History being restored at Milford’s Parson Thorne Mansion
1730s-era structure known as city’s oldest building
By Elle WoodMILFORD — The Parson Thorne Mansion is a landmark in the city, and upgrades are underway to keep its status as such.
Thought to have been built by a founder of Milford, the Rev. Sydenham Thorne, the Northwest Front Street building was constructed around 1730, surrounded by farmland. Now, its yard has been reduced to a few acres.
Since 1961, it has been maintained by the Milford Historical Society, which works to keep the mansion’s history alive.
Ralph Prettyman, a board member of the society, owns and operates the structure. He also oversees its restoration.
“Over the years, as with any old buildings, you constantly have to do work on it,” he said. “We have spent thousands and thousands of dollars doing various work.”
Funding comes via grants from Delaware Preservation Fund and the Community Reinvestment Fund.
Most recently, there has been a fresh coat of paint added to the walls, and new wood has replaced some worn areas. Plus, parts of the roof have been fixed, and heating and air-conditioning systems have been installed in each wing.
As the society receives more funding, it hopes to continue with renovations.
“One of our goals is to preserve the building, as it is known as the oldest building in Milford,” Mr. Prettyman said. “We have been getting additional funds recently through grants to do even more work.”
The goal is to have visitors feel as if they have gone back to the 1700s. Mr. Prettyman said one way to achieve this is through the use of a paint consultant.
“Years ago, we hired a paint consultant out of Annapolis, (Maryland,) and she went through the interior and exterior of the building and took samples,” he said. “She has the ability to take those samples back layer by layer and identify the paint that was used, the consistency, the texture and color.”
He added that it’s not just an old building.
“We want people to be able to come in here and feel like they are coming into a well-maintained building, rather than something that is falling down and feels old,” Mr. Prettyman said. “Anytime you build something, it’s new for a while, and then, you need to maintain it over the years.”
The Milford Historical Society is an all-volunteer organization, so many of its members do not have much time to lend. Therefore, the site is only open on the first Saturdays of May and October.
However, Mr. Prettyman said the group hopes to add a few more to the team to open the mansion more often.
“This place is an asset,” he said. “We want to be able to have more events here and have it open more often.”
For information about the society and the mansion, visit the group’s Facebook page.
