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A Main Line Landmark
Pictured
above is the hotel brochure from
the 1920's. |
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Until the latter part
of the 18th century,
there was no community
of Wayne. Fields, orchards,
brooks and woodland
supported isolated farmers.
Long-distance roads
resulted in the need
for inns, which in turn
helped the economy.
The railroad, first
tracked in 1832, brought
visitors.
By the beginning of
the 19th century, Wayne
comprised several churches,
a sawmill, a number
of schools, a hardware
store and Radnor Scientific
and Musical Hall. Between
1864 and 1870, James
Henry Askin bought 293
acres of farmland. These
properties, covering
the center of current
Wayne, formed his estate:
'Louella', named for
two of the purchaser's
daughters, Louisa and
Ella Askin. His mansion
(Louella House) was
completed in 1866 and
was later used by the
Armitage School and
then as a hotel in the
1890's. It is now Louella
Apartments. Louella
developed into modern
Wayne after A.J. Drexel
and George W. Childs
completed their plans
to build a model suburban
community.
The railroad stop, once
called Cleaver's Landing,
was renamed in honor
of General Anthony Wayne
(many items of the General's
personal battle and
ceremonial regalia are
on display in the U.S.
Mint in Philadelphia).
Because of easy rail
access to Philadelphia,
Wayne joined other railroad
stops as a summer resort.
The summer trade was
capitalized on and the
Bellevue Hotel was built
in 1881. It accommodated
up to 200 guests and
had a boardwalk to the
train station. After
nineteen years of service
to the community, the
Bellevue was destroyed
by fire in March 1900.
The Bell Atlantic building
now stands on the site.
The next natural progression
for such a thriving
area was an increase
in the development of
homes. In 1889, six
styles of house were
advertised ranging in
cost from $3500 to $7000.
By the end of that year,
100 homes had been built
north of the railroad.
Of course, merchants
followed population
and Wayne was a thriving
town by the turn of
the century, with sixty
daily trains to the
city. It had, in fact,
become one of the country's
first planned suburbs.
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Waynewood Hotel
Pictured
above is the Waynewood Hotel, now
the Wayne Hotel, circa 1907. |
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When summer trade fell off
for want of the Bellevue Hotel,
the Wesley Hotel was opened
on North Wayne Avenue. Then,
in 1906, The Waynewood Hotel
(now the Wayne Hotel) was
constructed by Jonathan D.
Lengel for Mr. Charles Wood.
A painting of General Wayne
in the woods was commissioned
to hang over the fireplace-hence
'Waynewood Hotel.' The brick
and half-timbered building
was a wonderful example of
the Tudor Revival style of
architecture.
In March 1926, the Hotel was
purchased by Paul N. Furman
and was brought under the
management of Main Line Hotels
Corporation. Nearly $50,000
was spent to make the newly
named Wayne Hotel one of the
most completely equipped,
most modern and most home-like
small hotels in Pennsylvania.
Bathrooms were added, running
water was placed in every
room that was not equipped
with a bath, and retiring
rooms were installed for men
and women. New linen, silver,
glassware, china, blankets
and bedding were purchased
and many rooms were refurbished.
Extensive work was done on
the dining room, which was
made more cheerful and inviting.
The brochure described the
Hotel in the following terms:
"This delightful hotel
in the beautiful Main Line
is particularly suited to
the tourist interested in
Philadelphia and its landmarks.
With the broad lawn and fine
old elm trees, Wayne Hotel
is removed from the city's
noise and heat, yet but 15
minutes by car and 30 minutes
by frequent train service
from the center of Philadelphia."
Raymond S. Wilkins was the
Manager at this time.
During the renovation of the 4th floor in 2009, staff discovered a letter from Hotel Manager H.M. Ward dated June 1935. The letter is addressed to Colonel Milton G. Baker at Valley Forge Military Academy. It confirms an agreement between the Hotel and the Military Academy for a ¼ page advertisement in the Academy’s periodical “Crossed Sabres” at a cost of $30.00. The letterhead describes the hotel’s amenities as follows: “Single Rooms or Suites, Strictly Modern, Three Restaurants, Garage, French Beauty Salon, Billiard Room, Public Stenographer”.
By 1948,
the Wayne Hotel was advertised
as the only transient hotel
between Philadelphia and Lancaster.
The Presbytery of Philadelphia
bought the building in 1959
and began renovations to ready
the building for its next
role; as Wayne Hall, it became
home to retired senior citizens.
Before the building was ready
to welcome the senior residents,
the foyer was used by Wayne
Presbyterian Church for Sunday
School.
1982 saw another change of
ownership, and having been
acquired by the Congregation
Or Shalom, Wayne Hotel was
utilized as a synagogue. Services
were held in the dining room
and the rooms on the second
floor were used for religious
study. The building was vacated
in 1984.
Soon after, Wayne Hotel was
purchased by local entrepreneur
Stephen W. Bajus and re-opened
on September 10, 1985. The
Hotel had undergone an extensive
$1.5 million refurbishment
and had been restored to an
elegance of time past, complete
with amenities expected by
the modern traveler. Leon
Toroian was consulted on design
and created a classic mood
with Victorian accessories.
A sprinkler system and air-conditioning
were installed during the
refurbishment. By August 1987,
the Pennsylvania Historic
Preservation Board was considering
the Hotel for nomination to
the National Register of Historic
Places. On November 5, 1987,
Wayne Hotel was officially
entered in the Register. In 2011 the hotel completed its most extensive renovation since being built.
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| " The
Hotel had undergone an extensive
$1.5 million refurbishment
and had been restored to an
elegance of time past..." |
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Restored to its
Former Beauty
The extensive
renovation by new owner Stephen
W. Bajus restored the Wayne Hotel
to an elegance of time past. |
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139 East Lancaster
Avenue, Wayne, PA, 19087 •
610-687-5000 Tel • 1-800-962-5850 Res • 610-687-8387 Fax
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