Drexler House at 22 N. Atlantic Avenue in Bethany Beach is one of the historic Bethany Beach homes and cottages featured on the 4th Annual Historic Coastal Towns Cottage Tour on Saturday, October 9th, 10 am-4pm
In 1904, Louis and Elizabeth Drexler moved their family from Pittsburgh to Bethany Beach. They built this house in 1905 and it remained in the Drexler family’s possession for 112 years and later served as a guest house (note room numbers 1 to 7 on the bedroom doors). Louis Drexler, known as “the Bull Moose,” served in the State House and Senate of Delaware.
The current owners, Tracy and Cliff Heiden of McLean, Virginia, bought the house in 2016 from the Drexler descendants. According to Tracy Heiden, “We wanted a place with history, a place where everyone can be together and where we can build our own memories of that story.” A bronze plaque in the front yard identifies the house as part of the Town of Bethany Beach Historic Trail .
As viewed before the purchase, the 116-year-old house was completely free of mold, mold or termite damage, which proves its high-quality construction and preservation. Many of the unique aspects of the original home have been preserved, including a mezzanine gallery above the family room, built-in wardrobes in the foyer and kitchen, and the porcelain cupboard in the dining room. The original large, double-hung, single-glazed windows have weathered many storms. The Drexler’s 6-foot wooden table remains in the dining room.
The interior renovations carried out by the Heidens included painting the dark wooden walls (typical for houses of the early 20th century) and refinishing the floors. The bedrooms remain as they were, with the exception of # 3 and # 4, which are now used as storage. The bathrooms and the kitchen have been completely renewed. And the exterior, also originally dark wood, was painted blue. A sign on the porch announces the new name of the house: “Blue Haven, Established 2016”.
A limited number of tickets are available for the Historic Coastal Towns Cottage Tour. You can go to Made By Hand (Route 1, South Bethany), Gallery One (Route 26, Ocean View), Bethany Beach Books (downtown Bethany Beach), Bethany Beach Town Hall (on tour day only), and. Can be purchased online at www.thequietresorts.com. Tickets are $ 25 each and the proceeds will support the developing Coastal Towns Museum at 40 West Avenue in Ocean View.
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