Description of
Wayne
Estate,
The Property of
Drexel & Childs,
On the Pennsylvania Rail Road,
Delaware County.
The following is the complete text from a pre-1900 brochure advertising life
in Wayne. It was published by Frank Smith, one of the partners of the Wendell
& Smith builders, the primary company that developed Wayne. The brochure
boasted engravings of various scenes and draws of Wayne, including the station,
the Bellevue, and Louella, all of which are depicted here.
Wayne Station
The
suburban village known as “Wayne,” on the Pennsylvania Railroad,
fourteen miles from Philadelphia, differes so much from the ordinary town allowed
to grow up hap-hazard and to develop conveniences as popluation increases, that
it is necessary, in describing it as it appears, to keep in mind some facts
about its history. Wayne is not an accidental aggregation of cottages; it is
a town built by design, and provided at the start with all the conveniences
to which residents of cities are accustomed and which they are so apt to miss
and long for when they go into the country or even into the suburbs of a great
city. The scheme of the town was well thought out and planned before any of
the new cottages were built, and, as it was undertaken by liberal gentlemen
of abundant means, no expense was spared in the preliminary municipal work.
In the first place, the site was well chosen for its healthful elevation and
the conveience of its situation, within half an hour's ride of Broad street
station, and extending along the line of the road so as to embrace within its
limits three station -- St. David's, Wayne and Eagle. The land has good natural
drainage and has on it natural springs of pure water, from which the supply
of the water works is drawn.
The first tract bought by Messrs. A.J. Drexel and George W. Childs comprised
about five hundred acres belonging to Mr. J. Henry Askin, and subsequent purchases
of adjoining properties increased the site of the new settlement to over six
hundred acres. The tract was carefully surveyed, borad streets laid out, and
a complete system of drainage provided under the direction of Col. George E.
Waring. Water-works and a reservoir capable of holding three hundred thousand
gallons of pure spring water were also built, and two and a half miles of distributing
water-pipe were laid, to carry water to every cottage, store, hotel and public
building in the place. An electric light company has also been formed, and from
a central station using the Edison system the streets and coattages are furnished
with electric lights. These are the general municipal improvements which provide
Wayne with water, light and drainage -- the three great conveniences of a large
city -- by the most approved modern methods. In these respects Wayne is in fact
better provided for than any city, large or small, in the country. Its streets
are broad, shaded, well-graveled; and Lancaster Pike, which runs through the
town, is a fine Telford road from Philadelphia to beyond Devon.
Besides these advantages which in a city are provided for in a more or less
perfect way by the corporation, and seldom with the liberality displayed at
Wayne, the town has two public halls -- one of them seating four hundred and
fifty people, two well-appointed hotels, churches, stores, schools and a post-office.
Telephone and telegraph lines run to and through the property.
It is to be expected that a settlement with all these natural and artificial
advantages should attract to it a class of resident house-owners who take pride
in making their individual properties comfortable, attractive, and in entire
harmony with their surroundings. Much is accomplished by fashion; and, in a
new town, given the right drift by an example of thorough work, neatness and
artistic landscape effect, all the new-comers naturally adopt similar means
of beautifying their own homes, that they may not be conspicuous among their
neighbors. The liberal policy of the projectors of Wayne has had this effect,
and there is no prettier settlement of small and medium-sized properties on
the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, than that which clusters about the old
"spread Eagle Hotel" and stretches out from there to Louella Mansion and beyond.
But it is not alone landscape and architectural attractions, not even household
conveniences, that recommend Wayne to those who are seeking suburban homes.
These alone, would not be so highly esteemed if the healthfulness of the site
and its from malarial conditions did not first recommend it to all who are seeking
pure air. The great elevation of the ridge on which Wayne has been built, insures
pure air and its free circulation. Hay-fever sufferers find relief, if not cure,
in its atmosphere, and visit the hotels every year, while many cases of asthma
have been cured by permanent residence at Wayne.
Wayne Hall and
Opera House
A
visit to Wayne is the only means of obtaining a clear idea of its beauty and
advantages, but something may be accomplished by describing what is to be seen
there, and such description may afterwards serve as a guide to those may desire
to examine for themselves. A half-hour's ride from Broad street station takes
you to Wayne station; and a short walk up Wayne avenue, past several fine cottages
on either side, brings the visitor to Wayne Hall and Opera House.
