The 2009 Home Tour Homes

Below are the Site numbers and the homes for the 2009 Home Tour. See the News And Events Page for details on other activities during the home Tour, including the antique tractor show and kids events at the log cabin.

SITE 1    Hinkley-Gatti House

524 Hickory Street –1866 American-Victorian home

The structure now standing at 524 Hickory Street was not originally built on this site. It was built on Union Street, just north of the then Methodist Church, now the Masonic Temple. The site, 218 Union Street, is now occupied by a 1920 house.

Samuel Hinkley, who kept a livery, bought the lot from Horatio Bartlett in 1866 and built the house. Hinkley had a wife and three children, Sammie, Edgar and Jennie. Sammie and Jennie died young. Edgar took over ownership of the house in 1873, presumably on the death of Samuel Hinkley. Edgar’s mother, Jane Hinkley, lived until 1886, and Edgar sold the house and lot to Charles L. Crawford in 1887. Crawford immediately sold the lot to the Methodist Church and moved the house from its original site to 524 Hickory Street, its present location.

Crawford, a clerk in a store in 1880, owned the house until 1896 or 1897. An obituary in The Milford Times in 1900 states that he had lived in Detroit for about ten years, so he must have rented the house out for several years. Mrs. John Minihan was the taxpayer in 1898. John Minihan was born in Milford from Irish immigrants and served almost four years in the Union Army infantry from 1861 to 1864. He ran a restaurant in Milford. His wife Bridgett and their children and grandchildren remained in Milford for many years.

John Gatti is the present owner. The house is being refurbished from top to bottom. With help from his parents, John has single-handedly worked on and continues the renovation process. His past experience as a landscaper has created some beautiful gardens in the front and the side of the home as well.

Inside – a work in progress. The living room was two rooms. John combined the spaces, but also raised the ceiling and lowered the floor! Great care in using reclaimed pieces and antiques throughout is creating a true Victorian feel in the house. The front porch was once open, but the dining room is original.  Notice the many details on ceilings, walls and collectibles.

This beautiful brick Greek Revival house sits on 2 acres of a former Ansel Sears (of Sears Lake fame) 80-acre farm had received from the government in 1835. The house was built by Levi Ogden in 1857. The bricks are believed  to be from John Sherwood’s brick yard which stood on West Commerce Road in town. The windows are original six-over-sixes with most housing original panes of glass. The kitchen and utility room are sided with board & batten and the stone cellar has hand-hewn beams with tamarack joists. Tamarack rafters also support the roof. The house was in the Ogden family until 1910.

Robert Clayton Sherwood purchased this property in 1936 from Alfred Garner.  The property had been abandoned over the years due to difficult times caused by the depression.  Soon  after Sherwood purchased the property, his daughter

 SITE 2 – Ogden – Hoffman House

1065 N. Garner Road – 1857

Greek Revival

Bernice and her husband Oliver Newcomb moved into the home and began farming the property.  The red barn that still stands today was originally located on the L. Ogden property located south of this farm on Garner Road.  The barn was another structure that had been abandoned and Oliver realized the materials used to build the barn were a good quality, so he purchased the barn, took it apart, then brought the materials to this location and re-assembled the barn using the recycled materials.  The small red structure located on the south side of the barn is the building which housed the pigs.

After Oliver’s death in 1960, Bernice sold a portion of the property near Sears Lake in 1961. Additionally, property the couple had acquired during their marriage located across the road was sold to the City of Dearborn in 1964 and eventually she sold the remaining acres of the farm in 1974 and moved into the Village to be closer to family.   During the 1970’s as well, the house was extensively redecorated and the Greek Revival garage was added by Dave Beyreis in keeping with the rest of the house.

Karen Hoffman purchased this lovely home in 2002 and cares for her many horses and her dogs. The lovely fireplace in the kitchen is a favorite place to curl up and enjoy a much deserved rest after all the horse chores.

Visit the barn, enjoy the horses, but please, DO NOT PET the horses!

SITE 3   Prior-Young/Russo House

835 Garner Road - 1841 Greek Revival/Saltbox

Frederick and Priscilla Prior and their four children were among Milford’s earliest settlers. Originally from Massachusetts, the Priors came to Milford in 1835 and settled near Sears Lake. They built this home, which was finished shortly after Fred died in 1840. Priscilla married Charles Colton of New York, her hired man, and continued to live in this house, raising seven Prior children until 1883.  Prior descendents continued to own the property until 1936.

The house mimics a New England saltbox, common in the Massachusetts area, and exemplifies the Greek Revival architecture additions which “modernized’ the style. The house is in three parts: A front two-story, four room 1841 structure, a slant roof addition to the two-story structure and a one story wing to the rear which replaces the small 1910 kitchen and mud porch in

2008. The slant roof middle was added (1867) to connect the salt box house with the old original home, then connected to the back in 1910. The barn next door used to be part of the original farm.

Now owned by Will Young and Michelle Russo, the furnishings are from the mid-1800’s throughout much of the home.  As you stroll through, note the Bombay desk, Welsh Gaudy pitchers, British transfer ware, arrowback chairs from the 1840’s, “o-gee” mirrors, claw foot tub, English china,  and the wedding gifts that Will’s maternal grandfather gave to his maternal grandmother. The stencils in the living room were created by Will from Moses-Eaton inspired works. Look through the attic door on the stairwell and see the mortise and tennon joints. All windows, in the font part of the house are original. When you visit, note the newly refurbished kitchen which opens to a patio in the rear.

