The talking machine world (Aug-Dec 1919)

76 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD December 15, 1919 ELDREDGE H. JOHNSON GIVES LEGION HIS $200,000 MERION ESTATE President of Victor Co. Makes Generous Contribution for Service Men From His Community— To Build $150,000 Tribute House and Pay All Costs Himself. Philadelphia, Va., December C. — What is perhaps one of the largest individual donations made by public spirited citizens to the men of their communities who served in the great war was made last week by Eldredge H. Johnson of Merion. In the name of eighty-one young men from Pennsylvania's richest community and the thousands (if others throughout the state, the president of the Victor Talking Machine Co., presented to Merion his $200,000 estate and agreed to build upon it the finest tribute house in the country. Work is to be started at once on the tribute house. It will contain an auditorium to seat 500 people, a tea room equipped to serve social gatherings throughout the community, lodge rooms for the American Legion and club comforts for the citizens of Merion. Without the furnishings it will cost Mr. Johnson upward of $150,000. Announcement of this unusual gift was made at a meeting of citizens of Merion held in the Bungalow, the building which has been used as a community meeting place. Edward Bok, president of the Merion Civic, Association, made the announcement for Mr. Johnson. Residents of Merion have known for some time that the beautiful Johnson estate, Chimneys, on Hazelhurst avenue, was to be made available as a site for the building the community has planned to erect in honor of its soldier dead and those who risked their lives for freedom. But not until the details were announced did anyone but . members of a small committee realize the extent to which Mr. Johnson had gone in his effort to keep Merion in the place the community has set for itself as the leader in civic achievement. According to Mr. Bok, the gift was first suggested two months ago. At that time it was the plan of Mr. Johnson merely to turn over his Merion seat, consisting of a huge mansion, a fine stone garage, a lodge keeper's home and eight acres of beautiful and valuable land. But when the manufacturer learned that the $81,000 raised by Mr. Bok and his associates for a tribute house — $10,000 of it came from Mr. Johnson — would not be sufficient, in his opinion, Eldredge H. Johnson to provide for a house fitting for Merion, he decided to build one himself. " I '11 tear down my house and build a tribute house," he told Mr. Bok. "You can put your own architects and engineers on the job to see that it is done the way you want it done. Put into it anything you want; everything the community needs that belongs in such a house. I'll build it and pay for it. The only stipulation is that it shall be the most beautiful house of its kind in the country." In addition to this, Mr. Johnson has planned to make of his place what Marion residents say is the one thing the community needs — a real heart and center. Merion has no church. It has no school of its own, no central meeting place. But in the new tribute house it will have the finest place for social gatherings in the east. The tea room will overlook a group of four or five tennis courts, sunken so that they may be flooded for skating in winter. The main lawn, planted with stately trees and the finest of shrubbery, is to be the children 's playground. Boy Scouts also are to be recognized. The big stone garage is to be turned into a house exclusively for them. Mr. Bok said last night that it was a reward "to these fine little boys for the marvelous work they have done in this community. ' ' The committee to handle the affair for the community consists of Mr. Belfield, Robert J. Hughes, Thomas Fisher, Ira Vaughan, Henry C. Thompson, Jr., William P. Gest, E. A. Van Valkenburg, Joseph B. McCall, John P. Connelly, Henry Delaplaine, Louis A. Belmont, Edward Bok, Harold Pinder, Mrs. Ernest Searing, H. H. Lineweaver, Mrs. S. Earl Haines and John F. Braun. Application for a charter will be made immediately by this committee. It was announced that it will also apply to the county commissioners to declare the tribute house exempt from all taxation. If this is not done the matter will be taken into the courts, and at the next session of the legislature a bill will be introduced providing for the exemption from taxation of all tribute houses throughout the state. 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