Milford Mills, Pennsylvania

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Milford Mills, Pennsylvania
Village
Montrose School House on Covered Bridge Road, now under the water of Marsh Creek Lake
Montrose School House on Covered Bridge Road, now under the water of Marsh Creek Lake
Milford Mills, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Milford Mills, Pennsylvania
Milford Mills, Pennsylvania
Location of Milford Mills in Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 40°03′54″N 75°43′42″W / 40.06500°N 75.72833°W / 40.06500; -75.72833Coordinates: 40°03′54″N 75°43′42″W / 40.06500°N 75.72833°W / 40.06500; -75.72833
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyChester
Elevation
272 ft (83 m)
Population
 • Total0
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
19335
Area codes610, 484

Milford Mills was a village in the Marsh Creek Valley of Chester County, Pennsylvania that was inundated by the construction of the Marsh Creek Dam in 1972.

Milford Mills was one of several farming villages settled by Welsh, Scots-Irish and English in the first quarter of the 18th century in Upper Uwchlan Township.[1] Like nearby Lyndell and Dorlan, Milford Mills grew during the 19th century as paper and textile manufacturing flourished. Bypassed by large-scale industry in the late 19th century, the region reverted to an agricultural economy until after World War II when the Pennsylvania Turnpike brought suburban development to northwestern Chester County.[2]

In 1961, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters selected the Marsh Creek Valley as favorable location for a flood control and drinking water reservoir to serve the Brandywine River Valley.[3] Despite protests from some residents, the State of Pennsylvania acquired 34 properties throughout the region for the project, razing the village and nearby woodlands.[4][5] In 1972, the earthen Marsh Creek Dam was completed, standing at 89 feet (27 m) high and 990 feet (301 m) long.[6] Today the site of Milford Mills lies beneath the 530-acre (2.1 km2) Marsh Creek Lake: part of a water management project operated by the and the State of Pennsylvania.

Abandoned roads and traces of houses, barns and other structures can be seen on the shores of the lake and in adjacent recreation areas in Marsh Creek State Park.

Gallery[]

  • The Larkin Covered Bridge was once located in Milford Mills.

  • Milford Mills is currently under Marsh Creek Lake.

  • Marsh Creek Lake where Marsh Creek Valley and Milford Mills once stood

  • Larkin's Covered Bridge at its original location on Covered Bridge Road [7]

  • Map of Milford Mills from an 1883 Atlas

  • A portion of Milford Road abandoned following the construction of the Marsh Creek dam.

References[]

  1. ^ "Milford Mills: A Picture of the Past that Soon May Vanish". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 12, 1963.
  2. ^ "Milford Mills: A Picture of the Past that Soon May Vanish". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 12, 1963.
  3. ^ "Long-Awaited Work Gets Underway on Marsh Creek Dam". Philadelphia Inquirer. July 12, 1970.
  4. ^ "Owners of Estate in Upper Uwchlan Township Fight Dam Project". Philadelphia Inquirer. March 6, 1966.
  5. ^ "Long-Awaited Work Gets Underway on March Creek Dam". Philadelphia Inquirer. July 12, 1970.
  6. ^ "Long-Awaited Work Gets Underway on Marsh Creek Dam". Philadelphia Inquirer. July 12, 1970.
  7. ^ "Covered Bridges". Philadelphia Inquirer. July 3, 1966.


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