North Milford Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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North Milford Village Historic District
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Main Street at Center Park, looking south
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| Location | Historic area of North Milford Village, Milford, Michigan |
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| Area | 155 acres (63 ha) |
| Architect | Harry J. Rill, et.al. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, et.al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000391 |
| Added to NRHP | April 21, 2000 |
The North Milford Village Historic District is a special area in Milford, Michigan. It includes the main shopping street, called Main Street, from the Huron River to Summit. It also has old factory areas near the mill ponds west of Main Street, and homes located east of Main. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 because of its historical value.
Contents
History of Milford Village
Early Settlement and Mills
Milford was first settled in 1832. Two people named Elizur and Stanley Ruggles started a sawmill there. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber.
In 1836, the Ruggles brothers sold their business to Stephen and John Armstrong. The Armstrongs added a gristmill in 1839. A gristmill grinds grain into flour.
In 1838, Aaron Phelps planned out the area known as North Milford Village. He also built a dam on Pettibone Creek. This dam created the millponds that you can still see today.
By the early 1840s, Phelps had money problems. He sold his land to the Hebbard brothers. They turned North Milford into an industrial park. Soon, many mills and other factories were built along Pettibone Creek.
Growth and the Railroad
As factories grew, so did the shops along Main Street. More homes were built for the new people moving to Milford. The railroad arrived in Milford in 1871. This caused a big building boom. Factories and shops could now easily transport their goods.
Most of the commercial buildings in Milford were built between 1872 and 1898. New stores opened, including places to eat, lumber yards, grocery stores, and drug stores. The number of homes also grew a lot. Older Greek Revival style houses were joined by newer Victorian style homes. New, larger church buildings were also constructed.
The Automobile Age
In the 1900s, cars became very popular. This led to new businesses related to automobiles. Service stations opened to fuel cars. A new Ford Motor Company plant was built near the mill pond. General Motors also built its Milford proving grounds outside of town. A proving ground is a place where new cars are tested.
New houses were built for all the workers who came to Milford. After World War II, Milford avoided big city changes. This means many historical buildings in the district are still standing today.
What the District Looks Like
The North Milford Village Historic District covers a three-block area. This area has commercial buildings along Milford's North Main Street. It also includes homes on five east-west streets and six north-south streets. The two historic mill ponds along Pettibone Creek are also part of the district.
The district has 312 buildings in total. About 255 of these buildings help show the historical character of the area. The commercial buildings are mostly two or three stories tall. They are made of brick and concrete block. You can see different styles like Italianate, Commercial brick, Tudor Revival, and Art Deco.
The homes in the district are made from wood, stone, concrete block, and brick. They show many different architectural styles. Some styles include Greek Revival, Italianate, Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne, and Bungalow. The district also has four historic churches.
Images for kids
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Main Street at Liberty, looking north
