Do Not Bring Down the House

The Dec. 28 demolition of a 160-year-old house at 51 Mulberry St. has the town of Springfield, Mass., in an uproar. The street gained fame in “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” the first book written by Springfield’s best-known author, Theodor S. Geisel--a.k.a. Dr. Seuss.

City historians had planned to include Mulberry Street in a walking tour to honor the prolific author, who died in 1991. They were appalled when a wrecking crew--operating without the permits that are required by town ordinance--tore down a residence on the block where Seuss grew up.

In a rage that probably would have provoked a raft of ironic verse from Dr. Seuss, town officials have filed suit demanding that the owner of 51 Mulberry St. be required to rebuild the structure.