This building is three stories high, built of brick, with plastic (plaster)
front; it cost about $30,000. A large general store occupies the first floor,
and above is a lecture room, forty by sixty feet, seating about four hundred
and fifty persons. The Wayne Hall building contains the office of the Superintendent
of Wayne, who represents the owners of the property. The Hall is at the intersection
of Wayne and Lancaster avenues. On the opposite side of Lancaster avenue are
Queen Anne cottages, adjoining the grounds of Bellevue Mansion, which is beautifully
situated on Lancaster avenue.
The Bellevue
It
is a charming summer resort. Four porches run entirely around the mansion. The
building is very large, luxuriously furnished, and, with its fine grounds and
out-buildings, cost over $80,000.
West of Bellevue Mansion are other handsome cottages and grounds, sold to and
occupied by prominent business and professional men of Philadelphia. Still further
west is the Spread Eagle Hotel, an old historical structure.
On
the Conestoga road, or old Lancaster pike, at its intersection with Wayne avenue,
stands the old Baptist church near which General Anthony Wayne is buried. At
the corner of old Wayne road and Bloomingdale avenue in the reservoir, which
cost $30,000 and has a capacity of three hundred thousand gallons. It is supplied
with pure spring water, and is more than four hundred and fifty feet above tide-water.
There is a pleasant ascent to the reservoir, and the top has been fitted up
as a promenade and eating place and is provided with rustic seats. From the
reservoir a fine view of the town may be obtained. Handsome houses are built
on Bloomingdale avenue, which is the popular promenade to the reservoir. Going
north-east on Wayne avenue another cluster of neat cottage is passed; and beyond
Audobon avenue are two new stores, opposite Wayne Hall, occupied as a drugstore
and post-office and a bakery and refreshment saloon.
Wayne Presbeterian
Church
On
Lancaster avenue, east of Wayne Hall, is the handsome, well-built Presbyterian
church, and beary by are three fine brick cottages, and east of them the Louella
Mansion, a popular summer resort, which is one of the great attractions of the
estate. It is a splendid stone mansion with eighty rooms, and is surrounded
by a spacious porch looking out upon a finely-kept lawn, that extends along
Lancaster avenue for one thousand feet and is decorated with shrubbery, shade-trees
and flowerbeds. East of Louella Mansion is the old Carpenter homestead, or "Maule
farm," and on the opposite side of Lancaster avenue are the water-works, with
a large retaining-pond, from which water is pumped into the reservoir. Adjoining
the Mansion is a livery stable, with stall-room for on ehundred horses and ample
accommodations for carriages.
Louella Mansion
On Lancaster avenue, east of Aberdeen
avenue, there is another group of neat brick cottages. They contain nine to
twelve rooms each and are fitted up with all the conveniences of modern city
homes. On Wayne avenue, north of the railroad, are a number of smaller frame
cottages, and back of St. David's station a recent purchaser has converted
an old stone country farm-house into a picturesque modern mansion.
The Episcopalians have secured a fine lot on Lancaser avenue, opposite Louella
Mansion, and will shortly begin the erection of a church.
The electric light, introduced a year ago, has greatly brightened Wayne and
increased conveniences. Wayne Hall, which is a great public convenience, is
being repaired and refitted, and when the improvements are completed and electric
lights have been introduced it will be the handsomest public hall between
Philadelphia and Lancaster.
There are no building restrictions at Wayne, repairing the construction of
a special kind or class of houses, and purchases of lots are free to build
such homes for themselves as they may desire, according to the deeds, the
only restrictions being that no factory, tavern, or places of business, can
be built.
There are about twenty-five trains daily, each way between Broad street and
Wayne station; and those who may desire to visit the place, can select trains
at almost any hour of the day that may be convenient to them, and so arrnage
it as to have from one to several hours for examining the place. In the early
spring and summer it is a pleasant trip through a beautiful section of the
country, and will undoubtedly be one of advantage to those who contemplate
building or buying a suburban home.
The Manager will, at all times, be pleased to take visitors over the ground,
locate lots, show plans; or give any information desired by mail.
Desirable lots, half an acre to five or ten acres, within easy walking distance
from Wayne, St. David's, and Strafford stations, can now be secured.
Address,
FRANK SMITH, Manager,
General Wayne P.O., Penna.
Sources:
© 2005 Wayne History Online / Greg Prichard Page Last Updated : 25 August 2005
