Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Milford // 1870

Buildings of New England1 Comment

The grand St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Milford, Massachusetts, was built in 1870 and is tied to the period of great growth and prosperity for the community. After the Civil War, the quarrying and sale of the iconic local Milford “pink” granite boomed, and thousands of immigrants moved to the area for work, many of them Irish-born, bringing their traditions and religion. The local Catholic church was led by Father Patrick Cuddihy, who oversaw a building campaign and expansion of the church here in Milford. In the 1860s, Father Cuddihy hired architect, Patrick C. Keely to design the edifice, built of local granite quarried by many congregants. Once the foundation was laid for the church Keely was tasked to oversee the design of the new Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, so he abandoned work in Milford, leaving the remainder of the overseeing of construction to ecclesiastical architect, James Murphy, who often worked alongside Keely. Original plans for a towering belfry were uncompleted for over a decade until 1887, when work began to erect the iconic Victorian Gothic tower, it was completed by 1888. The church remains an architectural and cultural landmark in the community which offers masses in English, Spanish and Portuguese, showing the rich cultural diversity in Milford.

Memorial Hall, Milford // 1884

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

Designed by architect Fred Swasey in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, Memorial Hall in Milford, Massachusetts, is one of the finest examples of the style in the state and is built of locally quarried Milford granite with Longmeadow brownstone. The building was constructed in 1884 to serve multiple purposes: a free public library, meeting hall for the local Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) lodge, and most importantly, a memorial to honor the Civil War soldiers and sailors of Milford and nearby Hopedale. As a true Memorial Hall, the building features cannons in the front yard and on its facade, carved brownstone panels inscribed “Farragut” and “Grant” after Civil War generals, David Farragut and Ulysses S. Grant. Inside, the main staircase features the names of iconic Civil War battles and the entry features large marble panels with the list of local men who fought and died to fight for the nation. The library moved out of the building in 1986 when the current library was built behind Memorial Hall, and since then, the space has been occupied by the Milford Historical Commission as a local history museum space.

Claflin & Thayer Shoe Shop // c.1866

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

The Claflin & Thayer Company was established in 1851 by Aaron Claflin (1807-1890) and quickly became a leading boot and shoe manufacturer in Milford, Massachusetts. The business expanded after the Civil War, and built multiple buildings on the town’s Central Street, including this early stone building constructed of locally quarried Milford “pink” granite. The building depicted here included a large engine and boilers on the first floor with two stories above housing workers and boot crimping stations. After Aaron Claflin died in 1890, the business dissolved and this building became used for storage for other corporations, with the significant, yet vernacular building sitting to deteriorate.

Gillon Block // 1888

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

Located on Main Street in Milford, Massachusetts, the stately Gillon Block is one of the town’s finest buildings and an excellent example of eclectic, late Victorian commercial architecture. The block was erected in 1888-9 for owner Patrick Gillon (1843-1899), who inherited his late-father’s distillery and bottling business in Milford, and designed by local architect Rinaldo V. Carey. The panel brick facade is divided into seven sections with a central projecting section topped by a tower capped by a copper onion dome. The four-story block included retail space at the ground floor with offices and meeting halls on the upper stories, rented to tenants and organizations.

Thom Block // 1891

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

The Thom Block on Main Street in Downtown Milford, Massachusetts, is a historic mixed-use commercial block built of locally quarried Milford “pink” granite. The structure was constructed in 1891 by owner (and likely builder), James Thom, who arrived to Milford around 1889 and was hired by the Milford Pink Granite quarries as a foreman. Mr. Thom was the target of a vicious attack by a disgruntled quarry-worker and James would submit his resignation, turning his pursuits toward a local bicycle and horse racetrack and two of the town’s semi-professional baseball teams. He also got involved in real estate, in 1891 submitting plans for this building on Main Street that bears his name. Shortly after completion, a fire gutted the inside of the building and was rebuilt. Thom’s insurance did not fully cover the loss and he defaulted on the mortgage, selling the building and moved out of Milford. The Thom Block retains the polychromatic piers between storefronts and at the corner, which feature rounded granite blocks of polychromatic polished granite. The major ornament of the upper stories is a large plaque on the Main Street facade just above the recessed entrance with two Corinthian colonettes, spanned by a frieze and plinth on which “THOM” and “1891” are carved, respectively, showing us over a century later the original owner and his story.

