The Milford Historic District [†] is a well-preserved historic core situated at the confluence of the Delaware River and Quequacommissicong Creek (also known as Milford or Hakihohake Creek). Nestled against the wooded Mt. Nebo ridge, part of New Jersey’s Highlands, and surrounded by hilly terrain to the east, the district occupies a broad lowland along the river’s east bank and a narrower creek valley. Spanning the borough’s development from the late 18th century to around 1940, the district encompasses 204 properties, with 249 contributing resources (including 249 buildings, five sites, and six structures) and 70 non-contributing resources (67 buildings and three structures). The district’s layout combines an irregular street pattern—shaped by early roads along the river, creek, and Delaware River crossing—with a small rectilinear grid east of the railroad along the riverbank. Buildings are generally closely spaced on small lots with short setbacks, though some larger lots and more widely spaced houses exist. The district excludes the recently demolished Warren Manufacturing Company’s paper mill site just south of the borough.
General District Description
The district represents Milford’s historic core and outlying areas along key roads like Frenchtown Road, River Road, and York Road, showcasing a mix of architectural styles, building uses, and development periods typical of a small Delaware River community. Bridge Street serves as the commercial spine, extending to the Delaware River and connecting via a 20th-century truss bridge (1933, inventory #202) to Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. This street is lined with closely spaced wood-framed and brick commercial buildings, forming the central business district at its intersections with Mill Street and Frenchtown Road.
South of Bridge Street: The primary historic residential area lies along Carpenter Street, Railroad Avenue, and connecting streets, featuring late 19th- and early 20th-century detached houses, mostly wood-framed with some stone examples. More recent houses dominate the southern blocks, including Ravine Road and Delaware Avenue, subdivided in the early 20th century and developed with American Foursquare and similar wood-framed homes.
North of Bridge Street: This area includes institutional buildings like a church, Borough Hall, and a firehouse, alongside 19th-century wood-framed houses on larger lots. Water Street, extending north, hosts commercial and governmental buildings near Bridge Street, transitioning to closely spaced, side-gabled, late 19th-century houses and duplexes set close to the sidewalk, a common feature in Delaware Valley industrial towns. The northern end along York Road features early to mid-20th-century wood-framed houses on larger lots.
East of Frenchtown Road: A large tract contains a school, while west of the road, 19th- and early 20th-century houses are closely spaced near the fronts of lots due to the sloping terrain toward Hakihokake Creek.
The district’s 249 contributing buildings include dwellings with outbuildings, several dozen commercial, institutional, and industrial structures, and notable sites like the Milford Union Cemetery (1858). Non-contributing resources include 67 buildings and three structures, often late 20th-century wood-framed sheds and fences not counted in the resource tally. Despite alterations like synthetic siding and window replacements, the district retains a moderate level of integrity, reflecting its historical development through the early 20th century.
Historical Context and Significance
Milford’s history traces back to its role as an 18th-century mill seat, leveraging its strategic riverside location at a natural eddy for milling and timber trade. As Hunterdon County’s northernmost Delaware River village in the 19th century, it shared locational advantages with other river towns like Lambertville, Stockton, and Frenchtown. Its growth was fueled by river transport, a bridge to Pennsylvania’s Delaware Canal (1842), and the Belvidere and Delaware Railroad (1850s), which connected Milford to Trenton and broader markets. The district meets National Register Criterion A for local significance in community development and industry, with a period of significance from 1795, when Thomas Lowery redeveloped the site, to ca. 1940, when industrial activity peaked and suburban growth began to redefine the borough.
Community Development Significance
Milford emerged as one of Alexandria Township’s key settlements by the early 19th century, alongside Frenchtown and Pittstown, due to its river access, ferry, and water-powered mills. Early settlement patterns in the township were shaped by waterpower sites, river crossings, and later canals and railroads. By 1834, Thomas Gordon’s gazetteer described Milford as the largest local settlement, with 15–20 dwellings, three mills (one gristmill, two sawmills), two churches, a store, and a tavern, outpacing smaller hamlets like Pittstown and Mount Pleasant.
Early Development: Milford’s origins lie within the “Great Tract,” a 92,513-acre landholding surveyed in 1711 for the West Jersey Society. By the mid-18th century, a small hamlet formed around a ferry and mill, with a sawmill noted in 1757 and a gristmill by the 1770s, known as Burnt Mill after a fire. Thomas Lowery’s acquisition in 1795 marked a turning point, as he built multiple mills, dwellings, a store, and a tavern, renaming the hamlet New Milford. His 1805 advertisement listed a merchant gristmill with five runs of stones, two sawmills, and various buildings, reflecting a thriving village.
