The hospital has a 24-hour emergency room with a Level III trauma center. 706-12], 37 30 Del. The Commissioners were also required to establish a place to impound any swine found running at large, and to create a temporary jail for citizens of the Town who disturbed the peace. The Town was required to levy a special tax with which to repay the interest and principal on the bonds issued.32, The Town of Milford was re-incorporated in 1907 as the “Town Council of Milford.” The corporate limits had not changed in the twenty years since the previous re-incorporation, nor had the structure of the government which still included a President and six Council members. This exclusive Milford Historical Society digitized and restored photograph was originally published in the 1979 MILFORD THROUGH THE YEARS: A Pictorial History of Milford, Delaware. Delaware Marketplace April. The City was also given the power to borrow money and issue bonds for any public purposes including those related to any public utility (electricity/ gas/water/sewer) improvement of streets, and any permanent municipal improvement. 345-46 and pp. Today, she is an author of children’s books. Public Meetings Delaware Route 30 begins at DE 1 and DE 1 Business southeast of Milford and heads south toward Milton and Millsboro. Laws, c. 199 (2008) [vol. The limit of taxation for current expenses was annually not to exceed 2% of the assessed value of the City’s real property. In the same law, the Commissioners of North Milford were given the right to regulate and abate all nuisances with regard to buildings, enclosures, or pens which were noisome or have offensive smells, as well as the power to regulate chimneys and stovepipes in order to prevent fires, and the power to prevent fast driving or racing of horses as this could endanger Town residents.12 In 1863, the Milford Mills which had previously been exempted from taxation by the Town lost their exemption.13 An 1865 law instructed the Commissioners of the Town of South Milford to ensure that the residents kept their sidewalks in good repair.14 In 1866, the Town Commissioners of North Milford were to ensure that the owners of property along North Street between Front and Causey (4th) Street and along Church Street between Front and Third pave their sidewalks with brick and curb the streets. 645-47], 46 43 Del. 35-36, p. 47, and pp. Laws, c. 726 (1970) [pp. It is possible that the 1919 law which had required referendum approval was not approved as the referendum for this action was by weighted vote.40 In 1929, a revision to the 1919 law allowing Milford to sell its light and water plants provided any funds remaining after all bonds are repaid to be placed in a permanent trust to be managed by the Town of Milford Trust Fund Commission. Another cool way to learn about the architecture and history of this quaint town in Delaware is to embark on a self guided walking tour, which the Milford Museum has generously posted to their website. The other parts of the Charter also remain largely unchanged except for being updated with the one amendment passed in 2008.61, Over the last eight years, three laws have amended the Charter. Laws, c. 134 and c. 135 (1955) [pp. Around the same time, Joseph Oliver laid out the first city streets and plots nearby on a part of his plantation. The city was incorporated February 5, 1807. September, June and May are the most pleasant months in Milford, while January and February are the least comfortable months. The process for annexing land into the City is revised providing a more active role in the process to the Director of the City’s Planning Department. Locations Directory On the north, the establishment of a town was spurred by the Reverend Sydenham Thorne who had built a dam and established a grist and saw mill around 1780. In the same year, a law increased the amount of funds which could be floated as a loan against anticipated revenue to $25,000, in aggregate.51 A law in 1957 made revisions to the Alderman’s duties as well as made changes to the part of the Charter which addressed fines and imprisonment.52 In 1958, the Charter was revised to increase the level of compensation of the Mayor and Council.53 In 1961, the timing for appointing City officials was revised.54 These were the final amendments made before the City was once again re-incorporated. Both men and women could now vote in elections for the Council, the Alderman, the Tax Collector, and the Treasurer. The City Manager was assigned to oversee all of the City’s administrative departments. The Board’s five Commissioners were elected to serve five-year terms with one Commissioner being replaced each year. The Kent County portion of Milford is part of the Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area,[5] while