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St. Davids
1911-14
Currently Eastern University
Walmarthon was the home of Charles S. Walton, a leather manufacturer who had lived in Wayne previously. He lived in St. Davids in a house designed by Horace Trumbauer. This residence was also named Walmarthon, the name being a combination of his wife Martha England’s first name and his last. In 1911 Walton bought property adjoining Francis Fenimore’s land. David Knickerbacker Boyd designed the mansion and its adjoining buildings. Boyd had designed several notable buildings in his native Wayne, but this was his largest estate project. The estate was 40 acres, including three lakes, which Walton graciously let Wayne residents use. Besides the main house, there were several outbuildings including a small log house, a large greenhouse, a seven-car garage, a three-horse stable, a springhouse complete with water wheel and a large gate lodge. All these buildings were designed in the same Mediterranean style, a combination of Northern Italian villa and California mission. Some outbuildings even had towers similar to that of the main house. The interior of the main house had a different style in each room. For example, the main staircase was elevated with ionic columns, the ceiling of the billiard room was vaulted, and the the library was Jacobean. In 1918 a silent film directed by Ira M. Lowry was filmed at Walmarthon. The film, "Oh, Johnnie!" was filmed both inside the estate and on the grounds. It was a Western-themed comedy, and showed many parts of the estate, including the waterwheel, a party on the patio, and swimming in Willow Lake. The Walmarthon estate has been converted to college use, having become Eastern College in 1952.
1892: C.S. Walton moves to St. Davids
1905: Walton becomes president of England & Walton leather goods manufacturers
1911: Construction of Walmarthon begins
1914: Walmarthon completed
1916: Log cabin and greenhouse complex completed
1918: Silent film "Oh, Johnnie!" filmed at Walmarthon
1935: Walmarthon put on market; attracts no buyers
1950: Estate sold to Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary
1952: Becomes Eastern College
2001: Eastern College becomes Eastern University
Click on the images to see larger versions
- Walmarthon was profiled in a 22-page article in the November, 1915 issue of the Architectural Record. These images are from that article:
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| Front of mansion |
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Mansion and lake |
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Pathway |
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| Rustic walkway |
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Rear of mansion |
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Rear (another view) |
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| Mansion rear, near garden |
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Garden area |
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Port-Cochere |
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| Interior |
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Patio |
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Billiard Room |
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| Fireplace |
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Smaller fireplace |
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Garage & Waterwheel |
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| Gate Lodge & Plan |
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Log Cabin & Plan |
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C.S. Walton's original house in St. Davids, which he also called "Walmarthon."
Online Source
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A visiting family enjoying the lake at Walmarthon.
From "Radnor: A Pictorial History"
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The same family, boating on the lake.
From "Radnor: A Pictorial History"
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| Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library |
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Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library |
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Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library |
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| Interior of the log cabin.
Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library
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A magazine article about the cabin.
GP Collection
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Magazine article, continued.
GP Collection
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| Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library |
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"Billy," a Cherokee Indian who did work on the estate.
From "Radnor: A Pictorial History"
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Advertisement from when the estate was first up for sale.
Online Source
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Sources:
© 2005 Wayne History Online / Greg Prichard
Page Last Updated : 4 November 2005
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