On Friday, October 23, Silver Hill Mansion, better known as the Parson Thorne Mansion, filled with ghosts for “The Haunting of Silver Hill,” a fundraiser supporting the Milford Historical Society. The society preserves and maintains the mansion.
“We had so much fun putting this together,” Denise Curtis, one of the organizers for the event said. “There is so much history in this house and in this town that we wanted a fun way to let people know some of the unique stories we have uncovered.”
Curtis portrayed Betty Thorne, Parson Sydenham Thorne’s wife. The parson was her fourth husband as Betty had been widowed three times. Members of the First State Heritage Park Club at Milford High School also informed guests of the ghosts that may wander the hallways of the mansion, including General A.T.A. Torbert and his wife who never lived in the mansion, but whose furnishings are in one of the rooms.
“We had a herbalist and a fortune teller in the Stayton House,” Curtis said. “And the parson himself was at the graveyard telling stories. A governess told the story of Rhoda Burton Rodebush’s favorite doll, Alfreda, and people placed wishes to Alfreda in a chest. Of course, we had the caretaker who could not find her keys as well.”
The event also included a bonfire with a fire pit lent to the historical society by the Downtown Milford Inc. Santa House. Guests were welcome to bring chairs and relax by the fire where they could enjoy s’mores and hot cider.
“We are already working on next year and hope to have even more ghosts available to tell stories by the bonfire,” Curtis said. “We are always looking for volunteers so anyone interested in helping next year can reach out now to learn what will be needed.”
The Milford Historical Society was established in 1961 when Richard Draper donated the mansion as a way to preserve its rich history. The mansion was the home of Reverend Sydenham Thorne, one of the founders of Milford as well as the childhood home of John M. Clayton who served as United States Secretary of State under President Zachary Taylor. Governor William Burton lived in the mansion at the beginning of the Civil War as well.
For more information, send a message on Facebook through the Milford Historical Society page.
