Most of Wayne’s most historical structures can attribute their existence to five men. W. L. and F. L. Price were the architects of most of the houses in North and South Wayne. Herman Wendell and Frank Smith were a team of builders who built mainly houses designed by Price in North and South Wayne. The team of David K. Boyd and Jonathan Lengel built some of Wayne’s most recognizable landmarks, both past and present.

F.L. and W.L. Price

William L. Price Internet Source

William and Frank Price were a duo of architect brothers who formed their alliance in 1881. Their designs for North Wayne, and later South Wayne, houses were among their first commissions. Little is known about Frank Price, although his brother has become somewhat famous. Only now is William Lightfoot Price beginning to gain some of the acclaim that he has deserved for so many years. He began his long career designing houses, some of the first of which were in North Wayne. His designs were mature beyond his years; Price was only 22 when he began work designing for Drexel and Childs in 1883 with his brother, Frank L. Price. William continued to design houses after Wayne, including large mansions, and the developments of Rose Valley, Pennsylvania and Arden, Delaware. Price moved on to much bigger projects, including Pennsylvania Railroad stations in Fort Wayne, Chicago, and Indianapolis. As time progressed, Price’s houses evolved from shingles to stucco, and his designs became very ahead of thier time. He went on to design three enormous Atlantic City hotels: the Traymore, Blenheim and Marlborough. After his death in 1916, Price’s work was nearly forgotten, and the fabulous hotels which he designed everything for, including furniture and interiors, were all demolished. It is just now coming out that Price had a large effect on the architectural community, and that he could have been one of the fathers of the art deco style.

Herman Wendell was born in Philadelphia in 1852. He was educated by his mother since an accident at age 11. He became an apprentice carpenter at age 16.

Little is known about his future partner, Walter Bassett Smith, although he was a real estate developer from Haverford. He was at a time also George W. Childs' private secretary. This association could have led to the partnership's hiring by Childs and Drexel.

Herman Wendell and Frank Smith formed a partnership in 1885, and happened to be hired by Drexel and Childs that same year to build the houses designed by Frank and Will Price, among other architects including Horace Trumbauer and David K. Boyd. The duo and their workers had much success in the North Wayne job, building over one hundred houses north of the railroad. Their job in Wayne was not done. After North Wayne the pair moved to South Wayne around 1890 to build the latest designs. They even had thier own office custom designed by the Price brothers. The duo then moved to Overbrook Farms to build the development there. Herman Wendell took up residence in North Wayne on the corner of Beechtree Lane and Radnor Street Road shortly after construction in North Wayne was completed. His house was a variation of the Pillar House, one of the most common designs in the neighborhood. His property, extending to Walnut Ave., was five acres. It included his main house, a stable, and a Flemish House he built for his mother. The property also included putting greens, for Wendell was an avid golfer. It is said that when snow was on the ground, he used a red golf ball so he wouldn't miss a single day of playing golf. 

---

Horace Trumbauer

Internet Source

Horace Trumbauer was born in Philadelphia in 1868. Like many successful architects, Trumbauer left school at an early age, and became an "errand boy" for the architectural firm of G.W. and W.D. Hewitt. Here he learned the trade and soon his talent became evident. He opened his own office at the age of 22, in 1890. His first commission was for a house in Narberth. Trumbauer began his career in Wayne's houses with a simple design in North Wayne. This design had a large sloping roof coming down the front of the house, with a tower on one side and a chimney on the other. It is unclear whether this design had been made before or after he set up his firm. It turned out to be a successful design and was produced six times in both North and South Wayne. In the 1890's Trumbauer designed some of South Wayne's largest and most elegant houses, many of which were on Louella Ave. His designs used stone heavily and usually included towers. Trumbauer also designed some of the area's most recognizable mansions, including Woodcrest for James William Paul and Androsson for Robert Montgomery. His other designs include Willow Grove Amusement Park and the Newport mansion "The Elms" for Edward Julius Berwind. More information on Trumbauer can be found in the new book by Michael C. Kathrens, "American Splendor: The Residential Architecture of Horace Trumbauer."

---

David K. Boyd and Jonathan D. Lengel

David K. Boyd Internet Source

David Knickerbacker Boyd’s first assignment as an architect was for several Wendell & Smith houses in Wayne, Radnor and St. David’s. At the time he was working with his brother in a firm called Boyd & Boyd. Eventually the two separated, and David started his own practice which he ran until 1914. He became very influential in the architecture and building codes of Philadelphia and New York, and is quoted as being one of the only people to propose a set-back principle to the design of skyscrapers. Boyd oversaw the construction of almost every building in Philadelphia, and by 1931 had designed, supervised or directed 3,000 buildings. Although he had a major influence on the world of architecture on the east coast, one place whose influence of Boyd is most evident is Wayne. Many of the landmark buildings in Wayne built from about 1890-1910 were designed by Boyd. All of the buildings designed by Boyd were built by Jonathan D. Lengel. Although their association is probably limited to Wayne, it is interesting that the two would maintain such a close business relationship.

---

Minerva Parker

Internet Source

Minerva Parker, a rare woman architect, is only known to have designed one house in Wayne, a style seen three times on Walnut Ave. (although one of these houses burned down in 1899). Parker (later Minerva Parker Nichols) is often called Philadelphia's first woman architect. She was inspired by her architect grandfather, and graduated from the Philadelphia Normal Art School. Parker not only designed her buildings, but supervised their construction as well. One of her contractors was quoted as saying "She not only knows her  business but mine too." Parker died at the age of 88 in her daughter's house, which she had designed.