1862-1923
Physician • Humanitarian • Educator • Civic Leader
Considered an expert in pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, Dr. George Bronson Philhower saved many lives during and after the 1918 flu epidemic in a pre-vaccine era. He attended to many injuries from horse accidents, quarry work, trolley cars, and construction mishaps. A brilliant medical detective, he solved many mysteries using his farm upbringing and extensive education. Hundreds of childbirths are attributed to his natal care skills used during in-home deliveries. During World War I he developed first aid courses to train families on how to care for injured military members returning home.
His knowledge was shared among many medical groups including Passaic City Medical Society, Essex County Medical Society, New Jersey State Medical Association, American Medical Association, New Jersey Tuberculosis
Association, New Jersey State Health Board, and at a Texas Medical Society conference. An alumnus of New York University Medical School, he stayed active as a presenter of case-studies and treatments and was considered the “Dean” of local doctors.
Dr. Philhower’s career stretched from 1886-1935 as Nutley’s population grew from two thousand to over twenty thousand. His local contributions to Nutley history and its growth were extraordinary.
While running his family medical practice, he served twenty-three years on the Health Board as town physician and nine years on the Board of Education, two as president. He was appointed to the Franklin to Nutley Township name change committee, was a charter member of the Library Board with ten years as board president during Carnegie Grant construction and fulfilled leadership roles in numerous other civic and service groups. During Dr. Philhower’s twenty-six years as Board of Trustees President at Vincent Methodist Church
he spearheaded a massive educational wing expansion project, in which the chapel was named in his honor.
Dr. Philhower joins his good friends Annie Oakley, Arthur Hoeber, and Henry Cuyler Bunner as a fellow inductee into the Hall of Fame. He was a gifted orator called on to speak at many family reunions, dedications, school
events, banquets, and more. An avid baseball fan, he also enjoyed the outdoors, boating, bicycle riding, and social events. Self-described as an “old-fashioned man” he could be short-tempered and somewhat intolerant,
but was also kindly, scholarly, generous, and patriotic.
The fifteen years as president of the Memorial Parkway Inc. was one of his most beloved achievements, visiting the park every day to ensure the plans were followed. Plants, shrubs, and trees were to him as sacred as the patients of his profession. He strove to make the park an enduring place where the elderly can rest and meditate, lovers can walk together, the young can play, and we can honor those who served in the military. He sought to plant an abiding love of the park in the minds of everyone, and to inspire our town to cherish and ensure its longevity. His care for people as a doctor, service to his community, and esthetic taste helped make this world a better place.