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Theft discourages home rescuer Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Retired doctor Bruno Goossens plans to rescue this 72-year-old, craftsman-style home from demolition scheduled to make room for the new juvenile detention facility in Medford. But something�s missing: its original front door and bookcase doors, both with original beveled glass. Goossens hopes whoever took the doors will return them once they know the house is being saved. Loss of doors, glass hurts historic Medford house�s luster as move nears By Melissa Martin Bruno Goossens never looked at the craftsman-style home on 10th Street near downtown Medford without imagining it remodeled, freshly painted and relocated to Jacksonville. He knew the 72-year-old house�s owner, Jackson County, had marked it for demolition or removal to make way for a new juvenile detention center. But while the paperwork was being done to make it possible for Goossens to rescue the home, thieves broke in and stole the front door and interior bookcase doors, both with original beveled glass. "I�m hoping that somebody thought, �They are going to demolish this house so I�m going to save these pieces of art from destruction�," Goossens said. "I�m hoping that whoever took it will return it." No questions will be asked and a reward will be offered, he said. Medford Police investigated the theft, which occurred sometime over the past few months when the home was awaiting demolition or removal, said John French, Jackson County maintenance superintendent. "We had the house boarded up and we periodically go by and look at the home," French said. "But apparently, somebody broke in the back. We discovered the theft when we did a walk-through with the contractors." The beveled glass door and cabinets were part of what caused Goossens, a retired medical doctor from France, to fall in love with the home. Last spring, he got permission from the Jacksonville City Council to lay a foundation and transplant the three-bedroom home to 330 S. Fourth St. Goossens and his wife, Gisele, a retired teacher of French and art, have a second career of restoring and remodeling old homes. They moved to Jacksonville 10 years ago to raise their four children. "Look at this beautiful woodwork," said Goossens, running his hand across built-in bookshelves. "It�s in such good shape." The 1,750-square-foot home holds no vestiges of decorating trends such as wallpaper, carpet, vinyl or colorful paints. It may have been the builder who used dark stains on the Douglas fir floors and oak crown molding, but previous owners took good care of the wood. "Where would you find such nice woodwork?" Goossens wonders. "It would be a shame to waste this and see it go to Biomass One." This home�s future has a hope, but its Medford days are numbered. Jackson County received seven bids this past week from demolition companies requesting $14,000 to $60,000 to remove or destroy three homes in the 800 block of 10th Street to make way for a parking lot for the new juvenile detention center. French has been working with Goossens to help him secure the house; he passed on Goossens� telephone number to the demolition contractors and included the word �removal� in the contract. "I think it�s a great idea," French said of Goossens� efforts to recycle the old home. Once he has the home moved and restored, Goossens may rent or sell it, hopefully with all its original pieces � including the front door and bookcase doors. "I know I�m probably dreaming, but I hope someone will bring them back," he said. Anyone with information regarding the missing house parts can reach Goossens at 899-1612. Reach reporter Melissa Martin at 776-4477 or by e-mail at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.