First Universalist Church of Milford // 1899

Buildings of New England4 Comments

In the summer of 1785, a Universalist congregation was formed in Milford, Massachusetts, making it one of the first in the United States. The Universalists here were led by some illustrious ministers including Thomas Whittemore, an energetic advocate of abolition and an ardent foe of the Fugitive Slave Law; Ebenenzer Fisher who left the Milford congregation to become the first president of what became St. Lawrence University; and Adin Ballou who, after serving the congregation for six years, established a religious commune in the Hopedale section of Milford called “The Hopedale Community” that was to become a model for similar religious organizations. The congregation grew and by the late 19th century, it was decided that a new church in Milford should be built. Local architect, Robert Allen Cook, who was then in his twenties, was hired to furnish plans for this handsome edifice, which was built of locally quarried Milford “pink” granite. Robert A. Cook was a personal favorite architect of the Draper Family of Hopedale and Milford, who likely held sway in his selection. The church was built in 1899 and remains an excellent example of Victorian Gothic architecture with large lancet window and many beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary.

Former Milford Post Office – Milford Police Station // 1911

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

The present Police Station in Milford, Massachusetts, faces the town’s Draper Memorial Park and was built in 1911-12 from locally quarried Milford “pink” granite. While currently a police station, the building was actually constructed as the town’s first purpose-built post office, and constructed after a years’ long planning process to find a suitable site, funding, and design review. When the site and funding was set, James Knox Taylor, supervising architect of the United States Department of the Treasury and supervising architect of hundreds of federal buildings built throughout the United States during the period from 1897-1912, was hired to furnish designs. When his plans were unveiled, the community protested against the use of any granite other than the locally quarried “pink” Milford granite in the construction of the local post office. Mr. Taylor conceded and after two years of delays, the Post Office officially opened in 1914. Rectangular in plan, the granite structure is Classical Revival in style with its projecting cornice, symmetrical facade, and pilasters dividing the bays on the facade. The building also included a New Deal-era mural inside. The USPS moved into a contemporary building across the park in the 1960s and the Town of Milford purchased the old Post Office, converting it to the community’s Police Department Headquarters.

Milford Opera House Block // 1881

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

While altered, the Milford Opera House Block on Main Street, stands as one of the architecturally distinctive and significant 19th century buildings in Milford, Massachusetts. As the town prospered in the decades following the Civil War, and wealthy residents, including William F. Draper, an executive with the Draper Corporation in nearby Hopedale, sought to use their wealth to improve their community. In 1880, planning began to erect an opera house building, which would bring the arts to the community, and after months of discussion and planning, funding and a site on Main Street was secured. Architect, Frederick Swasey was hired by the association, who furnished plans for the Victorian Gothic building to contain five retail stores on the ground floor with an auditorium above capable of seating 1,100. The building suffered from a fire in 1912 and use as an opera house ceased and starting in the 1920s and the building began showing moving pictures. Later in the 20th century, the building was altered with the storefronts enclosed, windows on upper stories changed, iron cresting at the roof and clock face removed, but the building still retains its ornate entrance and is an important landmark on the town’s Main Street.

Chapin – Reed Octagon House // 1854

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

One of the rare examples of an intact Octagon house in New England, the Joel Chapin House in Milford, Massachusetts, is the only of its kind in the town. The octagonal brick residence was built for Joel Chapin (1822-1864), a produce and meat dealer in town, who resided here until his death. By the end of the 19th century, the house was owned by Anna Jourdain, who married James E. Reed, an early African-American photographer based in New Bedford They resided in the octagon house and their family members owned the property for nearly 100 years.

Henry E. Fales Mansion // 1866

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

The Henry E. Fales Mansion sits prominently on Walnut Street in Milford, Massachusetts, as an intact Second Empire style residence with symmetrical facade and form. The house was built in 1866 and owned by Henry E. Fales (1837-1897) an attorney and state legislator who was heavily engaged in town affairs. Before the home was completed, Henry’s wife, Violet, died unexpectedly and he remained here until his second marriage to Clara Hayward. The Fales Mansion has a notable mansard roof with belvedere, front gambrel gable with ocular window, and window hoods. The property is in need of some work, but retains nearly all of its original detailing.

Luther P. Jones House // c.1868

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

While the town of Milford, Massachusetts is arguably best known for its commercial and institutional architecture, there are some excellent examples of preserved homes of nearly every style and vintage. The Luther P. Jones House on Pearl Street is an interesting example of the Italianate style with unique low-sloped gable roof and typical bracketed cornice, side piazza, and bay window on its facade. While the former arched window has been enclosed and the porch columns have been replaced, the house still maintains its architectural significance as an excellent example of its style. The property was owned by Lydia and Luther P. Jones, a provisions dealer, until their deaths in the early 20th century. 

