The property at 136 West Main Street was built in 1903 for Tillie and Jacob Thomas, owners of the Thomas Wallpaper Factory previously located on what is now UD Parking Lot #1. In 1910, the home was purchased by Charles and Marian Blake, who occupied the home with their son Charles, a prominent medical professional in the Newark community. The home was then purchased in 1924 by John R. Downes, namesake of local elementary school, who took over Blake’s practice, serving Newark High School sports teams, the Newark Town Council, and several state-wide rural health posts. Beginning in 1933, it served as the home and practice of Dr. Arthur Mencher. Dr. Mencher was a general practitioner in Newark from 1931-1984 and the first president of the Newark Medical Society. He cared for the Newark community in the current living room and library spaces in the House. Members of Dr. Mencher’s family lived in the home until 2010, when Lang Development Group purchased the home.
From 2013-2016, Sean Locke, his brothers Kevin and Victor, and a number of his friends occupied the house while they were students at the University of Delaware. After several years of amazing memories, one of the roommates wrote “136 will always be home” on the stairwell. That writing remains today and has become one of our main symbols of Sean’s House. From 2016 until May 2020, the home remained a LDG rental property. Through the generous support of the community, the SL24 Foundation was able to purchase the house in August of 2023, ensuring a permanent location for Sean’s House.
On July 18, 2018, Sean Locke lost his battle with depression to suicide just weeks before his 24th birthday. From that darkness, the Locke family, with many friends and community members’ support, began the UnLocke the Light Foundation. As the Foundation grew and the community continued to rally around mental health advocacy, the vision of Sean’s House as a safe haven in Newark at the same home where Sean lived some of his most memorable moments with his best friends began to take shape.
Throughout the summer of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, friends, family, and community members volunteered their time, talents, and resources to renovate the former residence into a space that would support teens and young adults in the community.
In September 2020, the ribbon cutting of Sean’s House took place. Many of Sean’s friends and former roommates, who have been deemed as the “136 Boys,” were present, as were family, friends, supporters, and others that support our mission. Tina Warren, former 136 resident and granddaughter of long-time owner Dr. Mencher, was also present for this special moment. In October 2020, the lights were on and doors were officially open. They have remained so every day since.
Since then, Sean’s House has hosted thousands of visitors and guests. We have trained hundreds of youth and young adults to be Peer24 Support Specialists. Those extraordinary individuals have held thousands of free, confidential sessions with guests to help them navigate their mental health concerns. They have interrupted over 100 active crises, allowing guests to leave our space feeling safer, supported, and one step further in their mental wellness journey. From group dinners to support groups to therapy dogs to community gatherings, Sean’s House has hosted hundreds of events over the years and continues to remain a safe haven in Newark. As we expand and grow, we stay true to our origins in knowing that 136 will always be home.
