Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
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Description
John H. McClatchy loved horses, but not the races. After he built his home in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, he could be seen frequently in his carriage, driving a spanking team of beauties through the countryside. He spent his summers in Ocean City, New Jersey, where he drove his children around in a simple four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage known as a buckboard. A great family man, he and his wife, May, loved each other and their thirteen children dearly.
John was charitable, giving freely and generously to charities. While he is known for building over 40,000 homes and developing 69th Street Boulevard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a nationally known shopping center, it was his charitable family-centered life that he truly loved.
John H. as he was affectionately called by the Delaware County Real Estate Board members was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Builders in May 1960.
John Henry McClatchy passed away March 12, 1960. He was 85 years old. This book is the story of the great life that John H. McClatchy led, as told by his great-granddaughter.
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Reviews Of The Book On BooksShelf
A Real-Life American Dream presents the life of John H. McClatchy as a legacy story rooted in discipline, family commitment, and long-range vision. Beginning with early hardship and relentless work, the narrative follows a young boy forced into adult responsibility and traces how that endurance becomes the foundation for a major building and development career.
The book’s strongest sections highlight the mechanics behind ambition. It shows how planning, labor, and persistence can shape neighborhoods and business systems, and it gives special attention to the role of partnership and family in sustaining momentum. The relationship between John H. and May adds heart to a story that could otherwise focus only on outcomes.
The financial crisis chapters introduce real stakes, emphasizing that success does not remove vulnerability, and that values-driven decisions can define a legacy as much as achievements do.
Readers who enjoy inspirational family histories and entrepreneurship stories will find this one direct, purposeful, and centered on remembrance.
