Wayne Cricket Team, 1890

This photograph, dated ca. 1890, shows a cricket team from Wayne.

At the time many nearby towns had their own cricket teams and clubs (of which Merion may be the last), and Wayne was fortunate to have many sportsmen among its earliest residents.

The man with the black beard, second from the left, was Herman Wendell, whose firm Wendell & Smith built the house where these men are gathered, as well as the so-called Merryvale Clubhouse, where the team met. Merryvale, which also went by the name Radnor Cricket Club and Wayne Country Club, was located between the railroad, West Beechtree Lane and the backyards of several homes on North Wayne Avenue.

The old playing field is now North Wayne Park. Next week we will take a look at this old athletic club.

Greg Pricahrd,