Philadelphia
George Gandy was born in Tuckahoe, New Jersey. His father was a ship captain. Gandy dropped out of grammar school and made money writing wedding invitations. The family moved to Philadelphia and, at age 16, Gandy earned $4 per week working as an office boy at Henry Disston & Sons.
After 11 years, Gandy climbed to a top position with Disston launching his impressive career. In 1882, he became secretary and treasurer of Frankford and Southwark Railway Company. At age 35, Gandy began suffering from a heart condition which lasted the rest of his life and was occasionally aggravated by his business dealings. He worked as an executive for several companies in Philadelphia, building more than 200 residences and the People's Theatre. Gandy's passion however was transportation and, by the end of the 19th century, he had built 125 miles (201 km) of trolley lines in Philadelphia. In the 1890s, he spearheaded efforts to connect Willow Grove Park to Philadelphia, making the park a popular attraction.
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Famous quotes containing the word philadelphia:
“All the oxygen of the world was in them.
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—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)