Built in 1987, by  Gayle and Pam Jackson, this lovely Texas style ranch has an expansive open floor plan and an eyeful of decorative touches. Originally part of the farm at 835 Garner, this five acre plot was an empty back farming lot when the Jacksons purchased it. Every tree, bush and flower was lovingly added. The back gardens, deck, and picture-perfect club house through the hedge have all been built by this extraordinary couple. Pam is the gardener and Gayle has done all the house building – from the custom built solid oak kitchen to the clubhouse – electrical, plumbing, heating and carpentry. As you enter through the side door, you will pass through to the kitchen. Look up. Look down. There are collections of antiques

SITE 4 – Jackson House

775 Garner Road – 1987 Ranch

throughout. Pottery collections of yellow ware bowls, blue ware, burgundy pottery and Pam’s aunt’s spice rack are in the dining area. Gayle’s grandmother’s 150 year old rocker stands in the living room with his grandfather’s handmade clock on the wall. Pam’s mother’s tea cup collections, Pam’s Noah’s ark collection, the vintage jewelry collections are throughout.

All furniture is original to the house – a loving place that has raised four children seen parties, showers, graduations, engagements and a 25th wedding party.  Not the beautiful stained glass windows as you tour.

As you exit the house, do not forget to visit the club house through the hedge. With porch poles from an old 1840 home once owned by Dr. Patel on Union Street in Milford to the fantasy antiques within, this is Pam’s place of relaxation. Don’t miss it!

SITE 5  Anderson-Burke House

618 South Main St.  - 1919/1920 Craftsman

This superb Craftsman style home was built around 1919/1920 by a Mr. Anderson. Notice the Craftsman style windows, trim and stair rails that remain throughout the house.  

Daniel H. and Frances H. Smith purchased the home in 1922 and made extensive improvements such as, indoor plumbing, dormers, an addition to expand the downstairs bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen update.  The Smith’s, with their son, Robert, moved into the house in 1923. Dan Smith was a well known and respected man in Milford, whose occupation was Investments, Real Estate and was also Milford Village Mayor for many years.  Francis Smith enjoyed photography  and

was responsible for her son Robert, becoming a professional photographer.

Paul A. and Edna M. Plotzer purchased the home in 1943 from the Smiths.  Their two children, Paul and Margaret enjoyed many years in the home with their parents. The large lot, ran West from S. Main to Bellevue St., giving Margaret plenty of outdoor space for her horse.  The Plotzers owned and operated “Plotzer’s Market” on Main St. where “Gravity” is now located from 1943 until the 1970’s.  In addition to running their business, Paul Plotzer was also a Milford Village Mayor.  This house was later passed to the Plotzer’s daughter, Margaret, and then her son, Sean who sold the property to Heritage Milford Boulder Hills LLC., in 2002.  

The Burkes moved into this home in 2006, having moved from Milford to California and back again, and have continued renovations in the dwelling and the gardens. The kitchen, once three separate rooms, has been extensively updated with the addition of a powder room.  Every roon has wonderful momentous, but of special note is the piano in the living room is a piano from California.  This piano was a show rental in Hollywood from the days when piano players accompanied silent pictures. The Burke’s plan to replace the French doors removed from in between the living and dining rooms by unknown past renovators.

In the living room and dining room are many pictures, carvings and objects from Kim’s Swedish roots – note the two figures carved in the dining room – they were part of a set of 13, each one carved for one of the grandchildren by Kim’s Swedish great- grandfather.

Please enjoy the only home in Milford that housed two village Mayors.

Palmer and Coe built the Ward School in 1881 to serve the children of South Milford.  Harry Wheeler was the first teacher in this building.  An earlier south-side school had been located nearby on Washington Street.  An attempt was made to close the school in 1898 due to low enrollment; however, the South Milford residents would not hear of this as it meant sending their children across the river to the Union School located on Detroit between Hickory & East Streets.  The Ward school building remained active until 1916.

For the 10 years following, the building remained vacant until when in 1926 Mr. Drake repurposed the building into a home, adding a fireplace and stairs (previously, sleeping lofts had used ladders).   Since this time, the school has remained a private residence.

SITE 6 – Ward District #1 School –   

            Hunter House

104 Second Street – 1881

Italianate

The current owners, Elaine and Don Hunter, purchased the home in 2004 and began the task of restoring the home to its original roots - a school house.  The couple began the task of taking down layers and layers of wallpaper and paint and happily uncovered an original blackboard in one of the rooms.   Did you know blackboards were repainted each year?  In addition, plaster has been removed in two locations exposing the attractive brick walls. Throughout the home, you will find old school chairs, desks, textbooks, an antique teacher’s lectern, vintage chalk and many other interesting items.

In addition to the educational motif, the Hunters have added beautiful touches from their own travels and life abroad.  As you climb the stairs, you’ll notice the gorgeous Japanese bridal kimono.  Other items of particular interest are the Japanese stairs in the upstairs hall, the Turkish hangings in the small bedroom, the rolling wall hiding the laundry in the bath, the solid walnut oar (from an Italian gondola) that rests in the hall and much more.