the Sussex County portion is part of the Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area. This Act functioned as a re-incorporation outlining the regulations governing the Town’s Commissioners although once again no municipal corporation was formed. WHY GO: Milford and Dover, Delaware represent the yin and yang of quirky travel. Laws, c. 211 (1907) [pp. The Milford Museum was established in 1983 in the original Post Office building in downtown Milford. A century later the Reverend Sydenham Thorne built a dam across the Mispillion River to generate power for his gristmill and sawmill. Suddenly, in August 1997, Gardiner announced that he was selling the Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge operation to I.G. 286-87], 22 16 Del. 13.1% of families are below poverty level, which is slightly higher than the national average of 11.5%, and higher than the Kent County and Sussex County average of 9.7% and 9.1% respectively. A history of Milford, Delaware, in commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of Milford in 1787 Family History Library . In addition to all of the powers outlined in prior Incorporating Acts, the City of Milford was given the power to condemn property and to acquire land in order to provide sites for public buildings, parks, sewers, sewage disposal, and other municipal purposes. The first, in 1989, revised the conditions under which the City was required to carry out competitive bidding for contracts, and revised the process of offering certificates of indebtedness.57 The second law, in 1990, included a number of changes. II, pp. The population density was 968 people per square mile (467.5/km2). Revisions were made to the boundaries of the four wards; the minimum contract which would require competitive bidding was increased again, to $10,000, and a new power was authorized allowing the City to levy a real estate transfer tax.58, Milford was again re-incorporated in 1999. The city was incorporated February 5, 1807. Relief for early payment and a penalty for late payment of taxes were included in this Act.33, Over the next twenty-four years, the 1907 Town Incorporating Act would be amended a number of times, as were amendments to the 1891 law establishing a Board of Light and Water Commission. 7.8% of the population is under the age of 5, 18.9% between 5 and 19 years of age, 49.7% between 20 and 59 years of age, and 23.6% 60 years of age and older. Laws, c. 24 (1861) [pp. The City’s election process is governed to a great extent by state law in order to standardize municipal elections. Although this Act did not specifically set up a municipal corporation, it did call for the kind of actions that were part of early municipal incorporation laws, and it is recognized by the City of Milford as the date of their first incorporation. A new position is created by this act, that of Supervisor of Streets. A tax was to be levied in order to repay the principal and interest on the newly issued bonds.44 In 1937, the City of Milford was authorized to transmit electric current and water from its plants to areas beyond the City’s limits.45 In 1941, the Town’s boundary was once again revised, and the Council was given authority to change street names. Milford is a borough in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat.Its population was 1,021 at the 2010 census. Burton with an undisclosed buyer purchasing the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lines. A history of Milford, Delaware. The 1867 Incorporating Act did not specify a maximum tax to be levied on the Town. The elected Commissioners were to choose from amongst themselves, a President who was to preside over meetings and a Secretary. Amendments to the 1887 Act had determined that assessments would take place every fourth year and that the Assessor would be appointed by the Council. Citizens of the Town continued to have the right to shoot poultry that was at large.7, The Incorporating Act of 1841 was amended in 1847 when the Commissioners were given the power to suppress riotous and noisy assemblages or gatherings of Negroes, Mulattoes or other persons in the streets at night or on the Sabbath day within one mile in all directions from the bridge over Mispillion Creek. Laws, c. 162 (1931) [pp. The median age within Milford is 37.9 years old. In addition to the free white males, white unmarried females of age 21 and over who were freeholders in the Town were now eligible to vote. Franchise Tax Help Center In another law passed that year the Town borrowed $42,000 with which to redeem the bonds that had been authorized in 1891. 467-69], 28 19 Del. The City of Milford Electric Department serves about 6,500 customers. 