The Jehu Reed house was hidden in plain sight, right at the intersection of Bowers Beach Rd and Route One (Bay Rd) in Little Heaven, Delaware. This landmark and historic building was often overlooked by people who passed it, whether driving by daily or just once a year for vacation. The house itself had a rich history and, very, unfortunately, faced imminent demolition in July 2017.

The Jehu Reed House is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and when the bulldozers moved in, we lost yet another piece of the First State’s incredible history. Luckily, several Delaware photographers have recognized the significance of the house, and in an effort to preserve its history, have extensively photographed the mansion and its grounds. Come check out the natural beauty of this abandoned mansion in Delaware.

The property where the house once stood belonged to the related Newell-Sipple-Reed families beginning in 1685.
Wikimedia Commons / Jeffrey Brown
The original house was constructed in 1771, for Henry Newell. Jehu M. Reed's father took over the residence in 1827, and in 1868 the house was expanded for Jehu M. Reed. Mr. Reed is best known for advancements in agricultural science, and he may have been the first to plant a peach orchard in the United States, right on this property.
The Mansion's architecture is unique, too.
Facebook / Bowers Beach Maritime Museum
It is an excellent example of the rural Mid-Atlantic style that blended Georgian and Italianate and Victorian plantation houses. Originally, the house was a two-and-a-half-story home, and upper floors and additional bays were added over the years. The house was expanded several times to keep up with Jehu Reed's extravagant lifestyle and agricultural ventures. At one point, there was a rooftop observatory, but that was gone by the 1930s.
The Reed Estate once included 250 acres of farmland.
Facebook / Bowers Beach Maritime Museum
Reed turned the property into a profitable farm with his entrepreneurial agriculture methods, and the house had several barns, stables, storage buildings, and milk houses while it was in use.
You can see how the interior of the building had fallen into disrepair toward the end.
Facebook / Tyler Capanna
It's hard to believe that the Mansion was occupied as recently as in the year 2000, as reported by the University of Delaware.
These photos of the interior are part of Tyler Capanna's attempt to preserve this gorgeous structure.
Facebook / Tyler Capanna
The floorboards and walls have collapsed, but there are still remnants of the lives that lived in these hallowed halls.

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Interestingly, it almost seems as if the previous residents just up and left!
Facebook / Tyler Capanna
These National Geographic magazines are dated in the 1990s, and they were just left when the mansion was abandoned. The current owner, Jeff Pardee, would have loved to restore the mansion, but the funds were impossible to come by.
Looking at the mansion, it's easy to imagine its past as a grand estate.
Facebook / Tyler Capanna
Though it was overgrown and in disrepair, it was still an impressive piece of Delaware's history, and you can tell it was once the most important tract of land in the area.
The ivy and vines that wind up the walls of the Jehu Reed house add to the mystery of the building, and help it blend in with the surrounding landscape.
Facebook / Tyler Capanna
You can see more of Tyler's photos of the interior and exterior here.
Sadly, right before demolition, the home was significantly damaged by a Nor'Easter, and a front wall collapsed.
Jon Lloyd Jr
This historic abandoned mansion in Delaware, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, is now but a mere memory, captured only in photographs.
In a state full of history, it's sad to see something once so grand taking a fall.
Google Maps

The Jehu Reed house is not the only abandoned mansion in Delaware, of course. Bancroft Mills is perhaps the most well know, but we even have an abandoned amusement park that’s turned into a regular park! What are your favorite abandoned places in the First State? Are there any that we absolutely must check out?

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More to Explore

Abandoned Mansion In Delaware

Marisa Roman | October 20, 2021

Where is the creepiest attraction in Delaware?

Out of all of the creepy places in Delaware to visit, we have one that might top the list every time. Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island is known for its role as a prison constructed in 1859 for Confederate Prisoners of War during the Civil War. However, with nearly 3,000 people who died on-site, it’s no wonder that this is considered one of the most haunted places in the world. Many guests visit for the slice of history in this old fort, but true paranormal fans visit for all of the potential hauntings that may arise.

What are the most haunted places in Delaware?

With so many haunted places in Delaware to consider, it’s only right that we take the best of the best and turn them into one epic road trip. This haunted road trip in Delaware takes about five hours total drive time and will stop at some truly spooky places. Kick it off with, of course, Fort Delaware mentioned above. Then drive your way over to Crabby Dick’s in the Delaware City Hotel, which is a renowned spot for paranormal activity. Also, this road trip will take you to Woodburn, the Governor’s House in Delaware, which has one of the most famous ghost stories to ever come out of the state.

Can I visit any abandoned places in Delaware?

While we got the creepy and haunted places out of the way, what about visiting some abandoned places in Delaware? As the oldest state in the nation, it’s only right that Delaware has some abandoned places that nature has begun to reclaim. For instance, Bancroft Mills in Wilmington has quite a few places where the buildings are closed, but nature has reappeared to reclaim the area. Or the Jehu Reed house we mentioned above, which is now demolished, was once a place where you can visit and see a natural beauty up close.

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