# Sudler House

Sudler House is a historic home located in Bridgeville, Sussex County, Delaware. Constructed originally around 1750, the house features a two-story, six-bay frame structure sheathed in cypress shingles and exhibits elements of vernacular architecture. The initial three-bay section of the house was expanded during the Federal period, resulting in the current six-bay facade.
Inside, the Sudler House boasts a number of distinctive architectural details, including a beautifully designed staircase featuring square balusters, with an unusual double carved bracket trim and a paneled base. The house has historical significance as a site where renowned Methodist preacher Francis Asbury (1745-1816) preached.
The Sudler family held ownership of the property from 1833 until 1971, demonstrating its long-standing significance in the region's history. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 1974, marking its importance as a site of historical and architectural value.

## Historical Context

The Sudler House, recognized as the oldest known house in Bridgeville, is named after Dr. John R. Sudler, a local physician and farmer who acquired the property in 1833. The original three-bay hall-and-parlor section of the house was constructed circa 1750, with a unique floor plan that includes both an exterior end chimney and an interior corner chimney, which is uncommon in the North West Fork Hundred area.
During the Federal period, the house underwent significant enlargement that resulted in its current appearance. Notable interior features include a delicately carved wooden swag cornice in one of the second-story bedrooms, as well as a panelled staircase. The property also includes the only known brick ice house in the district.
The history of the land on which the Sudler House stands dates back to 1684, when a patent for 1,200 acres named Attawattacoquin was granted to Christopher Nutter, an interpreter for Native Americans. The name Attawattacoquin is derived from the Algonquin language, meaning "village in the clearing of the woods by the river." Initially, a log cabin served as the first dwelling erected on the property.
As the oldest known domestic structure in Bridgeville, the Sudler House’s earliest sections were standing by 1730, in addition to having accompanying structures such as a springhouse, icehouse, barns, and stables. The land was a focal point of historical developments, particularly surrounding the completion of the Mason-Dixon Line survey in 1767, which led to a new patent being granted by the proprietors of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
In the 18th century, key religious figures in American Methodism, including John Jessop and Freeborn Garrettson, were associated with the house and property, which enhanced its historical significance. Before eventually being sold to Dr. John R. Sudler, the property was owned by several notable individuals, including Dr. John Carey, Bridgeville's first physician.
The Sudler House was officially recognized as a historic landmark through its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and its inclusion in the Historic American Buildings Survey Registry as part of a special Bicentennial project honoring the original thirteen states.