LEWES, Del. - The MERR Institute in Lewes is looking to relocate to the Green Hill Light historic site, where a lighthouse used to be, at the end of Pilottown Road. The nonprofit says it sees around 300 sea creature rescues each year and has been in desperate need of an expansion.
It is looking to relocate to the historic site to be able to add an educational facility and to make more room to care for more animals like seal pups and sea turtles.
"By having a center, that will allow so many more people to access this information and we'll have dynamic interactive exhibits, we'll have programs, we'll have lectures, and we'll have all kinds of school opportunities." said Executive Director of the MERR Institute, Suzanne Thurman.
The historic site is currently covered in debris and litter. What remains of the light keeper's house and other small structures in the forest is very little, but with moving to this site, the nonprofit plans to revitalize a forgotten piece of maritime history.
"Unfortunately it was not maintained, it has fallen into complete ruin. It's completely collapsed at this point." said Thurman, "There are some remnants of where the light stood and the little oil house where the oil was stored so we see that as potential to bring that back to life..."
Lewes local Charles Rickards said even though the history is long gone, he is eager to see it commemorated,
"It's torn down and at one time there was a beautiful house back there and the lighthouse and all of that, but times change."
The Merr Institute will be presenting these plans to Mayor and City Council to get their thoughts on the site location and the zoning requirements. That workshop is on Friday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.