George William Childs

 

George W. Childs

George William Childs (1829–1894) was an American publisher who co-owned the Philadelphia Public Ledger newspaper with financier Anthony Joseph Drexel.

Early life

Childs was born in Baltimore Maryland on May 12, 1829 to a poor family. He began work at age 12 in a bookstore for $2 per week while attending public school. He entered the Navy, at age 13 and served 15 months at Norfolk. After leaving the Navy in 1843, he moved to Philadelphia, becoming a clerk in a bookshop at age 14. Childs found favor with his employer, proving himself to be trustworthy in business. After shutting the shop for the evening, he was entrusted with buying books at auction for the store. By the time he was 16, he was going to New York and Boston to attend publishing trade shows.
When Childs turned 18, he took his savings, which amounted to several hundred dollars, and leasing space in the offices of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, started his own firm. While working on building his business, Childs was noted for frequently commenting on his desire to own the Ledger some day.
At age 21, Childs was offered a partnership in the publishing firm of R.E. Peterson & Co, which he accepted, and the name of the firm was changed to Childs & Peterson. Childs & Peterson grew prosperous by publishing useful if unexciting titles that reached a broad market. Peterson excelled in scientific knowledge, while Childs provided business acumen. The two partners grew the title Familiar Science into a 200,000-issue sale by interesting schools in using it as a textbook.
Childs was known throughout his life for generosity and philanthropy. He was quoted to say, "Meanness is not necessary to success in business, but economy is." This approach won him a wide circle of friends whose affection and friendship ran deep.
Childs was married to Emma B. Peterson, the granddaughter of Judge John Bouvier, a jurist born in Codognan, France. Her father was Robert Evans Peterson, a lawyer and scientist; her mother was Hannah Mary Bouvier, author of "Familiar Astronomy" and collaborator with her husband on other works. They left no children.

The Public Ledger Newspaper

The Public Ledger Building as it appeared when it opened in June 1867

On 5 December 1864, with Anthony Joseph Drexel, he purchased the Philadelphia Public Ledger, at that time a money-losing newspaper, losing about $150,000 per year. The business was squeezed by rising paper and printing costs due to wartime shortages as the country engaged in the Civil War. The paper had lost circulation by supporting the Copperhead Policy of opposing the Civil War and advocating an immediate peace settlement with the South. Most readers in Philadelphia at the time supported the Union. Publishers were reluctant to increase the one-cent subscription cost to cover the actual costs of production in the face of declining circulation. Childs bought the paper for a reported $20,000.
Upon buying the paper Childs completely changed its policy and methods. He changed the editorial policy to the Loyalist (Union) line, raised advertising rates, and he doubled the cover price to two cents. After an initial drop, circulation rebounded and the paper resumed profitability. Childs was intimately involved in all operations of the paper, from the press room to the composing room, and he intentionally upgraded the quality of advertisements appearing in the publication to suit a higher end readership. For four years he rarely left the paper before midnight.
Childs' efforts bore fruit and the Ledger became one of the most influential journals in the country. Circulation growth led the firm to outgrow its facilities, and in 1866 Childs bought property at Sixth and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia and constructed the Public Ledger Building, which was called at the time "...the finest newspaper office in the country." It was estimated that toward the end of Childs' association the Ledger was generating profits of approximately $500,000 per year.

Main Building of Drexel University (fondness for the school as I am one of its graduates)

Close friends with Anthony Drexel for more than 40 years, Childs served as the second President of the Board of Trustees of Drexel University, succeeding the founder.

George Childs, Anthony J Drexel, James MacAlister (close friends)

Wayne Station

In 1880 Childs and Drexel purchased 300 acres (1.2 km²) west of Philadelphia along the tracks of the Pennsylvania RailRoad, an area which was to become known as the Main Line, from banker J.H. Askin. The two laid out roads, public utilities, community amenities, churches, and building lots to create "Wayne Estate", later the unincorporated community of Wayne Pa., an early example of a planned community.

The suburban village known as Wayne, on the Pennsylvania RailRoad, fourteen miles from Philadelphia, differs so much from the ordinary town allowed to grow up hap-hazard and to develop conveniences as population increases, that it is necessary, in describing it as it appears, to keep in mind some facts about its history. Wayne is not an accidental aggregation of cottages; it is a town built by design, and provided at the start with all the conveniences to which residents of cities are accustomed and which they are so apt to miss and long for when they go into the country or even into the suburbs of a great city. The scheme of the town was well thought out and planned before any of the new cottages were built, and, as it was undertaken by liberal gentlemen of abundant means, no expense was spared in the preliminary municipal work.

