Passing into PA
Our walking party did not reach our goal of Medina, OH, this week. Nevertheless, Julie was quite pleased to have passed into Girard tonight, just over the Pennsylvania line. Girard was named after Stephen Girard, an 18th-century banking tycoon from Philadelphia. He owned land in the neighboring township of Springfield. After his death, his will established a boarding school in Philadelphia for orphans, Girard College. I’ve heard about this school my whole life because my Uncle Nevio was placed there after my grandfather died. Even though my grandmother was still living, she was not able to take care of him and the school somehow granted him admission. Officials from the town of Girard had lobbied to Girard’s foundation to site the school there, but they went with Philadelphia. Meanwhile, I landed in Hamburg, NY, and Ben is in Miflinburg, PA.