26 were here. It renews the Town Council’s authorization in overseeing all streets, alleys, gutters, and sidewalks. The 2020 election cycle was a historic one for Delaware when the state’s favorite son, Joe Biden, won the presidency. Milford was incorporated February 5, 1807. In addition, another law made a number of amendments to the 1907 Incorporating Act among which were changes that provided for general assessments to take place every three years, rather than every four years.41, In 1931, a Charter and a municipal corporation were established in the name of the “City of Milford.” The territorial limits matched those established by law in 1927. The Town’s citizens were given the right to kill poultry that were running at large.4, In 1830 a supplement to the 1829 Act amended those who were eligible to vote in Town’s elections. The Council was to appoint City officials including a City Manager, Secretary, Treasurer, Alderman, Acting Alderman, Auditors, Board of Health, City Solicitor, Board of Assessors, and Police Force. Dover, the Delaware State Capital, seat of Kent County, and site of Dover Air Force Base, provides a historic and military perspective. This necessitated issuing new bonds for $25,000 and $20,000. Feb 8, 2018 - A Pictorial History of Milford, Delaware. By 1787, the first town street, Front Street, was laid out paralleling the Mispillion, and soon as many as eighty buildings could be found along the north banks of the creek. Milford past weather with historical weather conditions for the last 30 days, including history of previous high and low temperatures, humidity, dew point, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, wind gust, and rain fall totals for the Milford area and overall Kent county, Delaware. See Article History. He is the youngest person to be appointed to the Delaware Supreme Court and also the longest serving justice in Delaware history — serving for more than 30 years. Weather & Travel, Contact Us Corporations In the same year, the Town of North Milford began to control dogs by levying a tax on their owners, $1 for male dogs and $3 for female dogs, and the Sussex County Assessor was instructed to impose a similar tax within one mile in all directions from the bridge over Mispillion.10 In 1855, the laws regarding taxing dogs that had been passed in 1853 were repealed, and a new law set the amount of the tax at fifty cents for one dog and $1 for each additional dog. E-mail / Text Alerts [25][26] On May 27, 2016, Bayhealth Medical Center broke ground on the Bayhealth Sussex Campus to replace the former Milford Memorial Hospital. Preserving Delaware's heritage and showcasing the historic legacy of our state are the guiding principles of our agency. The Town was also authorized to borrow $4,000, an increase of $2,000. He encouraged a nearby plantation owner, Joseph Oliver, to lay out building lots near Oliver’s store located on the road accessing communities to the north. Today marks the start of Black History Month and tomorrow Governor Jack Markell will be officially kicking things off in the First State with a public proclamation at 11AM at the Delaware Public Archives. The ability of the Town to borrow money was retained, and the amount was increased to $2,000. Laws, c. 483, c. 506, and c. 575 (1851) [p. 474, pp. Laws, c. 161 (1887) [pp. 366-73], 8 10 Del. 489-535], 58 67 Del. The Treasurer was to collect the taxes and the Inspector of Accounts was to review the Commissioner’s expenditures. Delaware (Sussex County), Milford — SC-184 — Milford's Struggle for Educational Equality — On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, declaring racially segregated public schools unconstitutional. Interest from the Trust was to fund improvement of the streets, but the principal was to remain intact. Electors were those eligible to vote in general elections in the State. Authorizations in the Charter which do not require a special election were the power to re-finance municipal bonds, and the power to borrow on a short term basis with a pay-back period of up to five years.59, The 1999 City Charter was revised only once, in 2008, to allow for the establishment of Tax Increment Financing and Special Development Districts.60, The most recent re-incorporation of the City of Milford took place in 2010. (The Paul was sunk by a German torpedo in 1942 while sailing from the Bahamas.) There was to be elected five Commissioners, an Assessor, an Inspector of Accounts, a Treasurer, and a Constable, all to serve one-year terms. Mr. Foust appreciates the corner’s history. The Mayor was to be elected at large to a two-year term. The 1907 Incorporating Act closely mirrors the previous one in many of its provisions. 