A bronze plaque memorializing John Drury’s vision, generosity and dedication to Jim Thorpe was unveiled in Kemmerer Park Monday morning — slightly more than a year after his death.

Drury, who died June 12, 2025, at the age of 93, was remembered as a humanitarian, philanthropist, businessman, historian and a friend whose vision helped shape Kemmerer Park and revitalize the town he loved.

Jack Sterling, board president of Kemmerer Park, touched on each of those points emblazoned in bronze during a brief dedication.

As a humanitarian, Drury worked to improve the lives of the less fortunate through the Family Promise shelter, one of his many passions, Sterling noted. He was also philanthropist giving throughout his community, Sterling noted.

“I don’t know the full extent of John’s giving, but he was very generous to our park,” he said.

Drury was instrumental in restoring the Mahlon S. Kemmerer Carriage House inside Kemmerer Park, which wasn’t much more than a brick ruin when he stepped in, Sterling said.

The restored carriage house is perched on the hillside behind the park’s basketball courts, which was the site of the M.S. Kemmerer mansion. Kemmerer’s father-in-law was John Leisenring, superintendent of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co.

Leisenring’s own mansion sat on the lot the Carbon County government now uses for an administration building parking lot, across Packer Hill from the Asa Packer Mansion. Kemmerer Park can be accessed off that parking lot, as well as from walking trails surrounding it.

The Kemmerer family gave the five-acre estate to the people of Jim Thorpe to be used for recreation decades after M.S. Kemmerer’s passing.

The plaque in Drury’s honor is mounted on a large, black urn which sits along the winding paths in the lush, green park — just below the historic Harry Packer Mansion, another well-known landmark in the busy tourist town and county seat.

Drury began the renovation of the 1850 American Hotel, which is now the five-star Inn at Jim Thorpe, owned and run by his son, David, who had the honor of unveiling the plaque.

Sterling noted that the elder Drury, who was born in Philadelphia, loved history, especially that of his adopted town of Jim Thorpe, formerly Mauch Chunk.

“John always had a deep interest in the history of the town, enough to purchase and remodel an 1872-era church that had been ravaged by time and neglect and turned it into a museum and ballroom,” he said.

Drury also headed the Switchback Foundation for many years, installing plaques at key sites along the trail, Sterling said.

“John’s contribution to our historical preservation goes beyond this,” he said, “and includes preservation of several other buildings in town.”

Sterling remembered when he first crossed paths with Drury nearly three decades earlier.

“I first met John at the train station, where if I remember rightly, he was setting up a platform to show off his dancing skills,” Sterling said with a lilt in his voice.

“Getting involved with John beginning with the Switchback Foundation, was a game changer for me,” he said. “I’m proud to say he was my friend.”

Drury’s son, David, at first didn’t have words, other than, “Thank you,” noting that the park and carriage house was one of his pet projects.

Those gathered joked that the elderly Drury often went ahead and got things done without permission, worrying about forgiveness later.

Drury’s own father wasn’t interested in history, David Drury said, and wasn’t sure where his father picked up the fascination with bygone times.

“When he came to town, he just fell in love with it and wanted to know everything about the history,” David said. “That did not filter down to myself or my two brothers.”

Drury would start to tell them stories about Jim Thorpe, its rich history and the people who made it, and they would patiently listen, even though they didn’t care about it, he said.

“We would just kind of sit and listen,” David said recalling his father. “He knew we didn’t really care, but he would tell us anyway.”

Family and board members alike shared remembrances as his legacy was commemorated for posterity.

Drury was involved in many, many organizations, and toward the end of his life, he generously gave to each of them, David Drury said.

“He didn’t just give all his money to his family,” he said, “He spread it out in little increments all through the community, which was really cool.

“He took care of a whole bunch of people and different organizations, nonprofits around the area,” the younger Drury said.

Kemmerer Park was among those organizations that benefited from his generosity, Sterling said. Drury not only gave the park association an income with the carriage house, but also a $20,000 donation.