Greater Milford Area Historical Society to state: Help us fix museum

Jeanne Houck | Cincinnati Enquirer

The Greater Milford Area Historical Society has raised nearly half of the $20,000 needed to make repairs to the Promont museum, a 154-year-old Victorian mansion in Milford.

The historical society continues to seek donations to fix water damage from a leak in the roof and hopes the state will chip in.

The society used some of the money already raised to hire a historic preservation and restoration company to remove the four balconettes from Promont’s tower level because they were falling away from the tower.

“This project became a priority when we discovered that water absorption, primarily, had weakened the integrity and stability of the balconettes,” said Donna Amann, administrator of the Greater Milford Area Historical Society, which is headquartered at the museum at 906 Main St.

Promont was the home of John M. Pattison, governor of Ohio from 1879 until 1906 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Due to the weight of the water-logged wood joists, as well as water collecting between the floor of the balconettes and the underside covering, these structures were becoming spongy and were beginning to pull away from the tower itself,” Amann said.

“We felt this posed a significant, immediate risk and made their removal our first course of action.”

Amann said the historic preservation and restoration company saved every salvageable piece of the balconettes and stored them away until money can be raised to rebuild and reinstall them.

The Greater Milford Area Historical Society continues to seek donations for repairs at Promont. The historical society has a GoFundMe page that has raised $6,505.

The historical society also recently applied for a state historic preservation grant that would require matching funds, Amann said. The society expects to get an answer early next year.

Meanwhile, once the balconettes were removed from Promont, the contractor found the damage extended along joists that run under the floor of the observation level of the tower, Amann said.

The Promont also was damaged by water leaking from the roof into the third-floor servants’ quarters and into the second-floor master bedroom below.

Ceilings, moldings and walls were affected.

Amann thanked people who have already donated to repairs at Promont.

“We know that choosing where to donate your hard-earned money is not taken lightly, and we are honored that you have chosen to invest in the preservation of our local historical landmark, and the artifacts of Milford history that it contains,” Amann said.

The Greater Milford Area Historical Society promotes the history of Milford and Miami Township. It uses the Promont for tours, exhibits, a research library, gift shop and events including weddings and teas.

The museum remains open to the public for tours and events. That includes the annual Holiday Open House set for the afternoons of Dec. 21 and 22.

“The 2020 Holiday theme is Victorian Splendor,” Amann said. “Promont will be decorated in fabulous silver and gold.”

[ Get complete digital access to Cincinnati.com. Subscribe today. ]