533-34, pp. General Assembly This bonded indebtedness was not to exceed, in aggregate, 15% of the value of real property within the City. Laws, c. 255 (1957) [pp. Laws, c. 170 (1847) [pp. 324-27], 39 34 Del. Community History The Kent County side of Milford was first settled in 1680 by Henry Bowan on what was known as the Saw Mill Range. The City’s territorial limits now include four parcels which had been annexed in the last twenty-eight years, and the four wards are amended to include the annexed land. Milford, Delaware is the 2,763rd largest city in the US. Students from Central Middle School will join the Governor in welcoming Mr. Orlando Camp, one of the “Milford Eleven,” who will […] William T. Watson Mansion, and J. H. Wilkerson & Son Brickworks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 11 In 1861, all prior laws relating to fines for possessing dogs were repealed. The cost of this was to be paid by the adjacent property owners who were to pave a five foot wide, brick walkway along the street fronts of their properties. Also in 1927, the Town was authorized to borrow $30,000 with which to improve the water and light plant. Laws, c. 3 (2011) [http://delcode.delaware.gov/sessionlaws/ga146/chp003.shtml], 63 81 Del. First Edition of this survey of the history of Milford, Delaware from its … The Charter also established a City Planning Commission which was to advise the City Manager on any matter affecting the physical development of the City as well as on its Comprehensive Plan. The area west of the State Road was just beginning to be built up since the first town lots were not laid out until c. 1840. During the World Wars, Vinyard Shipbuilders built tug boats and sub chasers for the U.S… Shipbuilding continued to be the major industry of Milford through World War I, bringing considerable prosperity to the town. A business route of DE 1, Delaware Route 1 Business, passes through the city along Rehoboth Boulevard and North Walnut Street. Town/City of Milford records at the Delaware Public Archives include: Related Topics:  Delaware History, Milford, Town and City Histories, Delaware's Governor This Charter called for the appointment of a City Manager and outlined their duties and responsibilities. The primary duty of the Commissioners was to oversee the streets, funding their repair, and keeping the streets and gutters clear of obstructions. – Local Delaware News, Kent and Sussex Counties. It is for this reason that Delaware's nickname of choice is the First State. The assessment was to be fair and impartial. Milford, Delaware Wikipedia The WPA Guide to Delaware: The First State By Federal Writers' Project Some Records of Sussex County, Delaware Compiled by C.H.B. See more ideas about milford, delaware, history. The Assessor was to make an impartial assessment of the real estate of the Town’s eligible electors in order to levy a tax that would provide the Commissioners with funds to repair the streets of the Town, but these monies were not to be used for the public highway which was to be cared for by Kent County. The municipal bonds would be redeemed by a special tax that established a sinking fund used to pay the interest each year.26 It is likely that the Town did not move forward under this law because just four years later, in 1891, another law authorized the Town to borrow $40,000 to be used for the waterworks and to establish an electric light plant to provide light for all Town streets and for public use. “This corner, in general, has seen the most in downtown Milford,” Mr. Foust said. The specific powers of the City remained largely unchanged. The structure is owned by the State’s Division of Historical & Cultural Affairs, and operated by a Commission of the City of Milford. Laws, c. 543 and c. 544 (1897) [pp. She later commuted from Milford to teach at Harvard Graduate School. The high point came in 1917 when the four-masted, 174-foot (53 m) long Albert F. Paul was launched from the William G. Abbott shipyard. History The Kent County side of Milford was first settled in 1680 by Henry Bowan on what was known as the Saw Mill Range. Three of the Council members were to be elected from North Milford and three from South Milford. Personal Income Tax Despite the fact that a 1927 amendment called for assessments to be held every three years, the Charter indicated that it would be every four years. The mansion’’s yellow brick exterior has been a Milford landmark for centuries. In the nineteenth century, the Town would flourish becoming a commercial center for the surrounding agricultural community. Laws, c. 36 and c. 38 (1866) [pp. At one point six shipyards were operating in the downtown area. Laws, c. 42, c. 48, and c. 97 (1853) [pp. Laws, c. 15 and c. 163 (1875) [pp. No one was killed in the blaze, but one civilian and six firefighters were injured.[11]. 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