Milford Congregational Church // 1819

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

The town of Milford, Massachusetts, incorporated from its “mother town” of Mendon in 1780 and decades later, after the War of 1812, the young town began discussions to build a new town hall. From 1741 when Milford was set of as a separate precinct, through its incorporation, all governmental functions were held at the meetinghouse, which served both religious and governmental functions. By 1819, it was decided that a new town hall structure would be built in town as residents with other religious affiliations did not want their tax dollars going to a separate institution. The Congregationalists too began construction on a new church, this building, in 1819. The Federal style edifice with towering steeple was largely reconstructed in 1868, when the church was enlarged at the rear, raised to allow a full basement, and the facade “modernized” in the Italianate/Romanesque style with round arched openings. The church was again renovated in the early 20th century, converting it back to the more traditional, New England Colonial Revival style with fanlight transoms and large Palladian window. The congregation today remains active and offers sermons in Portuguese, providing a house of worship for the large Brazilian-born population in Milford.

Milford Armory // 1912 

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

A source of local pride, the Milford Armory building on Pearl Street in Milford, Massachusetts, is an architectural landmark in the community and shows how adaptive reuse can give old buildings new life. The structure was completed in 1912 and constructed of locally quarried and cut Milford granite, a pinkish-grey granite that covers an area of approximately 39 square miles, centered around present-day Milford. Between the Civil War and WWII, the town of Milford became famous for its “pink” granite as a building material, with over 1,000 men laboring in dozens of quarries supplying the stone for some of America’s most iconic buildings including: the Boston Public Library, Worcester City Hall, as well as the original Penn Station and Natural History Museum in New York, among many others. Besides being built of local granite, the Armory was also designed by local architect, Wendell T. Phillips, who followed nationwide trends designing the building like a fortified Medieval castle with crenellated towers, with long and narrow windows recessed, emulating the slit windows used in similar medieval structures. Like in many communities all over the country, the need to store firearms and major National Guard trainings declined with some being demolished, others sitting vacant, and others like the Milford Armory, seeing new life. The Milford Armory was slated for closure in 2002 and was ultimately saved when the Town of Milford and the National Guard struck a deal to initially rent the building for a Youth Center and gymnasium and share the space with the Guard.  The armory was home to the popular Youth Center, which needed gym space not available anywhere else. The building was ultimately purchased by the town and underwent a massive restoration, being rededicated as the Milford Youth Center in 2016. 

Jones-Corbett Farmhouse // 1723

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

Possibly the oldest extant building in the town of Milford, Massachusetts, the Jones-Corbett Farmhouse stands as a well-preserved example of a rural, First Period residence for early settlers to the area. The Jones Family first arrived in present-day Milford in 1703, when Elder John Jones (1669-1753) settled in the area from Hull, and raised his family in the first wood-frame dwelling in the area, which was still occupied by the Nipmuc Tribe. Elder John Jones raised six children from their home (demolished in 1874), including John Jones Jr., who built this house. John Jones built this house by 1723 but after a few years, traded properties with his brother-in-law, Daniel Corbett, and sister, Sarah. The house was likely added onto with the saltbox roof as the family grew in size and prosperity, and a barn was built on the estate to house horses and other livestock. When Daniel Corbett died in 1753, among his listed property included “a negro boy, his bed and hoe”, with his enslaved young man likely residing in this home and working the property. The residence is an important piece of Milford history that tells the full story of early America.

North Purchase District Schoolhouse // 1832

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

This single-story, hipped-roof, brick schoolhouse is approximately 30’x24′ in plan and was built in 1832 for the town of Milford, Massachusetts, as one of its district schoolhouses to serve the community. After Milford incorporated in 1780, the town was divided into school districts, where area pupils would attend one of six school buildings based on proximity to their primary residence. This brick building replaced an earlier school building which was lost following a fire in 1830. The town funded construction on this school at a cost of $524. The one-room school remained in use until the 1920s, until consolidated schools and accessibility due to bus and personal automobile made getting to a centralized school building, easier. The old North Purchase District School was briefly used as the North Purchase Community House, a center for area residents to socialize and provided space for local scout groups. The building has been boarded up since at least 2009 and its future looks uncertain.