Milford: The Little Town With A Big History
Abby Phinney Grace College journalism student
MILFORD — About 15 miles north of Warsaw, SR 15 wanders through the heart of Milford. Milford, the second-oldest town in Kosciusko County, is sleepy and unassuming, with about 1,500 residents calling it home. The wide streets are lined with established homes, businesses and large trees. The town evokes Andy Griffith’s Mayberry in its simplicity and beauty.
Milford was established in 1836 by Aaron M. Perrine, an enterprising, educated man, and his family. At that time, Andrew Jackson was president of the United States, succeeded by Martin Van Buren. Indiana had become the 19th state in the Union just 20 years earlier.
Originally, 144 lots were available in Milford. Perrine opened his home to interested visitors and proactively sold the lots for $10-$50. The young town had five streets and a total of 12 blocks. The first business, Samuel Sacket’s blacksmith shop, arrived in late 1836. In 1839, Dr. Joseph Chamberlin became both doctor and postmaster. Later, Joseph Godwin erected the first hotel, followed by a general store. The town newspaper, The Times, arrived in 1878 with J. A. Werntz as its editor. Nearly 10 years later, The Milford Mail was established — the forerunner of today’s The Mail-Journal. Finally, in 1880, Milford was incorporated.
Fires have played a role in shaping Milford. According to one record, the local hub and spoke factory burned down in 1888. Sawmills were likewise destroyed. Most devastating of all, the entire east side of the business district was razed by fire on May 22, 1902. The fire started at night; its cause remains a mystery.
Robert Brown, 93, has lived in Milford his entire life. Brown’s father owned Phend & Brown Construction, a successful, generational company that is currently run by Brown’s sons. Brown fondly recalls life in the ’30s, relating memories of outdoor movies, swimming in Waubee Lake and a paper route that earned him six cents a week.
Brown said, “I was in the money!”
Education was a priority for the community. Early on, the Van Buren- Milford townships divided into districts, each with its own school building. The schools, Crowl and Frog Pond, did not offer higher grades. By 1914, however, a new school was built. Classes expanded to include junior high and high school.
Brown attended the school.
“The worst thing was getting in trouble and being put out in the hall with the younger grades. When classes switched, all your classmates would make fun of you,” he said. Brown also recalls the games he and his classmates enjoyed.
“We played a lot of baseball. But when the kid with the ball got mad and left, the game ended,” Brown chuckled.
In the ‘30s, Milford had many popular, though limited, pastimes.
“When it got cold, Friday night was basketball night,” Brown explained. The community would come to the gymnasium at the high school, pay 15 or 20 cents and find a seat to enjoy the game.
“It was just the thing to do,” Brown said. During the summer, an outdoor theater would be set up on Main Street.
“People would get their chairs and sit outside to enjoy the show,” said Brown.
Milford continued to develop. In the late 1900s, Milford gained a library and several new businesses and families. It still relies on agriculture and manufacturing. Among other locally-owned businesses, Milford is home to MLF Biotech, Maple Leaf Farms and The Papers Inc. Currently, Milford is led by the town council, and the town clerk is responsible for financial matters. Though its population remains small, the town is a mainstay in Kosciusko County.