For the second year, the Milford Historical Society will hold a Christmas Open House at Parson Thorne Mansion on Saturday, December 13 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The mansion will be open for tours and there will be period-era refreshments available.
“This has become a tradition for us as the mansion is open for tours on the second Saturday of every month,” Ralph Prettyman, President of the society said. “Our guides are dressed in period attire, offering insight into the mansion many people may not have known.”
The Milford Garden Center provides beautiful greenery for various periods the mansion has been in existence. All of the wreaths and greenery used are created by the members of the garden club. In addition to the beautiful Christmas greenery, mulled cider and cookies, baked using recipes from the various periods of the mansion, will also be available.
“We will have recipe cards available to hand out as well should anyone want to bake Thomas Jefferson’s favorite Christmas cookies at home,” Prettyman said.
A significant amount of work has been done to the mansion over the past few years, thanks to generous grants from the state and other organizations. The kitchen is almost completely restored and, thanks to donations from the Schelhouse family, one of the bedrooms has been fully restored as it may have looked during the Civil War. The historical society is also refurbishing the Stayton house, which will provide visitors with a look into what a sharecropper’s home may have looked like during the early days of the mansion.
“Along with regular maintenance and restoration projects, we are also in the process of constructing a visitor’s center,” Prettyman said. “The new structure will match the property and have the appearance of a barn. This will provide us with much needed, climate-controlled storage for our artifacts, meeting space and public restrooms.”
Silver Hill, which is the official name of the home, was originally built by Joseph Booth, Sr. and John Cullen prior to the arrival of parson Sydenham Thorne to Milford. The mansion and the grounds changed hands several times before it was sold to the Parson and his wife, Betty Crapper, the wealthy widow of Levin Crapper. The Parson and his wife, who bought the property in 1785, made many changes to the home, creating the stately look it has today.
Milford Historical Society is seeking volunteers in order to open the mansion more often and to assist with fundraising efforts. For more information, contact [email protected].
