Getting to Know Milford Through the Mispillion Riverwalk

Looking east at the Mispillion River and Riverwalk from downtown Milford

Milford is different from other towns we’ve seen so far along the Delaware Bayshore Byway. First, it’s a lot bigger—there were far too many historic buildings here for us to see during our half-day visit. Second, while many individual buildings have been preserved, overall it’s not a preserved town like Port Penn, Odessa, Leipsic or Little Creek. Everywhere you look, there are modern buildings next to historic ones. So, while you can learn what life was like here 100-200 years ago, you won’t feel transported back in time as you might in other Delaware Bayshore Byway towns.

Like all towns along the Delaware Bay, Milford historically made its living from the water. Here plenty of giant white oak trees in the 1700s and 1800s plus a navigable river meant the major industries were sawmills and shipbuilding. Shipbuilding was already thriving here by the 1780s, when the Reverend Sydenham Thorne built a dam across the Mispillion River to generate power for his gristmill and sawmill. About the same time, Joseph Oliver laid out the first city streets and plots on part of his plantation on the north bank of the Mispillion River. (The rest of Milford, south of the Mispillion River, was largely developed in the 1800s. The two parts of Milford are in two different counties: Kent County north of the river, and Sussex County south of the River.)

Shipbuilding is such an important part of Milford’s history—there were once six shipyards here—that we decided to start our exploration of Milford by taking the Mispillion Riverwalk, sometimes referred to as the Mispillion Greenways Walking Trail. We found a map on page 15 of the Mispillion Greenway Walking Trail and Tour. Unfortunately, the map is hard to read (it looks like a scan of a paper booklet) but, once you get started on the Riverwalk, you’ll see wayfinding signs to help you along.

We started at the Riverwalk’s west end on Maple Avenue. Parson Thorne’s dam was here, but the site is obscured by an active railroad that isn’t safe to cross, so we didn't try to find it. The Riverwalk first follows a canal.

East end of Mispillion Riverwalk

We spotted a couple of turtles on the canal bank enjoying the sun.

One of the turtles we saw along the Mispillion River bank

We soon started seeing small painted boats displayed along the Riverwalk.

One of the model boats along Milford's Art Stroll

This stretch of the Riverwalk is also part of Milford’s Art Stroll. These boats are models of the Augusta, the first yacht built in Milford, at Vinyard Shipyard in 1927.  Each boat is painted with a theme that in some way honors Milford. It’s fun to study them and try to figure out the connection. The boats are a charming tribute to Milford’s shipbuilding heritage.

At North Church Street, the Riverwalk vanishes for a block. You’ll need to go a block north on North Church Street and a block east on Front Street to rejoin the Riverwalk, now on the south side of the Mispillion River.

The Riverwalk vanishes along this block.

The Riverwalk crosses South Walnut Street, which is now the heart of Milford’s thriving arts scene. The Art Stroll continues on this street, but we’re saving that for another visit.

South Walnut Street, Milford's arts district

Past Walnut Street, the river widens and the views are even nicer.

Mispillion Riverwalk just east of downtown Milford

At Franklin Street, the Riverwalk again vanishes for a block. Cut through a parking lot over to Columbia Street, then turn left on Columbia. In half a block you’ll be at the midst of the Shipyard Historic District, at the site of the Vinyard Shipyard.

Vinyard Shipyard in Milford

This is the shipyard that built the 1927 yacht Augusta, whose cheerfully painted models you’ve already seen. Founded in 1896, it was the first Milford shipyard to build motorized ships. It specialized in luxury wooden yachts like the Augusta, but it also built submarine chasers for both World Wars. As fiberglass hulls took over wood, the Vinyard’s sales declined, and it closed in the mid-20^th century. The shipyard been recently purchased and restored.

The Vinyard’s experience mirrored those of other Milford shipyards. After decades of building fine wooden ships, the shipyards closed in the early 20^th century when the last of the local giant white oak trees were cut down.

To find the next leg of the Riverwalk, continue on Columbia Street for one more block to the river. Here the river bends, and the views are some of the nicest in Milford.

Mispillion River, looking east from near the Vinyard shipyard

Mispillion River, looking west from the eastern end of the Riverwalk

The Riverwalk ends at a footbridge crossing onto Goat Island.

Footbridge onto Goat Island, as seen from Goat Island

A very pleasant half-mile nature trail loops around the island. We were a bit concerned about a sign warning of “Difficult accessibility,” but we think it simply means that the trail is not paved and might be a challenge for people with mobility issues.

Sign at entrance to Goat Island nature trail

The trail is very well mulched, and we had no problems.

Goat Island nature trail

The views of the river are lovely here. It was hard to believe we were in the middle of a busy town.

One of the views of the Mispillion River along the Goat Island nature trail.

Another view of the Mispillion River from the Goat Island nature trail

Altogether this was a lovely day, and we can’t wait to come back and see more of Milford.