The Original St. Katharine's Church

St. Katharine of Siena Catholic Church was one of the later churches to be built in Wayne, ca. 1893. Preceding it were Wayne Presbyterian, First Baptist and St. Mary's, though the inclusion of a Catholic church was essential to the plan of the town founders to provide religious edifices of all kinds to incoming residents. This photograph, taken by Harry D. Richards of Llanerch and dating from April 12, 1934, shows the original church at the corner of Aberdeen and Lancaster Avenues.

At right is the edge of Mitchell's, a grocer, on the site of today's Taco Bell. On the street corner in front of the church is a small pavilion used by police officers who would direct traffic when necessary. Also visible is a stop sign for drivers on Aberdeen Avenue (though there is none on Lancaster); today it's hard to imagine anyone getting through this intersection without the stoplight! St. Katharine's still occupies the same corner, though with a larger, more modern building.

- Greg Prichard,