Must be a Museum” Credits

Money and power: a combination many would like to have. A man associated with what is now La Salle would, over his lifetime, obtain both. His name was John Wister, a great iron works owner. His positions were many, and his life was full of constant work. Nevertheless, John never complained and ended up benefiting from work in all his activities. John Wister was born on July 15, 1829 at Belfield (now sometimes called the Peale House), located here on campus. John was born to William Wister and Sarah Logan Wister; Sarah’s father, William Logan Fisher, originally bought the house from colonial painter Charles Wilson Peale. John was the second oldest of six boys in the family. As a child, John grew up here in Germantown. He was very well educated because he was taught privately at a school conducted by Bronson Alcott, father of Louisa Mae Alcott of Little Women fame. Later, John attended Germantown Academy, which happened to be the leadin