“Mary Dixon Memorial Chapel, East Main Street, south side, on Church Square; c. 1884; three story, three bay Gothic Revival style polychromatic stone chapel with bell tower; part of Linden Hall, oldest girls’ school in United States, founded in 1748 in Moravian congregation; chapel designed by Willis G. Hale of Philadelphia.” Our Present Past, page 200, Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.

 Above: The unusual round-ended dormers are characteristic of the work of Architect Willis Hale. Originally the roof displayed even more drama, as the roof was covered with red and yellow tile from Akron, Ohio.

  Philadelphia architect Frank Furness was among the most creative and highest-paid American architects of his time. His outside-the-box buildings followed no rules and blazed their own trails.
Architect Willis Hale, who designed the Dixon Chapel, was much influenced by Frank Furness. Hale borrowed Furness’ enthusiasm for unconventional building forms and exuberant ornamentation.
Both Philadelphia architects influenced C. Emlen Urban, who became Lancaster’s most important homegrown architect. In the 1880s Emlen Urban was an apprentice / draftsman for Willis Hale in Philadelphia. Emlen Urban’s work for Hale included the Dixon Chapel.