Many communities in the northeast can link their history to the American Revolution, but Milford’s ties are especially strong.
In honor of America 250, the Milford Heritage Weekend is scheduled to run Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20. Featured events include a Revolutionary War encampment with period dress and blacksmithing demonstrations, cemetery and historic Sayre House tours, a fiddler performance, a book talk and other activities.
Greater Milford Historical Society board member Lori Solensten said Monday, Sept. 14 that the effort has drawn support from a network of local entities including the Milford Cemetery Association, Milford Free Library, the town and village, and members of the area’s Rotary Club and Methodist church.
She said the weekend was one way to show town pride.
“Milford had that tremendous fire,” Solensten said, referring to a 2025 fire that destroyed four buildings in the village’s downtown. Not long after the fire, residents began placing lawn signs throughout the town stating “Milford Strong.”
Frank Antonucci, the Milford town historian, said community members have been “planning since the early spring at least” for the event. The weekend will highlight Milford’s connection to the Revolutionary War, he said. About 60 soldiers were buried or lived and died in the area. Most were militia members, though some joined the Continental Army, he said.
“After the Revolutionary War was over, and things settled,” Antonucci said, people began settling along the Susquehanna River including in Milford. He said many soldiers had learned about the area through their military campaigns.
The weekend’s encampment will include reenactors in period dress demonstrating aspects of life at the time, including music and blacksmithing, he said.
“People are pretty anxious for the weekend, and I think they’re going to be pretty tired after,” Antonucci said.
The weekend is scheduled to begin Friday morning with a talk and demonstration on Haudenosaunee Native American history by Glenn Bentz.
“Our roots go back to the native people,” Solensten said. “It’s not just us.”
Later that day, author Deirdre Sinnot is scheduled to talk about and sign copies of her historical fiction book “The Loyalist’s Wife.” The book takes place in 1777 in the Mohawk Valley, following the “tenant farmers Jane and Philip Hopper” who “have very different ideas about the war for independence that has consumed the 13 colonies,” according to the book’s online synopsis.
The historical association’s Fiddlers Frolic, a candlelit performance by local musicians, is set to take place Friday evening. It will be the first time the event is held in autumn in addition to its usual spring performance, Solensten said.
To see full event details and learn more about the Greater Milford Historical Association, visit greatermilfordhistorical.org/events.