Back to the future at Grey Towers

The Grey Towers Heritage Association will sponsor its semi-annual “Moveable Feast Tour” this Saturday, Sept. 9, beginning at 10 a.m.

This is a walking/eating adventure of Milford through the eyes of the Pinchot family. Gifford Pinchot served as the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and is credited as the Father of the Conservation Movement. He also served as a two-term Governor of Pennsylvania.

In past tours participants came from as near as Milford itself and as far as Canada and Chicago. The journey begins at the Community House, the ancestral home of James and Mary Pinchot.

Realizing the consequences of his family’s legacy

James’ grandfather immigrated from France and settled in Milford which was a destination for many French settlers. James’s grandfather and father made their fortune by clear-cutting thousands of acres of timber in the surrounding area and floating them down the Delaware for profit.

James, realizing the devastating consequences of his family’s legacy, is credited with encouraging his son, Gifford, to become educated in scientific forestry and reversing the trend. He eventually became America’s first forester and founded the U.S. Forest Service.

Milford is filled with historic buildings related to their time, most dramatic being Grey Towers, Forestry Hall, many of the churches and our courthouse.

Munching their way through town, visitors learn about the architecture of the late 1800’s; view an original Indian raid shutter located at the oldest house in Milford; stand at the site of the original center of town established in 1796 by John Biddis; and learn about Teddy Roosevelt’s visits and his collaboration with Gifford to establish the National Parks.

Milford is filled with hidden gems of history.

The Grey Towers Heritage Association is grateful for the generous support of local merchants whose donations made for a delicious experience. These include: the Waterwheel Café, the Milford Diner, Hotel Fauchere and the Milford Hospitality Group.

‘Fascinated ... almost to the point of disbelief’

Frances Gaston, great grandniece of Gifford, attended in the past and enjoyed learning more about her family’s legacy in Milford.

“I brought my 87-year-old father on the tour,” Gaston said. “Even after hundreds of years of our family being in this town and living in Grey Towers before it was donated, he wasn’t aware of a lot of the history. He was absolutely fascinated by what he learned almost to the point of disbelief.”