🚀 go-pugleaf

Charity & Parks!

We often hear about large charitable donations to universities &
hospitals. People who have made large, fast fortunes usually make
these. However there are other places to put one's money, which
doesn't attract as much publicity, but does improve quality of life,
contribute to the community and beautify our living space. 

The founder of my family's line in North America arrived from Swansea,
Wales in 1637 and settled in what is today, St. John NB. For many
years the family was in the retail dry goods business and then went
into the Bank of New Brunswick. It did not have a vast fortune, but
there was a surplus in the 1800's.

At that period the family built a public park in St John, New
Brunswick. A low brick wall enclosed it and there were several
entrances fitted with iron gates. There was a gazebo in the center,
paths, benches, statues and flowers. A trust fund was established to
keep it up.

Suburbs all over North America are full of land, which has been
set-aside for parks. Brick or stone walls, trees, gazebos, statues,
etc would beautify many of them. Most municipalities have trouble just
keeping up with sidewalks and curbs. Without private benefactors,
these open spaces will just remain fields in our midst.

The next time you have a million to give away, why not call up a
municipality and ask them if they would mind you enclosing a field in
a beautiful split field stone wall. They might not even mind a bronze
plaque, telling posterity who you were.

J. Lewin
Vancouver
03/03/2000