The Milton Center Historic District encompasses the historic 19th-century village center of Milton in the northwestern part of the town of
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,192 at the 2020 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town. There are also three unincorporat ...
. Basically linear, it stretches from Milton Cemetery in the west to the junction of Milton and Shearshop Roads in the east, including houses, churches, schools, and the remains of industrial sites. The district was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1986.
Description and history
The village of Milton was settled around 1740, and was first known as West Farms. David Welch, one of the early arrivals, built
a house
A House were an Irish rock band that was active in Dublin from the 1985 to 1997, and recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of frontman Dave Couse ... bolstered by the and'sseemingly effortless musicality". The single " ...
in about 1756 that still stands near the eastern end of the village. He was a merchant who also processed iron on his property. Other early residents dammed the branches of the
Shepaug River
The Shepaug River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 river in western Connecticut, in the United States.
The river originates at the south end of the Shepa ...
to operate sawmills, gristmills, and other water-powered industry. The small settlement was formally granted parish status by the town in 1768, and its first church was built in 1791. The village flourished until the mid-19th century, after which it declined, bypassed by the railroads and technological advances reducing dependence on water power.
[ and ]
The historic district is basically linear, extending east-west along Milton Road, from the cemetery in the west to the junction of Shearshop Road in the east. The focal point is at this eastern junction, where there is a triangular green and the
Trinity Church. The 1791 Congregational Church is a short way to the west. Other notable buildings in the district include the Milton Academy and a
Milton District School. Two bridges cross over the East branch of the
Shepaug River
The Shepaug River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 river in western Connecticut, in the United States.
The river originates at the south end of the Shepa ...
, and there are archaeological remnants of the water-powered industries.
The district is embedded in a larger locally designated district that encompasses 150 buildings.
Notable people
*
Amy Archer-Gilligan
Amy Duggan "Sister" Archer-Gilligan (October 31, 1873 – April 23, 1962) was a nursing home proprietor and serial killer from Windsor, Connecticut. She murdered at least five people by poisoning them. One of her victims was her second husband, ...
, serial killer
See also
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References
{{National Register of Historic Places
Litchfield, Connecticut
Greek Revival architecture in Connecticut
Historic districts in Litchfield County, Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut