Wayne Hotel
Also known as: Wayne Wood Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 by local builder Jonathan D. Langel for Charles H. Wood, the Wayne Hotel rises five stories on a hill at the corner of Waynewood and Lancaster Avenues in Wayne, Radnor Township. It was erected to serve the summer resort trade after the Bellevue Hotel, a 200-guest establishment, burned in 1900. Its Tudor Revival design uses brick, stucco and false half-timbering, with a front porch, bay windows, and a semicircular dining room projection on the east side. The interior retains a coffered-ceiling lobby, a library, and a dining room with original woodwork, and it contains thirty-four bedrooms. Over the years the building served as a community meeting place, a church retirement and nursing home, and a synagogue. It is regarded as the only commercial Tudor Revival building in the township and one of the best preserved turn-of-the-century commercial buildings on Route 30, which is why it was listed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is an outstanding example of turn-of-the-century commercial architecture and the only commercial building in Radnor Township designed in the Tudor Revival style. It is also described as one of the best preserved examples of that period's commercial architecture along the Route 30 corridor, and it served as a community focal point and meeting place.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001966, listed November 5, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 139 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | November 5, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001966 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jonathan D. Langel (builder) |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states that in 1985 the present owners returned the building to its original function as a hotel. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Downtown Wayne Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.04409, -75.38635 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001966.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7976343
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.