Ghost of William Penn: Today my ghost missive touts the second son of merchant king John Wanamaker, lesser known, Rodman L. Wanamaker. A man that ought-be known to you.
Rodman lived shy-hide. He liked being invisible. But when elder brother, Thomas, died, 1908, Rodman stepped in his brother's place, nary a missed beat. He did this, tho' he wasn't a, want-a-taker of Wanamaker fame.
None of the family of Wanamaker styled themselves Quaker. Nevertheless, if I still retain a tad of my former Governor power - let it be this: Allow me that I can elect, Rodman L. Wanamaker as an Honorary Quaker.' Honorary for a day, listen to recite an overdue, 'Appreciation.'
In launch it occurs to me I can place Rodman beside his contemporary, fellow Pennsylvanian, Andrew Carnegie. While Rod' Wanamaker was shy and Andy flamboyant, similarities exist.
Motto following was important to both mean, which tpoic makes a good starting.
Carnegie directed that a sun and the word "free" as in free library be put front in top view of each of his funded built libraries. For him a simple, powerful word motto.
John Wanamaker wished carved the words, 'Those who follow me.'
Carnegie gave several thousand organs to churches. Wanamaker wealth did not sum $300 million, which Carnegie richness summed, but Wanamaker wealth enabled instillation, in the Philadelphia store, their world famous organ.
Below, in order: Mottos and Organs are treated, separately. First, Wanamaker motto facts; followed by Rodman Wanamaker facts.
'Those that Follow Me.' Matthew 16:24
[Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.]
Founder John Wanamaker cut the words into the capstone of the Philadelphia building, and also placed them - in emblazoned gold - in his store's Grand Court. He did not end there. The same to be plainly seen he put at the main entrance of the Wanamaker building in New York.
Daily the words shone meaningful to the store family. Rodman Wanamaker held them sacred.
Pipe Organs: Carnegie styled pipe organs as ecumenical because they crossed lines of religious creed. Comfortable he was in funding of their placement in churches across the nation. Yes, more so, Carnegie's library building program has gotten better press; yes, by contrast, his church organ donations rank less known. By this missive I hope to change that, while bettering recall of Rodman, too.
Before expanding the theme of organs, some pivotal Wanamaker history is here needful.
John Wanamaker nearly lost his in economic down turns. It nearly happened in 1873, again in '93, and very nearly so in 1907. In the last John's business manager failed in health and retired, his son Thomas, of right arm import needed a health break, and unexpectedly died in Paris. Enter Rodman:
Some sibling history:
Thomas Wanamaker (1859-1908) entered store work in 1883. In 1886 Rodman trailed. From Rodman's start the custom whereby the first son was the heir apparent was understood. Second son status was all right with shy-hide, retiring Rodman. But he felt a searching need to make a mark of his own, which was stamp trait Wanamaker.
After learning store running, Thomas was given his destined, more management discretion. Roman learned in trace while searching for a fit, he found it, in a taste for foreign goods. Finery, generally; which gradually expanded the store product list. Father John approved albeit with his stamp demand for quality. Quality mustn't be scarified!
Goods could come, marked 'China,' but none of the sort with clumsy cheapness.
An also hear ye! John Wanamaker had an influence impact in the early 1900's craft revivalism movement. How so? He had been witnessing a falling of workmanship. Especially in furniture, and he made public statements for a return to a pride of craftsmanship. His father's son, a wish for American well-made goods became a Rodman demand.
Delco, in Wallingford, the craftsman movement took root, in reactive applause of the John and Rodman Wanamaker call, for better made furniture. The Wanamaker duo became taste setters. Well made, Wallingford pieces have never slacken to please. Not marked Wanamaker, they claim an invisible Wanamaker stamp.
Rodman focused his taste with deep study of art, artistry, including ceramics; his specialized order purchases expanded sales. Hear Ye! Lest not appreciated, the Wanamaker thinking was - that what they were doing - was twofold, instructive:
Yes, it was a means for expanded sales, but it was not a gimmick, not an outright cash cow means - for milking more customer dollars. Long before 'Sims' spoke glowing, of the benefits, of an 'educated consumer,' the Wanamaker family were believers it was a worthy effort.
Come of the effort - came a filled out "Japan House.' a filled out "China House,' etc. And a not to be forgotten 'house,' with filled out rooms, of colonial furnishing. Rodman fostered 'experience, 'fostered 'learning.'
'Quality!' was John Wanamaker's mantra. Rodman never shrunk on it.
Quaker grumble, insert: Permit to say that today goods pour in, and with slender exception, the import goods would never have passed inspection by old time buyers of Wanamaker sales stock. John Wanamaker wanted quality. Son Rodman shrunk the globe with outlays, for well made, world bought goods.
Alas, existence of a Wanamaker store is a thing of the past. Today t that what was once a core Carnegie benefaction is now: Carnegie-Mellon. A wise man once put it best, 'The only constant is change.'
Fortunately, some former fixtures are so appreciated that supporters champ-in with sustainable cash support. Some things enrich life, things, which in their absence would diminish life, if permitted to disappear. I am ghost going to pipe recall the Wanamaker Organ.
The Wanamaker Organ was built to be a show stopper exhibit for St Louis World Fair. Cost overruns stymied the project. Final cost summed $105,000 (equal to $2,558,111 today). The Fair began April 1904 but the organ went unfinished until September. At the Fair's end the organ sat warehoused until 1909, when John Wanamaker bought it for his Philadelphia store.
W. P. hear ye: I take interest in all things grand - Philadelphia. I made a natural trace study of the organ after J. W. bought it. I counted thirteen freight cars of organ parts. Once in Philadelphia assembly instillation consumed two years. Known as the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, it is the largest operational pipe orga] in the world, located within a spacious 7-story court.
Harps and organ music is the fare on-High. But I am Quaker pleased satisfied to listen to the Wanamaker Organ. I listen twice a day, Monday through Saturday, and more frequently Christmas time. Special concerts, I hear, throughout the year, including events featuring the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ Festival Chorus and Brass Ensemble. Quaker My-oh-my!
Your Governor thanks you for listening.