19th-Century Growth: The 1842 covered bridge and 1850s railroad spurred significant expansion. By 1844, Milford had 45 dwellings, three stores, three taverns, 12–15 mechanic shops, and two churches, driven by the lumber trade. An 1808 subdivision of the sawmill lot into nine front, barn, and back lots shaped the rectilinear grid south of Bridge Street, a pattern seen elsewhere in Hunterdon County. By 1860, the village had about 65 dwellings, artisan shops, five mills, and institutional buildings, with further growth by 1873, when the atlas showed 85 dwellings and new businesses.
Borough Incorporation and 20th-Century Expansion: The early 20th-century paper mill (1907) catalyzed growth, leading to Milford’s incorporation as a borough in 1911. New institutions like the Milford National Bank (1908), a fire department, and a water system emerged, alongside worker housing along Frenchtown Road and Delaware Avenue. While Frenchtown surpassed Milford in the late 19th century, both remained regional economic centers. Post-World War II residential growth outside the district adopted a suburban character with larger lots, contrasting with the dense, urban layout of the historic core.
Industrial Significance
Milford’s industrial history is rooted in its water-powered mills, which supported both local and commercial needs, and later the paper mill, which marked a second industrial phase. The district’s mills adapted to improved transportation (bridge, canal, railroad) and technological advancements, maintaining economic vitality.
18th-Century Mills: A sawmill existed by 1757, replaced or converted to a gristmill by the 1770s, which burned and was rebuilt by Daniel McDonald. Thomas Lowery’s 1795 redevelopment included a merchant gristmill with five runs of stones and two sawmills, supported by a raceway from the creek. These mills processed grain and lumber, capitalizing on river transport for flour and timber.
19th-Century Expansion: By the 1830s, Milford’s mills were among Hunterdon County’s largest. A new sawmill (1833) and stone merchant mill (1849, inventory #1) focused on commercial flour production, while an upper gristmill (inventory #174) served local farmers. In 1860, Edward Thomas’ merchant mill produced 4,000 barrels of wheat flour, 5,000 barrels of corn meal, and 1,000 barrels of rye flour, ranking third in the county. The mills adopted steam and gasoline power by the early 1900s, but faced declining wheat production and competition from Midwestern markets. The sawmill was converted to a grain storehouse by 1903, reflecting the decline of river rafting as forests were depleted.
Paper Mill Era: The Warren Manufacturing Company’s paper mill (1907) south of the district produced glassine, employing 140 workers by 1918 and 350 by 1927. It drove residential and institutional growth, including worker housing and new businesses. The mill’s hydropower system was dismantled in 1940, and operations ceased by 1958 for the Thomas mill and early 2000s for the paper mill, which was demolished after 2009 due to environmental violations.
Key Developments and Infrastructure
Transportation: The 1842 covered bridge (replaced by a truss bridge in 1933) connected Milford to the Delaware Canal, facilitating trade with Philadelphia. The Belvidere and Delaware Railroad (1850s) linked Milford to Trenton, with a stone depot (1874, inventory #2) and a railroad bridge (post-1876, inventory #204) surviving. Rafting peaked in the 1840s, with Milford’s eddy attracting raftsmen.
Institutional Growth: Early institutions included a school (1810), Christian Convention church (1827), and Presbyterian church (1833). Later additions were a Methodist church (1855, later a firehouse), Milford Union Cemetery (1858), and St. Edwards Roman Catholic church (1925). The school was replaced in the early 20th century (inventory #146).
Disasters and Recovery: Fires (1873) and floods (1876, 1890, 1903) damaged infrastructure, prompting rebuilding, such as the stone depot and Bridge Street buildings (inventory #s 3–6). The district’s resilience helped it weather economic declines affecting Hunterdon County, particularly in agriculture.
Post-1940 Evolution
After 1940, Milford experienced industrial decline and limited commercial growth but significant suburban residential expansion outside the district. The Thomas mill ceased operations in 1958, and the paper mill closed by 2001, with demolition and remediation ongoing post-2009. Railroad passenger service ended in 1960, and the southern rail line became part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. New commercial ventures, like a gas station, were minimal, but 83 single-family homes in three subdivisions by 1961 introduced a suburban character with larger, curving lots, contrasting with the district’s dense, historic layout.
Conclusion
The Milford Historic District encapsulates the borough’s evolution from an 18th-century mill hamlet to a 19th-century industrial and commercial hub, driven by its riverfront location, mills, and transportation infrastructure. The early 20th-century paper mill spurred a final phase of growth, but post-1940 decline shifted development to suburban areas. The district’s intact streetscape, diverse buildings, and surviving mills preserve its historic character, reflecting Milford’s significance in community development and industry within Hunterdon County.
† Adapted from: Janice Armstrong, Dennis Bertland, Dennis Bertland Associates, Milford Historic District, Milford NJ, nomination document, 2019, National Tegister of Historic Places, Washington, D.C., accessed May, 2025.
