaced across campus, including the ones near McGraw Lake. Currently, the pedestrian walkway along McGraw Lake is undergoing construction to become a drivable path starting in August 2024.

"A message for those who work, live and attend classes on the St. Davids Campus - Lake Update". eaglemail, Donna MacIntosh, EU Services Coordinator/Executive Assistant, Oct 2014.

Refurbish/Replace Pedestrian bridges, map, Summer 2014.

Letter, Dr. Harold C. Howard to W.L. Perry Jr., business manager; May 1971.

"Today..." photo spread. The Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine, January 1959.