National Register Listing

McColley, James, House

414 NW Front St., Milford, DE

The McColley House's architectural significance in illustrating the adaptability of Georgian forms to later styles, and for its association with people who were actively involved in Milford's development and who, in the case of James McColley, were of sufficient national reputation to be awarded high government office.

This property is an excellent example of both early building patterns in Milford and later styles and forms that became popular during the course of the nineteenth century. The original plan for the house was that of a two-thirds Georgian, single-pile plan. Enlargement followed fairly quickly with the conversion of the house to a full Georgian plan. The house was further updated fairly shortly to a Gothic Revival form with its cross gable and applied moldings.

The first owner and builder, Henry Paine, was a cooper by trade. This craft was indispensable to Milford's milling industry, and barrels were also an important export item. The location of the house expresses this early association with the industry, in that it is near the site of Milford's first mills.

Upon Henry Paine's death in 1830, James H. McColley purchased the house. McColley was the son of T. P. McColley, an early Methodist preacher in lower Delaware, and one of the largest landowners in Milford. James H. McColley was married to Elizabeth Bell Dutton. They had numerous real estate buildings in Delaware. Mrs. McColley owned the Milford Mills, then called the Haven Mills.

McColley entered government service and was appointed U. S. Consul at Callao, Peru. He died of yellow fever there. His wife continued to occupy the house and remained active in business affairs. However, in 1890, she lost the house and other property as a result of bad debts.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.