The Milford Historical Society was recently the recipient of a generous donation from the Garbutt Family Trust which has allowed them to do additional restoration work on the Stayton House, a structure on the property that will represent what a tenant home may have looked like in the past.
“With these funds, the Milford Historical Society will be able to do critical interior restoration of the building,” Ralph Prettyman, President of the society said. “The building was moved from outside of Greenwood in 2007. Once the restoration is complete, we will open the building to visitors. Restoration efforts have included the building of a replica closet door along with two replica cabinet doors by a Virginia furniture maker.”
The building dates back to the late 1700s/early 1800s based on the construction techniques. In a previous life, it was moved from one side of the road to the other. One of the moves in the early 1900s required the owners to remove a fireplace and chimney, leading them to remove much of the paneled wall. That wall will now be rebuilt using the replica doors, two lower doors that were already available, a mantlepiece and panel boards.
“The panel boards are repurposed floorboards rescued from the Sudler House in Milford prior to its demolition,” Prettyman said. “The boards were converted to tongue and groove, beaded panel boards by retired Col. Steve E. Dietrich, the Virginia furniture maker.”
The Center for Historical Architecture and Design (CHAD) at the University of Delaware is sponsoring a Lower Delaware Vernacular Architecture Tour in May of 2025. They reached out to MHS and specifically wanted to have the Parson Thorne Mansion as part of the tour. Consequently, they visited the site in November and took measurements of the Stayton House for historical documentation purposes.
“In addition to the work on the Stayton House, MHS has recently completed many restoration projects to the mansion itself,” Prettyman said. “We had some critical brick repointing that needed to be done along with sealing the cracks that had developed between the house and the ground brick gutters.
MHS is taking steps to mitigate moisture issues in the basement of the frame wing. A fire alarm system has been installed, something that has been a concern of the trustees for some time. Interior restoration of the east kitchen wing has been completed. This section of the house had not been open for years due to the lack of HVAC and interior conditions. Floor joists had to be partially replaced along with some of the floorboards. Failed plaster was repaired, and the entire room painted in first finish colors.
“The main bedroom has finished undergoing restoration, requiring the removal of a closet installed in the 1970s as well as repair of walls. Additional plaster repair, floor refinishing and then painting in first finish colors is complete,” Prettyman said. “This room will house pieces of the Marvin Schelhouse collection that were generously donated by his family after his passing.”
Schelhouse, who was a long-serving trustee and president for MHS, owned a vast collection of Civil War era memorabilia, especially those belonging to General A.T.A. Torbert. After his death, his family generously donated a canopy bed and mirrored dresser as well as glassware belonging to General Torbert, who served in the US Army during the Civil War.
“I purchased a Victorian armoire and a bed warmer at an auction of Marvin’s collection, donating both to the society. The armoire will be placed in the east bedroom which represents what the room may have looked like during the Victorian era in the mansion.”
Although the society had hoped to place the mirrored dresser in the main bedroom, it was too large to fit up the narrow steps. The mirror was placed on another period piece and the dresser used in a downstairs room. The main bedroom will now represent how the room could have appeared to occupants during the Civil War. Governor William Burton lived in the mansion at that time and probably conducted State business in the plantation office during the war.
“We could not have completed these projects without the generosity of the Garbutt family and the State of Delaware Community Reinvestment fund,” Prettyman said. “We are now working diligently on getting our plans completed for a new visitor and exhibit center to be constructed on the property.”
The Parson Thorne Mansion is open the second Saturday of every month from 10 to 2 PM for tours. All tours are free but donations are greatly appreciated.
