Historical Houses 

Overview

Information presented on this page was obtained from the Town of Bethany Beach Heritage Trail brochure, Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, owners and occupants of the homes, and photographs taken while walking through town. (Click here for Heritage Trail map)  Click here for a video overview.

#1 Townsend House 

Townsend

Located at 98 Parkwood Street

The Townsend House was built in the 1920s by Priney Townsend. In 1950, the house was turned and a full length deck was added on the ocean side.

#2 The Scott House

Scott House

Located at 99 Parkwood Street

The "Sco-Hi-Tay".

Annie, Maze,Bell and Dee Scott – affectionately called “The Sisters” were from Pittsburgh.  Annie Scott, Bell Scott Heiber, and Maze Scott Taylor had the cottage built in 1928 by a local man who made chicken coops.  Dee chose to build a home in Miami Springs.

Built with indoor plumbing, the house retains its original hardwood floors, fireplace, front-to-kitchen pass through and remains in the family.

#3 Journey's End

Journeys End.jpg

Located at 101 Parkwood Street

Built in 1927 by Bess Christian, the house was enlarged in the 1930's and became a boarding house. It served as quarters for U.S. Army Signal Corpsmen in WWII. The soldiers called it "Fort Maggie" after proprietor Margaret Hughes, sister of Bess Christian. The house remains in the family.


#4 Drexler Cottage

Drexler House

Located at 99 Campbell Place, although the house number indicates 22 N. Atlantic Avenue.

Built in 1905, the Drexler Cottage was the home of State Senator Louis Drexler.

The house was moved back from the ocean three times. It is now turned 90 degrees so that its front door faces south on Campbell Place instead of east, as originally built, when the Drexler family could walk down the front steps to the beach.

#5 Errett Cottage

Errett Cottage 2

Located at 109 1st Street

William E. Errett, one of the original six Pittsburgh businessmen, who founded the Town of Bethany Beach, built this home in 1903. The home is still owned by the Errett family.

This folk-Victorian cottage is a symmetrical five-bay, one-and-a-half-story home. It has a side gable roof with a slight eave overhang supported by molded wooden brackets. The raking cornice adorns the roof-wall junction and lace-like spandrels add Queen Anne detailing to the gable pitch. An interior corbelled brick chimney is located in the ridge of the gable roof and weathered wood shingles cover the original clapboard siding. There is a large screened porch, with turned spindle supports, which encompasses the projecting gable-roof central wing. Centrally located, the wooden front door has a single large pane of glass set into the upper portion. Incised decorative detailing exists directly below the pane. Symmetrically placed, double-hung windows, exhibit a single pane in each sash.

#7 Addy Cottage
Addy 1 (2)

Located at 104 Second Street

This was the first of several cottages built by John M. Addy, one of the original six Pittsburgh businessmen, who founded the Town - Built in 1902, the house is a symmetrical five-bay, one and a half story Folk Victorian house. A cross-gable roof displays a slight eave overhang supported by molded wooden brackets. A raking cornice adorns the roof-wall junction, while lace-like spandrels add Queen Anne detailing to the gable pitch.

An interior corbelled brick chimney is located in the ridge of the gable roof and weathered wood shingles cover the original clapboard siding. A large screened porch with replaced posts and balusters encompasses the projecting gable-roof central wing.

It became the William's Inn, renting rooms from the 1930s to 1975.

#8 Lattimer Cottage

Lattimer Palmer Cottage

Located at 48 North Atlantic Avenue

Built by R. S. Lattimer, one of the original six Pittsburgh businessmen, this is a cross-gable, three bay house, with a side hall entrance and a wrap around porch. Originally covered in clapboard siding with decorative lace spandrels in each gable pitch, this house is now covered in hand hewn wood shingles.

It remains in the family of Ethel Palmer who inherited the cottage from Mr. Lattimer.

#9 The Fassitt Cottage

IMG_6935

Located at 53 N. Atlantic Avenue

Built in 1935, the house was owned by two families before being sold to Sally and Mary Fassitt in 1941. Mary married James Bennett who later became a town council member.

#10 Addy Sea

Addy Sea 1.JPG

Located at 99 Ocean View Parkway and the beach

The "Addy Sea", built in 1902 was the 4th of 5 houses built by John M. Addy and the first to have indoor plumbing. In 1935 it was converted into a guest house and is now operated as a bed and breakfast.

#15 Dinker-Irvin Cottage Museum

Capture

318 Garfield Parkway

The Dinker Cottage, built around 1902 and originally located on the south side of First Street, is now located on the south west corner of the intersection of Route 1 and Garfield Parkway at 318 Garfield Extension. During 1923 and 1924, the house served as the local Post Office. It was listed on the National Historic Register in 2018.

#16 Bethany Beach Nature Center

NC

Located at 807 Garfield Parkway

The Addy Cottage, circa 1903, houses the Nature Center on the Indian River Estuary.