Milford: Victorian Gems in South Milford

 

A delightfully detailed gable window in South Milford

 Milford has so many historical gems that it has not one, not two, but three separate historic districts. I’ve talked about the Shipyard Historic District in this blog post and North Milford Historic District in this blog post.

We also explored South Milford Historic District , also known as Victorian Historic District. Milford first developed on the north side of the Mispillion River, then spread to the south side in the mid-1800s. So many of South Milford’s buildings were built in the mid to late 1800s. 

Unlike some other towns along the Delaware Bayshore Byway. Milford’s economy boomed in the late 1800s. One reason is that its shipbuilding industry continued until the early 20^th century. Another reason is that, unlike most towns along the Delaware Bayshore Byway, Milford had a railroad running through it. Milford was a major shipping point for peaches until they were hit by a blight in the very late 1800s. Yer another reason for Milford's continuing prosperity is that two brothers who were dentists began manufacturing dental products in Milford in 1895, quickly becoming major employers here.

On our visit, we focused on just two streets in South Milford: South Walnut Street and Causey Avenue, which becomes Lakeview Avenue.

At 121 South Walnut Street is the Old Post Office. It was built in 1920 in what I think is Neo-Classical style. It’s now the Milford Museum, which has free admission but was closed when we visited.

Old Post Office, now Milford Museum

Prettyman House, at 210 South Walnut Street, is an elegant Colonial Revival house built around 1909.

Prettyman House in South Milford

Powell House, at 302 South Walnut Street, is a lovely Queen Anne house built around 1898. Notice the beautiful shingles in the triangular gable

Powell House in South Milford

At 307 South Walnut Street is a house built around 1905. I think it's Neo-Classical, although Neo-Classical houses typically have front pillars that run 2 stories high. I love the Palladian window in the gable under the roof and the beautiful double brackets under the eaves. (UPDATE 8/26/2021: In my original post I referred to this as Ratcliff House. This house is known as the Short House, not to be confused with the I. D. Short House pictured later in this post.)

Ratcliff House in South Milford

The house at 309 South Walnut Street was built around 1870 in Gothic Revival Style. (UPDATE 8/24/2021: In my original post I referred to this as the former Christian Science Building. That is at 301 South Walnut Street.)

309 South Walnut Street in South Milford

At 310 South Walnut is one of my favorite houses in Milford: the delightful little Gothic Cottage. It was built around 1870 in Carpenter Gothic style.

Gothic Cottage in South Milford

Walk back down South Walnut Street and turn left on Causey Avenue. At the intersection of Causey Avenue and South Walnut Street is Causey Mansion , the oldest house in South Milford, at 2 Causey Avenue. Unfortunately it’s surrounded by trees and shrubs, so you can only see a glimpse from the street.

View of Causey Mansion from Causey Avenue in South Milford

We were fortunate to get permission to walk down the driveway and get a better look.

Causey Mansion in South Milford

Causey Mansion was originally built in 1763 by Levin Crapper in Georgian style. Two governors have lived in it: Daniel Rogers and Peter Causey. Causey remodeled it in Greek Revival style in 1855. The beautiful band of narrow windows under the roof was a popular Greek Revival touch.

Near the driveway but not visible from the street is a rare surviving slave quarter. Again, we were fortunate to get permission to walk down the driveway.

Causey Mansion slave quarter

This slave quarter was built around 1806 of stuccoed brick. The Gothic trim under the roof would have been added later.

On the other side of Causey Avenue are The Plaza Apartments at 5 Causey Avenue. It’s an Italianate house built around 1860

The Plaza Apartments in South Milford

A couple of doors down is Garrison House at 11 Causey Avenue. Built around 1906, it’s another lovely Queen Anne.

Garrison House in South Milford

A block further down, at 100 Causey Avenue, is another delightful Queen Anne house that I think was built in 1885.

100 Causey Avenue in South Milford

At Maple Avenue, Causey Avenue becomes Lakeview Avenue. Here, at 100 Lakeview Avenue, is Milford Railroad Station or Train Depot It was built in the early 1860s. Today it houses business offices.

Milford Railroad Station

Lakeview Avenue has some of Milford's most magnificent houses. At 200 Lakeview Avenue is Draper House, also known as Vaules-Grier Home.

Draper House, also known as Vaules-Grier Home, in South Milford

Draper House was built around 1870 for Thornton Vaules, Milford’s first railroad station agent (apparently a lucrative position in those days!). Believe it or not, it was originally in Gothic Revival style.

Vaules’ son-in-law was Layton Grier, a dentist who had a thriving business manufacturing. dental products such as fillings and synthetic porcelain with his brother Frank Grier. Layton Grier and his wife inherited this house after Vaules’ death. In 1907 Layton Grier remodeled it into the Queen Anne style you see today. The house is known as Draper House because Layton Grier’s grandniece Rachel and her husband Thomas Draper owned it from 1977 to 1990.

At the corner of Lakeview Avenue and King’s Highway is I. D. Short House.

I. D. Short House in South Milford

Built around 1870, this is a rare example of a Classical Revival house in Lower Delaware. It’s loaded with beautiful details. Look at the side door and the front porch’s columns and roofline, for example. I couldn’t find any online information on I. D. Short or how he came to build such a magnificent house.

At 301 Lakeview Avenue is Lakelawn, also known as Grier-Rogers House or Grier House. Today it’s Rogers Funeral Home.

Lakelawn, also known as Grier-Rogers House or Grier House, in South Milford

Lakelawn was built around 1890-1895 by Frank Grier. Frank and his brother Layton Grier, who owned Draper House, were brothers, dentists, and (obviously very prosperous) business partners manufacturing dental products.  I’ve read that Lakelawn’s architectural style is a form of Queen Anne called Free Classic, but the house is too symmetrical to be a Queen Anne.  The double columns on the first and second story porches and the elaborate doorway lead me to I think it's an early Neoclassical. Frank Grier remodeled the house in the early 1920s to remove some original embellishments such as a widow’s walk. President Warren Harding visited Lakelawn in 1923.

John Rogers bought Lakelawn in 1948, and it has been Rogers Funeral Home ever since.

Before you leave, take time to explore Milford’s pretty and remarkably thriving downtown., which includes a theater.

Downtown Milford

Milford Theater on right and Milford's town clock

 And don't forget to stroll the Riverwalk along the Mispillion River!