General Wayne Inn

General Wayne Inn
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	Merion, Pennsylvania
Coordinates:	40°0′33″N 75°15′13″W
Built:	1704
Architect:	Unknown
Architectural style:	No Style Listed
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	76001655
Added to NRHP:	January 1, 1976

The General Wayne Inn located at 625 Montgomery Ave in Merion, Pennsylvania is a tavern on the National Register of Historic Places. Established in 1704, it was previously named the William Penn Inn, Wayside Inn, Tunis Ordinary, and Streepers Tavern before being renamed in 1793 honor of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne who had once stayed there. There is a legend that the building is haunted by numerous ghosts, including a handful of Hessian soldiers. Edgar Allan Poe was a frequent visitor of the inn and carved his initials in one of the window sills in 1843. Jim Webb, one of the more recent owners of the inn, was found murdered there in his office in 1996, a year after having purchased the business. His murderer turned out to be his business partner Guy Sileo, who killed him for life insurance money and to prevent him from shutting down the inn and ending their partnership. Sileo ended up convicted of the crime and sentenced to life in prison. Felicia Moyse, a 20-year-old assistant chef at the inn (and witness in the Jim Webb murder), committed suicide on February 22, 1997. Her suicide was never solved but it is believed that as she was used as an alibi in Jim Webb's murder, she may have realized it and been unable to live with it.

Recently it has been purchased by Chabad of the Main Line, and has been converted into a synagogue and Center For Jewish Life.

Famous people

Famous people who visited here include:

• William Penn
• Anthony Wayne
• George Washington
• Edgar Allan Poe
• Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette

References

• Weird Pennsylvania by Matt Lake