Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Some things have not changed in 120 years.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
This photograph, a glass plate negative, is found in an unlabeled Radnor Historical Society collection of images from an 1890s South Wayne family. This image shows how the art of decorating for the holidays was a less precise exercise in the Victorian era, though no less festive. Resembling a progenitor of the "Griswold Family Christmas Tree," this tree appears as a mass of pine branches more than a well-defined tree that fits perfectly in its place. Still, it is a joyful sight which reminds us that the holiday season was as important to people who lived here 120 years ago as it is to us today. - Greg Prichard, Radnor Historical Society
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Fallons built a row of homes on the south side of Windermere Avenue, all now demolished and replaced with Windermere Court.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
While Wendell & Smith are well-known as being the developers of most of Wayne in the late 19th century, much less is known about the smaller (but not insignificant) development of George P. Fallon. Both George and his brother, Christopher, lived in Wayne as early as 1885, and soon after purchased a portion of the land then being subdivided by George W. Childs and Anthony J. Drexel. Of course Wendell & Smith, the famous developers of North Wayne, South Wayne and suburban communities elsewhere, purchased the lion's share of the Drexel/Childs land, George P. Fallon (possibly in partnership with his lawyer brother) managed to buy a few contiguous lots. They built a row of homes on the south side of Windermere Avenue, all now demolished and …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Might future generations regret the loss of buildings like Radnor's Wyeth labs?
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Friday, December 14, 2012
One of Radnor's largest landmarks, often overlooked in plain sight, is the Wyeth Laboratories complex, built in 1957. Though the property has changed hands several times over the years, the original Wyeth buildings are currently threatened with development of the site. It may be difficult to imagine, but the Wyeth labs were an architectural showpiece when first constructed. The buildings, designed by the prestigious New York firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, were featured in a 6-page spread in the nationally-distributed journal "Architectural Record" in April, 1957. Though these buildings might not be thought of as great works of architecture today, it is interesting to read the designers' intent in the 1957 article: "The architects …
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Can you guess this location and the date of its construction?
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
The building in this rendering is subject of an important "first" in Wayne. Can you guess the location and the date of its construction? Answer: This building was built in 1928 on North Wayne Avenue, as the first restaurant on the block that is today's "restaurant row." Though many of the restaurants along the avenue today operate in re-purposed storefronts (today's Teresa's, for example, had previously been a drapery store on the left and a paint store on the right), this was the first dedicated restaurant building in town. It was built for J.M. Fronefield, longtime local realtor, by contractor Charles B. Palmer from plans by architects MacKenzie & Wiley. The first tenant was the "Venice Cafe," owned by Attelio Orazi and Thomas Umani, who…
Thursday, November 8, 2012
This program is from the 1933 game, when the two teams faced off at Villanova Stadium before a crowd of about 10,000 spectators.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
This past Sunday Radnor defeated Lower Merion in the 116th meeting of the local high school football rivals. The first game between the two neighboring schools took place on North Wayne Field in 1897. It has not been played each year continuously since then, as there were no games in 1901 or 1905 according to "Radnor High School: A Century of Spirit." The game does make Wikipedia's list of 100+ Year High School Football Rivalries though it is uncertain how the Radnor/Lower Merion rivalry compares in consecutive games to the older rivalries on that list. This program is from the 1933 game, when the two teams faced off at Villanova Stadium before a crowd of about 10,000 spectators. Though the numbers are far less today, spirit has in no …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
This 1880s brick house still stands (sort of), but it's hard to spot.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Radnor Historical Society's Greg Prichard gave this challenge on Tuesday: The brick house in the middle of this image of late 19th century Wayne might not be easily recognizable, but it is still standing (in a sense). Can you guess where it is? (The procession of men in robes and a structure in the background are clues!) Answer: The brick house was home of J.C. Pinkerton, one of a row of homes built along Lancaster Avenue in the late 1880s. It was built at the corner of Louella Avenue, and in the 1920s, stores were built around it at the first floor, with apartments above. The gambrel/mansard roof of the home can still be seen peeking out above the stores of that block, which include Argus Printers, The Velvet Shoestring and Aux Petit …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tell us where this 1880s brick house still stands (sort of).
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The brick house in the middle of this image of late 19th century Wayne might not be easily recognizable, but it is still standing (in a sense). Can you guess where it is? (The procession of men in robes and a structure in the background are clues!) The answer will be posted tomorrow on Radnor Patch. - Greg Prichard, Radnor Historical Society
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Originally this land was set aside as a park for North Wayne residents, with tall trees and two ponds.
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
Here is one final look at the park that once existed on what is now the 200-block of North Wayne Avenue. Though homes were built there ca. 1919, originally this land was set aside as a park for North Wayne residents, with tall trees and two ponds. Last week's photo showed an almost identical view, before development had begun. In this view the old farmhouse is gone and several new homes on Walnut Avenue are visible in the background. The large home at 116 Walnut Avenue (just out of view to the right), best known as the residence of the Dr. George Miles Wells family, adjoined the parkland. Later atlas maps show that the park became part of the Wells property before the land was subdivided. - Greg Prichard, Radnor Historical Society
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
It seems likely that feeding water to these ponds on North Wayne Avenue was an appropriate solution for the 1880s.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Last week we saw an image of a park that once took up the east side of the 200-block of North Wayne Avenue, which is today the location of several houses built ca. 1919. While in use as a park, this land contained ponds fed by Gulph Creek. It was a truly bucolic spot that appears to have been mowed and well-maintained. This view, ca. 1887, shows one of the ponds and surrounding foliage, though behind it all there is little evidence of the development to soon come to North Wayne. There are some traces of the construction of the homes of Walnut Avenue visible behind the trees, but the only building that can be seen is a stone farmhouse at the left, soon to be demolished for new homes on Oak Lane. Dealing with storm water has been a …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
When developers Wendell & Smith began construction of North Wayne in the late 1880s, they left a few areas unbuilt, evidently on purpose.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
There has been much discussion lately about the storm water problems of North Wayne, particularly with last week's Board of Commissioners meeting where a proposal was presented to turn North Wayne Field into a storm water basin. This park, a miraculously undeveloped parcel located between the railroad tracks and houses on North Wayne Avenue and West Beechtree Lane, was originally the playing field of the Radnor Cricket Club. When developers Wendell & Smith began construction of North Wayne in the late 1880s, they left a few areas unbuilt, evidently on purpose: Poplar Avenue, which was reportedly swampy, and the portion of North Wayne Avenue pictured here, now the east side of the 200-block. Despite the fact that North Wayne Avenue is the …
Tracy Pulos
7:48 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Thanks for posting these articles - love the insights into local history! more ›