Neglected 250-Year-Old Home in Darby, Pa. Could Face Demolition
By John Ostapkovich
DARBY, Pa. (CBS) -- Demolition is among the options under consideration as Darby Borough considers what to do with a 250-year-old house that has fallen into disuse.
But there is also a proposal for renewal.
Woodmount House has been vacant for 20 years, and it's expensive to keep cleaning the lot and boarding up the windows.
"There certainly are some cosmetic problems, and the windows need to be replaced, but it had good bones," says John Haigis, of the Darby Historical Commission. "The web site darbyhistory.com has a link to 715 Darby Terrace. There's a picture of some of the beams in that place. It is a very solid, stone building."
Haigis says the developer-owner of the tract has given preservationists six months to come up with a plan and financing, to turn it into... what?
"We're looking at affordable housing and/or a bed and breakfast," says Haigis. "We're starting a group, Friends of 715 Darby Terrace."
Haigis says there are just so many wonderful old buildings around here that it's tough to generate any wonder.