 

George Childs Elementary School in South Philadelphia

George Childs died in Philadelphia on the 3rd of February 1894. His wife died at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia on 13 August 1928 at age 88. His Recollections were published at Philadelphia in 1890 and an elementary school in Philadelphia is named after him, as is the
Upon his death his employees at the Public Ledger adopted the following resolution:

"The employees of the Public Ledger, having lost by the death of George W. Childs one who has stood to them in the relation of a kind and considerate father, find it impossible to express in formal resolutions the due sense of their great loss, but nevertheless seek to record in this minute their high appreciation of his character as it has been revealed to them in daily intercourse. He was the embodiment of kindness and benevolence; his broad sympathies made him a citizen of the world, and not merely those associated with him socially and in business, but humanity itself, lost a generous friend and noble exemplar by his death.

 George W Childs was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery

If you made it this far in the article, you will discover the patterns that connect the journey of my life. I went to a park in the mountains to hike, connect with God and myself. The park was founded by this man George Childs which led to my interest in researching his life to come across his life and connections with the very man whom founded the University I graduated from and to discover the man was interred in a cemetery I volunteered. Life comes full circle. Park = George = Anthony Drexel = Drexel University = Laurel hill Cemetery. As a post note, Anthony Drexel is interred in Woodland Cemetery.

 

George W. Childs Park

 

The George W. Childs Recreation Site is a former state park that is the site of a number of cascade waterfalls along Dingmans Creek. This picturesque park is a part of the Delaware Water gap National Recreational area and includes expansive hemlock groves and cascading waterfalls along with a picnic area, comfort facilities, and a short hiking trail along the falls.

It is located in Dingmans Ferry in Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania. The site is named for George W. Childs a noted philanthropist, whose widow deeded the land to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1912. The site contains three main waterfalls: Factory Falls, Fulmer Falls and Deer Leap Falls and is a few miles upstream from Dingmans Falls and Silverthread Falls. The site is also host to the ruins of Joseph Brooks' 19th century woolen mill.

This where we parted. He went to take pictures. I went to hike.

There were several ramps and steps to climb up and down as to stay on the trail and to avoid the wildlife of the woods. We were warned of Black Bear. Personally, I would have loved to see one out in the woods. A few times, I went off the trail and found solace amongst the Forrest.

I spent some time looking up towards the heavens and wondered if my brother could look down upon me.

 I questioned the presence of God then looked around me. The woods so perfect. The waterfalls so powerful. There must be a God.

We met up here on the final leg of our journey.

Sites along the way included; uprooted tree.

and Joseph Brooks' 19th century woolen mill.

The site is also host to the ruins of Joseph Brooks' 19th century woolen mill. About 1826 Joseph Brooks, a Welshman who had immigrated to Philadelphia built a woolen mill of stone, 3½ stories high. He employed about 80 workers.

His sheep, though, were devoured by wolves or died from eating poisonous laurel. Supplies, operatives, and materials such as expensive raw wool, had to be brought in from Philadelphia, and the finished products shipped down to this city by wagons, a trip which took 10 days. Brooks died in 1832 and the mill was abandoned, the ruins are still visible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom and Grow

Everywhere we went this weekend, I saw hundreds upon hundreds of these tiger lilies growing in gardens, on borders of homes, around mailboxes and just off the side of a road. These lilies represent a life I once had and lost. I planted four gardens that contained a variety of flowers including the lilies in this picture. These lilies are hardy and spread each year producing more and more of its beautiful flowers all summer long. I started with a few and they blossomed in just a few short years that filled the gardens. I can't but wonder how they are this summer. The house and its surrounding property still belongs to me though I have not been there in two years.

I tried to grow these flowers out of pots on my current balcony without success. I miss the days were I could knee down on the lawn and dig my hands in dirt. Maybe one day?

The Search Within

Sitting here on the balcony overlooking the enclosed atrium of my hotel room, I am listening to the soft voices of children laughing, the humming of the air conditioner, and splashing sounds of the pool. 

The decision to escape to the mountains came on Friday morning after being blasted by a patient, as I walked through the doors of my workplace. I had a difficult workweek along with my Dad being taken to the hospital, and an emotional funk I could not get out of. I sat at my computer and made reservations, called my husband, and told him after work that day, we were going to the mountains. I am a firm believer in self-care. The workday went from bad to worst and by the end of my day, my two worlds collided, I was emotionally drained. It took less than 30 minutes to pack, fill my water bottle, and grab a bottle of wine and my down comfortable, and out the door and into the truck for the ride North. 

There are a select few hotels I escape to. This particular hotel was not one of our usual spots, but it was close to George Childs’ Park with a hiking trail and waterfalls. I am really really particular of where I will rest my head, so the Quality Inn reservation made me a little nervous. I took the last top room suite with a balcony overlooking the atrium, and the suite had a King size bed with in room hot tub. The cost was cheap. Red Flag alert. We pulled up. Checked in. Made our way to the room. OK., the room was passable. It was large. The bathroom clean. The carpet needs to be replace, and the room was outdated. Passable. 

