IDelaware is in the midst of a wave of neglect and tear-downs of historic structures. Here is a short list of some of the treasured buildings that have recently been destroyed:

 

• Summerton, a 166 year-old mansion in Middletown, was torn down May 2016 to make way for a new Royal Farms convenience store, gas and diesel dispensers, and parking. According to historical records, the 5.5 acres Summerton residence was commissioned to be built by John P. Cochran, a wealthy landowner who went on to become Delaware’s 43rd governor.1

   

• Hedgelawn, also known as the Kohl House, was a historic home located near Middletown. Built in 1856, it was an "L"-shaped, 2 ½-story, five bay, clapboard-clad frame dwelling with a flat roof. Hedgelawn was the home of William R. Cochran, son of John P. Cochran, the 43rd Governor of Delaware (1875-1879). On April 30, 2017, Hedgelawn was burned to the ground in a controlled demolition, in order to make way for a motorcycle retail business.2 Hedgelawn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

   

• Lawrence, a unique 19th-century Greek-revival mansion in Seaford, was demolished in July, 2017.

  The house is referenced in several books on architecture and history of Delaware, including a 1926 book called simply “Delaware” and compiled by the state Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Markets. In that book, Lawrence is pictured as one of the five finest houses in the state. “A significant part of Seaford's history for 180 years has been destroyed by people who owned it for only a little over two years," said Seaford Historical Society spokeswoman Anne Nesbitt. Lawrence was one of just two examples of temple-front, Greek-revival architecture in Delaware (The other, the Thomas England House, near Smyrna, was a restaurant and was torn down a few weeks after Lawrence.3 Lawrence

  was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

   

• Woodlawn, also known as the Thomas England House was built in Smyrna in 1741 on land deeded by William Penn to Thomas England in 1709. The National Register noted that the Thomas England House was one of only two temple-front, Greek revival pieces of architecture in Delaware. The other was torn down years ago, so Thomas England was the only one left in Delaware.4 In addition to its architectural significance, the building was part of the Underground Railroad.5 On the weekend of July 14, 2017, the Thomas England House met the wrecking ball and bulldozers to make way for a development project by Liborio III, LLC of Smyrna, Delaware. Woodlawn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

   

• The Jehu M. Reed House, located at the junction of Del. 1 and Bowers Beach Road in Little Heaven, was also demolished in July, 2017. The original portion of the house was built in 1771 by Henry Newell. It was eventually expanded in 1868 by Jehu Reed, an agricultural pioneer and benefactor whose advances and techniques in farming helped foster Delaware’s peach and apple industry.6

  The Jehu M. Reed House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Note: The National Register of Historic Places does not prevent property owners

from demolishing a listed structure.

1http://www.sussexcountian.com/news/20160504/hundreds-attend-farewell-picnic-of-mansion

2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgelawn

3http://www.laurelstar.com/index.cfm?ref=42568&ref2=107

4http://delawarestatenews.net/news/historic-thomas-england-house-demolished/

5http://www.russpickett.com/history/sites.htm

6http://delawarestatenews.net/news/historic-jehu-m-reed-house-demolished-kent-county-loses-two-historic-homes-span-days/

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