William D. Smedley

1868–1959

“Meet me at the Cabin”

William D. Smedley built or sold scores of homes in and around Narberth. His name appears on 205 Deeds recorded between 1903 and 1931 in Narberth alone.

Smedley's marketing moxie led him in 1912 or 1913 to construct an unusual new office, "The Cabin", on the corner of Narberth and Haverford Avenues. As the chart shows, it worked! 1913 was his best year ever. The Cabin was a well-known and beloved landmark until 1925, when it was demolished for the Merion Title & Trust building, still standing in 2023.

postcard, The Log Cabin, about 1915 — The Cabin appears on the left.

Meet me at the Cabin to consider the purchase of Home Building Plot, or having any kind of Building Alteration or Repairs made. W. D. Smedley — This ad ran in Our Town 1914-15.

41903

404

1405

1806

907

008

409

410

411

812

2013

714

815

316

717

918

1819

1120

1321

422

423

724

525

426

227

228

429

130

731

William D. Smedley's name appeared on 205 deeds in Narberth 1903–1931 Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds

Updated October 6, 2023.

U. S. Census

Census	Age	Race	Gender	Marital	Relation	Address	Birthplace	Father's	Mother's	As transcribed
1910	41	White	Male	Married	Head	227 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	William D Smedley	227 N. Narberth
1920	50	White	Male	Married	Head	227 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	William D Smedley	227 N. Narberth
1930	61	White	Male	Married	Head	227 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	William W Smedley	227 N Narberth
1940	71	White	Male	Married	Head	227 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania			William D Smedley	227 N. Narberth
1950	81	White	Male	Married	Head	413 Grove Pl.	Pennsylvania			William D Smedley	413 Grove 2nd fl

Census Households

Census	Name	Relation	Age	Own	Race	Marital	Birthplace	Business	Trade
1910	William D Smedley	Head	41	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	Contractor	General
	Helen B Smedley	Wife	40		White	Married	Pennsylvania
	Horace T Smedley	Son	15		White	Single	Pennsylvania
	Alice Hilda Smedley	Daughter	12		White	Single	Pennsylvania
	Deborah H Smedley	Sister	55		White	Single	Pennsylvania	Drawing	Teacher
1920	William D Smedley	Head	50	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	House	Builder
	Helen B Smedley	Wife	49		White	Married	Pennsylvania
	Horace T Smedley	Son	24		White	Single	Pennsylvania	House	Builder
	Helen L Smedley	Daughter	8		White	Single	Pennsylvania
1930	William D Smedley	Head	61	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	Bldg	Contractor
	Helen B Smedley	Wife	59		White	Married	Pennsylvania
	Helen L Smedley	Daughter	19		White	Single	Pennsylvania
1940	William D Smedley	Head	71	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	Private Construction	Builder
	Estella Smedley	Wife	61		White	Married	Florida
1950	William D Smedley	Head	81		White	Married	Pennsylvania	Building Contracting Co	Contractor
	Estella Smedley	Wife	71		White	Married	Kentucky

Borough position

Borough Council

1914 Jan 5–1918 Jan 7

William D. Smedley on FamilySearch (census & other records; requires free account)

William D. Smedley on Find a Grave