John H. 'Jack' Grant, 88; led steel firm, co-founded railroad museum
John H. Grant was a steel company president who loved rare books, antique maps, old documents, historical treasures of all sorts, and - perhaps most of all - railroads.
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John H. Grant was a steel company president who loved rare books, antique maps, old documents, historical treasures of all sorts, and - perhaps most of all - railroads.
He co-founded the Newtown Square Railroad Museum at Drexel Lodge Park in Edgmont in 1999 and continued as its co-chair until his death Saturday, Dec. 31, at age 88.
Mr. Grant, known as "Jack," joined his father's construction company, G&H Steel Service Inc., in 1950, and in 1974 became the Broomall firm's president. At its peak, the company worked on projects in 35 states and Canada.
What began as an effort to save an abandoned freight station evolved into a full-fledged museum that welcomes visitors from May to October, showing off holdings that include a 1920 steam engine, an early 1900s boxcar, and a 1902 passenger coach built in the West Philadelphia shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
"He played a big part in our historical society here in Newtown Square," said Sam Coco, a friend who worked with Mr. Grant on the museum project. "We had an opportunity to restore the freight station and bring in some cars. We enjoyed it."
Mr. Grant's love of local history included membership in the Radnor and Newtown Township Historical Societies, and authorship of several papers on the colonial mills that once stood along Darby Creek.
In retirement, he furthered his love of rare books by working to restore antique maps and documents for the Delaware County Archives in Lima.
He loved to experience history hands-on.
"I spent more than a few weekends walking creeks or walking rail lines with him, just to see where they were going," son Jeffrey said.
Mr. Grant was born in Akron, Ohio, and as a boy moved with his family to Upper Darby. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1947 and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1950, earning a master's degree in civil engineering there in 1953.
G&H contracted with prominent national companies, and during World War II built the Ford bomber factory in Michigan that produced the B-24 Liberator.
The heavy-construction firm worked on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and on major portions of U.S. Steel plants in Baltimore and Morrisville. The company helped build the Girard Point and Betsy Ross Bridges, and parts of the Blue Route.
More recently, the firm worked on nuclear- and fossil-fuel power plants on the East Coast and along the Ohio River.
A seasoned traveler, Mr. Grant set foot in all 50 U.S. states, toured Canada, Australia, South America, and Europe, and led Rotary exchange trips to Brazil and the Philippines. His greatest joy, he once said, was taking his grandchildren to destinations of their choice, including the Galapagos Islands and the Caribbean.
He provided leadership to local organizations, including serving Wayne United Methodist Church as a trustee, the Marple Newtown school board as president from 1975 to 1985, and the Newtown Square Rotary Club as president from 1977 to 1978. He was governor of Rotary District 7450 from 2003 to 2004.
He gave time to the Boy Scouts, serving his sons' troops from 1967 to 1982 and seeing all three boys earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
He was married to Marilyn Mayer for 45 years until her death in 1995.
In addition to his son, he is survived by children Herbert, Elizabeth, and Douglas; a brother; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at Wayne United Methodist Church, 210 S. Wayne Ave. A viewing will be at 10 a.m.
Donations may be made to the Newtown Square Railroad Museum, Box 21, Newtown Square, Pa. 19073.
215-854-4906@JeffGammage