TITLE:  Forty Years of Milford History

Over forty years ago, a group of residents became concerned that the local history and memorabilia of the Milford area were disappearing with the demise of older residents. As a result, the Milford Village Council asked local residents  on Oct. 26, 1972, to form a Steering Committee for possible establishment of an historical society in Milford.

The rest is history. Requested by the then Village Manager, J. Stewart Brophy, a group of fifteen met regularly and laid the groundwork.

The Founding Fifteen: Dr. Henry Stricker, Grace Stricker, J. Stewart Brophy, Michael Tripp, Mildred Coe, Lillian Atwood, Elizabeth Hubbell, Margaret Rowe Mastick, C. Elaine Skarritt, Georgia Watkins, Frank H. Coe (Co-Chair), Myrtle Rowe, Arthur Geyer (Co-Chair), Mary Lou Gharrity and Helen Lee.

By October, 1973, the by-laws and letters of incorporation were filed and 65 people joined the Historical Society as members. Then, on February 15, 1974 – almost forty years ago -  with an election of officers the Milford Historical Society was born

Dr. and Mrs. (Grace) Henry Stricker were the curators

Mary Lou Gharrity was the President of the Board of Directors

C. Elaine Skarrit – the 1stVice-President

David P. Bennett the  2nd Vice-President

Myrtle Rowe the Secretary and

Georgia Watkins, the  treasurer.

The Civic Center Complex on Atlantic Street was being built at this time, so the Society petitioned the Village Council for the use of the old Weisbrod house. The house, at 124 Canal Street, had been ”temporarily” used as the home of the Milford Village offices, Township offices and Police Department for fourteen years. The Village agreed, as long as the “Y” and Youth Assistance could share the space., which they didf or a number of years.

For three years the current museum was gutted, restructured, scrubbed, painted and prepared . The Grand Opening and Dedication were on May 16, 1976.  The museum was furnished by the generosity of Milford area families either giving or lending articles and continues to receive donations. Hundreds of volunteers have cleaned, docented, installed, repaired, gardened, and helped in numerous ways over the years.

In the 1980’s , members of the Milford Historical Society researched, wrote and published a history of Milford in the book “Ten Minutes Ahead of the Rest of the World”. Milford  Village was documented and researched to become a National Historic District. The Oak Grove Cemetery Project resulted in repairs and updated records. The play “Milford Memoroies” was written and performed as the beginning of the Milford Memories” annual fair in 1992.

In addition to the museum, The Milford Historical Society hosts an annual Home Tour to showcase the importance of the preservation and restoration activities in Milford.  The Granny’s Attic Sale and Mary Jackson House Teas in Spring and Fall,  weekly tours for scouts and school-age classes, plus assistance with genealogy, home preservation and restoration,  and bi-monthly historic presentations at our famous pot-luck dinner meetings – open to all. Our newsletter – started in 1975, continues to be sent six times annually.

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WRITTEN BY: C. Watkins