Bradley house demolition request understandable
Last year, public discussion surrounded a proposal to demolish an old house in Lewes at the corner of Mulberry and Third, the heart of the town’s historic district. One of the arguments presented suggested that while demolishing an historic structure and rebuilding it with a building of similar style has merit, even with original pieces, such a process cannot preserve the spirit that infuses a house after centuries of occupation.
That argument was correctly taken seriously and factored into the town’s final decision to deny the demolition request.
Now comes a request from Bethel United Methodist Church to demolish the house on Savannah Road that has been vacant since its previous owner, Earl Bradley, was arrested, convicted and jailed - for life - on multiple charges of sexual assaults on children in his care at his pediatric practice. Bethel acquired the property - backing up to its church complex on Fourth Street - in the aftermath of the Bradley conviction with the hope that some positive use could ultimately be found for the tainted property.
Like the Mulberry Street house, the Bradley house is in the town’s historic district. It is a contributing structure, representative of architecture from a century ago, and has been occupied by a number of families. But given the spirit that has pervaded the structure since its tragic and sad Bradley chapter, the same reasoning that contributed to the decision against demolishing the Mulberry Street house could be used in reverse to grant Bethel’s demolition request. That’s not a spirit the City of Lewes wants to help preserve.
At the same time, city officials could counter that spirit while also preserving the house’s architectural contribution to the historic district by allowing the church to renovate the structure and rent it out - perhaps in partnership with Beebe Healthcare - as a center for child psychiatric and related medical services sorely lacking in Sussex County. Bethel could take the lead in transforming a site linked to tragedy into a place of healing and recovery.
Bethel officials haven’t yet said what their intent for the property would be if the building were demolished. It’s safe to say, however, that few, if any, want to see the structure continue on in its present derelict state.
