Delco re:View Spring 2021 - 28

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Bringing Tradition into the
21st Century, Media's Towne House
robes, the judge presided at the Old Chester Club at 5th and
Welsh Streets.
Those were the days my friend,
we thought they'd never end ...
Back in the day, Delaware
County President Judge John
V. Diggins enjoyed " holding
court " in Babe D'Ignazio's
Towne House restaurant at
117 South Avenue in Media.
Lunching at the big table
beneath his colored portrait
in the Jamestowne Room,
Judge Diggins discussed
law, history, boating and
innumerable other topics. His
luncheon colleagues and others
who had heard his scholarly
dissertations in courtrooms for
years, agreed he was supremely
knowledgeable in many
disciplines.
Judge Diggins' Towne
House portrait was painted by
Stafford Parker, of Rose Valley,
from a photo that appeared in
the Daily Times.
After striking up a pact with Babe of the iconic D'Ignazio's
Towne House, Judge Diggins launched the Colony Club, for
which he served as President, in 1954 when he ascended to the
bench in Delaware County. His newly formed Colony Club
consisted of a casual grouping of business and professional
people who dined and chatted in the Jamestowne Room five days
a week " in quietness and dignity. " Prior to donning his judicial
28 | Spring 2021
The Club had no charter, no by-laws and no meetings. In
1975, the Club boasted 350 members, charged a $15 initiation
fee, and members had been assessed $10, only three times in over
15 years, to pay for special services.
John McPherson V. Diggins, former president judge of
Delaware County Court, died at the age of 96 in November 1993,
but his memory and the spirit of the Colony Club lives on.
Once upon a time there was a tavern, where we used to raise
a glass or two; Remember how we laughed away the hours, and
think of all the great things we would do! Those were the days
my friend ... We thought they'd never end!
When the D'Ignazio's Towne House closed its doors in 2015,
Media residents and patrons mourned and wondered what would
become of the block-long space at 177 Veterans Square that had
been a popular choice for family dinners, wedding receptions,
and other functions over the last six decades.
Reflecting back to the middle of the last century, owner Babe
D'Ignazio created his iconic Everybody's Hometown favorite
place, piece by piece starting with one home. His children and
a cast of incredibly loyal and consistent staff made the place
hum for more than 70 years. Who dusted the vast memorabilia
collection will always remain somewhat of a mystery.
Still, the talk of the Towne!
Moving forward, with great vision and a big concept, New
Jersey developer Brian McLaughlin, the principal owner of
Media's Towne House, acquired the property and undertook a
multimillion-dollar renovation. Having chosen to keep a low,
if not invisible, public profile, McLaughlin has allowed the " the
place speak for itself " as the renovated space respects much
of the original footprint. His intent was to embrace the best
elements of the past as a gathering place for everyone, while
bringing new and contemporary features.
Through the door there came familiar laughter, I saw your
face and heard you call my name; For in our hearts the dreams
are still the same.
Those were the days my friend ... We thought they'd never
end
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