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Louis Bromfield:125th Anniversary: Who Was Louis Bromfield?

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As it has for many centuries, over 2,000 gallons of spring water flow every hour from a source deep within the sandstone bedrock near the old Schrack brick homestead. The spring house served as Bromfield’s Malabar Farm roadside market, a gift to his wife Mary. It also helped keep the many visitors from bothering his farm workers asking for fresh produce. On occasion, many of Bromfield’s famous guests, including actor James Cagney, were asked to work at the market selling produce. The Schrack home and springhouse served as a stage coach stop for watering horses in 1880’s along the Marietta to Sandusky Ohio stagecoach trail." SOURCE: https://malabarfarm.org/photo-gallery/

"Bromfield understood the importance of soil and water conservation. He once said, “The problem of soil and water conservation is our gravest and most fundamental national problem.” Its is the duty of every citizen, for his own welfare, if for no other reason, to support and fight for and possibly initiate measures having to do with conservation of soil,water and forests” -Louis Bromfield Bromfield used the example of the steel mills in Youngstown, Ohio, to highlight the importance of the issue. In 1941, the mill was near closing because there was no water. Almost exactly one year later it was near closing due to flooding; flooding caused by heavy rainfall and poor soil profiles. Rain falls the same way as it always has, but because forests and sod have been destroyed as a result of destructive farming methods, only about twenty to forty percent of the water remains. What happens to the rest? It sweeps away into rivers and to oceans almost immediately, taking with it tons of precious topsoil. Louis Bromfield used Malabar Farm to spread the message about the importance of soil and water conservation." SOURCE: https://malabarfarm.org/photo-gallery/

"Ahhhh, that sweet elixir of spring…..Bromfield’s family and friends gathered annually for the tradition of collecting maple sap and boiling it down for pure maple syrup. Using the same trees the Bromfields tapped long ago, the tradition continues today during the parks Annual Maple Syrup Festival the first two weekends in March. It is quite an event that the whole family will enjoy. Stop by for some of that sweet maple syrup to try with your favorite pancake recipe." SOURCE: https://malabarfarm.org/photo-gallery/

"Right to left: Louis,Mary and Ann (sitting) Hope (Standing)"
SOURCE: https://malabarfarm.org/bromfield-family-friends/