The King of Prussia Historical Society is often contacted by curious folks trying to find out the history of their family, neighborhood or home. Most recently we were contacted about a property at the corner of Croton and Radnor Roads which is now on the market.
This cabin, at 1171 Radnor Rd, Wayne, is very unusual for the Upper Merion area; more like something you’d find in the Poconos. While the cabin is thought to have been constructed around 1930, it sits on a corner with a rich history. The area was once the site of Hughes Saw Mill that made gun stocks for the Civil War. There was briefly a quarry at the site. The Colonial Village Swim Club followed and in the late 1980s the Springbrook housing development was built.
We’re still not sure who built the cabin that is for sale or why. Perhaps they were caretakers for the Swim Club, or perhaps they worked for Ms. Emily Exley.
The corner had also been home to an Indian School; a boarding school where Native American children spent their summers learning to be “American” in an effort to get the Native Americans to integrate into the American Culture. The Indian School closed down at the beginning of the 20th Century, and was eventually purchased by Ms. Emily Exley in 1926 who already owned a cabin up the street on Radnor Hill Rd, the Exley Log Cabin, aka Cherry Garth. This cabin dates back to 1648, with the original part of the structure being one of the oldest – if not the oldest – surviving cabin structure in Pennsylvania.
This is a lot of history for just one little corner of Upper Merion. Imagine the historical treasures the rest of the town holds. That is part of our mission – to research and preserve the rich history of our township. Please consider joining the King of Prussia Historical Society to support our efforts, and remember to share your stories and consider sharing your photos, videos, and memorabilia to add to our archive.
1117 Radnor Rd Wayne (property for sale)
Photo courtesy of Radnor Historical Society