General Wayne Inn
Historic former tavern in Merion, Pennsylvania
United States historic place
General Wayne Inn | |
 | |
40°0′33″N 75°15′13″W / 40.00917°N 75.25361°W / 40.00917; -75.25361 | |
| Built | 1704 |
|---|---|
| NRHP reference No. | 76001655[1] |
| Added to NRHP | January 1, 1976 |
The General Wayne Inn is a former tavern and, since 2005, an Orthodox Jewish synagogue located at 625 Montgomery Avenue, in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Tavern history
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Established as a tavern in 1704, it was previously named the William Penn Inn, Wayside Inn, Tunis Ordinary, and Streepers Tavern before being renamed in 1793 in honor of American Revolutionary War hero General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who had once stayed there. The Inn gained fame for rumors of being "haunted" and was later featured on Unsolved Mysteries.[2]
Murder and suicide
Executive chef James Edwin “Jim” Webb and his business partner Guy Angelo Sileo, Jr. bought the General Wayne in 1995. Webb was found murdered there in his office on December 27, 1996. Felicia Moyse, a 20-year-old assistant chef at the inn and Sileo's girlfriend, committed suicide on February 22, 1997.[3]
Moyse had been an alibi witness for Sileo. On the night of the murder, she and Sileo left the General Wayne at the same time, driving to dinner in their separate vehicles.[3] Sileo doubled back, killed Webb using a gun later linked to him by forensic evidence, then rushed to arrive at dinner before Moyse.
Police believe that Moyse realized her boyfriend had set her up as his alibi and was unable to live with it.[3][4]
Police proved that Sileo had killed Webb in order to receive the $650,000 (equivalent to $1,263,000 in 2023) life insurance money from their partnership policies, before Webb could end their partnership and shut down the General Wayne.[5] Sileo was convicted in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison.[5]
Famous people
Famous people who visited the inn include:
- Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
- Julius Erving
- Benjamin Franklin
- Dylan Gelula
- William Penn
- Edgar Allan Poe
- George Washington
- Anthony Wayne
Synagogue
| Chabad of the Main Line | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Chabad-Lubavitch |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 625 Montgomery Avenue, Merion Station, Pennsylvania 19066 |
| Country | United States |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 2005 |
| Website | |
| chabadmainline | |
In 2005, the building was purchased and renovated as Chabad of the Main Line, an Orthodox Jewish congregation that practices in the Chabad-Lubavitch rite. Located on the Philadelphia Main Line, the congregation converted the former tavern into a synagogue and community center.[6][7]
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ Weilbacher, Mike (2006). "Haunted history and the rebirth of the General Wayne Inn". Mainline Times and Surburban.
- ^ a b c "Murder on the Menu". Forensic Files. February 8, 2006. HLN.
- ^ "General Wayne Inn". Famous Haunted Houses and Places. Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained.
- ^ a b Hessler Jr., Carl (June 1, 2012). "General Wayne Inn killer chef sees latest appeal denied". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "General Wayne Inn". Chabad-Lubavitch of The Main Line. 2012. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012.
- ^ "About us". Chabad of the Main Line. 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
Further reading
- Lake, Matt (2005). "Hessian Mercenaries Haunt General Wayne Inn". Weird Pennsylvania: Your Travel Guide to Pennsylvania's Local Legends and Best-Kept Secrets. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-1-4027-3279-9.
External links
- Chabad of the Main Line official website
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-144, "General Anthony Wayne Inn, 625 Montgomery Avenue, Narberth, Montgomery County, PA", 1 photo, supplemental material
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