By Taylor Gencarelli
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Johns Hopkins lived to witness the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, and reconstruction, a 78-year life span that intrigued author Antero Pietila so much that he decided to write a book.
Pietila discussed his book, Ghost of Johns Hopkins: The Life and Legacy that Shaped an American City, with a crowd at Gilman School on Sunday. Gilman’s Office of Community, Inclusion, and Equity and the Parents Association invited faculty, staff, parents, and the community to spend the afternoon with the long-time journalist.
“My novel aims to explain Johns Hopkins and his university and medical institutions and their place in cultivating a city,” the author said, referring to Baltimore’s dependence on the institution for a large percent of its livelihood. “I want to provide readers a framework for understanding Baltimore and what it became, what it is today.”
Pietila said Johns Hopkins was the inspiration for his new book because he was able to witness all types of history being made during his life span of 78 years.
“Hopkins was a merchant banker, venture capitalist and one of the country’s richest man,” Pietila said. “Yet his first name produces a fair amount of confusion. His name was Johns, not John, and it honors his great grandma whose family name was Johns.”
Hopkins’ spirit lives on, Pietila told the audience. His $7 million request to the University and hospital in 1873 was the largest in American history.
The event was held in the Upper School Library Reading Room of Gilman School, which is a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade independent all-boy school located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore. There are three schools that serve the community of families from a broad variety of neighborhoods in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area.
Many school officials, faculty, parents and students attended the event not only to learn about Hopkins but also because Pietila is a well-known journalist. Born in Finland and the oldest son of a Lutheran pastor, Pietila moved to Baltimore after he completed his journalism degree at Southern Illinois University. He worked at The Baltimore Sun for 35 years, including as a correspondent in South Africa and the Soviet Union, as well as a member of the editorial board.
Pietila also was an eyewitness to history, including Civil Rights protests, two Ku Klux Klan cross burnings, school desegregation, anti-war actions, and community organizing of City Hall and Baltimore County. An earlier book by Pietila was Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City.
Abigail Tofanelli, an audience member, asked Pietila why Johns Hopkins life was so important to him.
“I am fascinated by Johns Hopkins because of his contribution to the city of Baltimore. When he was alive, there was a disease going around Baltimore called Cholera. It made people very ill and caused death,” Pietila replied.
“Hopkins was among thousands who fell seriously ill. He contacted the disease from eating a tainted peach, or apple. Hopkins recovered but his brush with death became a life changing experience. He joined two hospital boards although his education ended at the age of 12. One of the hospitals he joined was Maryland, now known as Johns Hopkins Hospital. He bought the Broadway land that contributed to it. This is the site that Hopkins occupies today.”
Pietila said that Hopkins funded these institutions because he believed in serving everybody, especially in a time where the city embraced segregation. Hopkins wanted the best for Baltimore’s citizens no matter the color of their skin.
Pietila read an excerpt from the book, which is sold at Barnes & Noble for $16 or online at Amazon.com for $20.
“I think Pietila’s reading was amazing, he obviously cares about Johns Hopkins’ story and it is an amazing story,” said audience fan Katie Olsen.