94 
Main Street, was the founder, that John Jay Smith, the sage 
of "Ivy Lodge," was organizer, and that Alfred Cope, of 
"Clearfield," was the first contributor to the plan which 
secured forever to Philadelphia its greater Fairmount Park. 
There were others associated who deserve the fullest credit, 
notably James H. Castle, but the inspiration of the move- 
ment was the historian of "Independence Hall," who in 
June, 1856, issued a pamphlet upon the subject, who worked 
unceasingly for the project until its fulfillment was obtained, 
and who wrote two "Guides to Fairmount Park" without re- 
ferring to his own connection with the great work. John 
Jay Smith, in his "Recollections," with sufficient detail de- 
scribed the progress of the movement, and therein states, 
"While I was editor of the Horticulturist in 1857, and when 
the general building of houses and manufacturies on the 
banks of the Schuylkill alarmed thinking citizens for the 
purity of the drinking water, a sudden and deep-seated idea 
entered the brains of two youngish lawyers, James H. Castle 
and Charles S. Keyser, who occupied offices belonging to and 
beside the Philadelphia Library. They introduced another 
of our tenants, N. B. Browne, and passed together the au- 
tumn of 1859 in devising some method for procuring for the 
city the next country place, formerly of James C. Fisher, then 
owned by Ferdinand J. Dreer." 
Meeting with repeated failures and becoming discour- 
aged, Keyser and Castle came to "Ivy Lodge," where plans 
were discussed and an organization was effected, public meet- 
ings were after held, and the first contribution to the fund 
was $1000.00 by Alfred Cope, who subsequently increased 
it to $10,000.00, his brother Henry contributing a like 
amount. "From this entering wedge, much management of 
the public mind from every press that could be taught, by 
little and little and preserving talent, the work has prospered 
until today all the taxpayers are greatly alarmed over the 
extensive additions to our city debt." Fairmount Park is a 
reality, its benefits and blessings are no longer debatable, its 