The hotel in general is fine. There is a really nice pool, atrium, and club on premises located off of Main Street. The hotel is under new management and is being redone. I am sure by next year the room will be updated, as well as the price. 

Today we drove out to the Park for my husband and me to hike, Bill to photograph. I kept walking, as he made stops for photo shots. We eventually caught up with each other at the end of the trail. There were signs all around to caution us of Black Bear territory. I would have loved to spot one, however, bears are more afraid of people, than people more afraid of bears. I passed by some old early 19^th century stone mills, and took in the sounds and smells of nature. As an introvert, I get my energy from within and walking through the woods connects me to my inner self and grounds me. I let my mind wonder. I felt calm and at peace. The waterfalls were magnificent and powerful. How could there not be a higher power? I sat and stared up through the trees, and watched the white clouds pass by and thought of heaven. There must be a heaven. There must be a place where my brother and grandparents traveled to upon death. I thought of 1997 and how my life began to spiral out of control in the years after. Drug addiction within my own family. Another death. Became a grandparent. Married a son off. Saw another son enter the Navy. A divorce after 23 years of marriage. New career. Remarriage. Depression. Trauma. PTSD. Therapy giving and receiving. Trying to keep it altogether. Stress headaches and vomiting. Setting boundaries. Grieving an old life. Trying to accept a new life.

 

After our hike and drive through the mountain roads, we came upon a pub known as 570. We sat outside and enjoyed a cold drink and delicious lunch. I had chicken pot pie loaded with fresh cut veggies in a wonderful tasty sauce. My husband had pulled pork. After lunch we drove some more than stopped for ice cream. We were back by 5p and Bill hit the hot tub and I took a nap. I awoke to the sound of children, opened that bottle of wine, took my computer and out on the balcony to write. (wine was terrible and I poured it down the sink)

As I sit here and listen to the children play in the pool, I wish some of those children belonged to me. I have yet to figure out how to live without them constant in my life. How can I learn to be an adult without children? I guess it is a process.  For now, I envision them swimming below, laughing and playing.

I Want the Sound of Silence

Betrayal
 

Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations.

Unconditional love is known as affection without any limitations. This term is sometimes associated with other terms such as true altruism, complete love, or "mother's/father's love." Each area of expertise has a certain way of describing unconditional love, but most will agree that it is that type of love which has no bounds and is unchanging. It is a concept comparable to true love, a term which is more frequently used to describe love between lovers. By contrast, unconditional love is frequently used to describe love between family members, comrades in arms and between others in highly committed relationships. An example of this is a parent's love for their child; no matter a test score, a life changing decision, an argument, or a strong belief, the amount of love that remains between this bond is seen as unchanging and unconditional.

Conflict and Emotions

We like the quote by psychologist, John Gottman, “When you’re furious, you can’t be curious.” Conflict is all about emotions, and when a person is off balance emotionally it becomes extremely difficult to engage in constructive responses to conflict. You can lose sight of your objectives and become focused on how the other person has wronged you. Retaliatory responses kick in and you are no longer interested in solving the problem as much as punishing the other person.

Me

I am struggling with all of the above. I love unconditionally in all matters, but betrayal. Betrayal feels like a direct blow to my sense of self. Then, the conflict follows. If I feel as though someone has done me wrong after I have given several chances, and they are aware of the hurt it creates, I feel betrayed. Some of you reading this are probably thinking, "get over it already or that is not right".  I am who I am whether someone agrees or not. When hurt, I shut down. It has been my defense mechanism since I was a small child. I have done a lot of work on that part of myself, and I took a chance allowing some people in only to be hurt again. I guess it is not a surprise that I put up the same defense mechanism. How or why I learned this way to protect myself, I do not know, but I have some idea. If you never have a voice. If you are always afraid. If you cannot trust. If you feel alone within yourself. If the little girl inside never grew up. If you seek validation. If you do not feel a part of. Defense mechanisms help you to survive, but with the survivor comes depression, anger and isolation.

I question everything. High intelligence has a double edge blade. No wonder they say, "ignorance is bliss". How I wish ignorance sometimes. I sit out on my balcony looking over at the hills and trees, listening to the sounds of the birds chirping, children playing and traffic rumbling, watching the hawks glide freely in the sky and I wish I could go with the wind far far away from my own mind, which never stops thinking. . How I wish for silence. How I wish someone could stop me from thinking. What I realize is the silence has to come from within not from without. I will never find my voice, let go of the fear, learn to trust, grow up or seek validation from the outside, because it is an inside job. I am shut down right now. I will put the mask in place to do my job, pretend to be and/or feel like someone I am not, and survive another day. That is all I can do for today.