Gillon Block

The Gillon Block, a four story, flat roofed, red brick conmercial block, is situated in the center of the downtown business district of Milford. The building fronts 96 teet on Main Street, extends 106 feet back, and rises 78 feet. It covers nearly all of the 100' X 111' parcel on which it stands. A 12 feet wide interior court extends to the rear and gives the second, third, and fourth floors a U-shaped layout (see enclosed floor plans). The building's heavy timber framing members are augmented by iron columns in the first floor stores. It is Main Street's most outstanding late nine- teenth century conmercial block. The Main Street facade is eclectic in style but completely syrmetrical in form, being divided into seven bays by brick piers.

A central pavilion gives the suggestion of a tower, as it projects two feet towards the street and is topped by a curved mansard roof. The mansard features a semicircular pedimented dormer on each side and an onion shaped dome at the top. -Flanking the central frontispiece are two secondary pavilions, each of which is framed by brick piers which rise above the cornice line to enclose a brick pediment.(photograph1) The ornamentation of the Gillon Block is hectic. Rectangular, 2 over 2 windows occur singly and in pairs, articulated by granite sills and lintels. (The only arched win- dow occurs on the second floor of the frontispiece.) Spandrel panels are filled with brick corbelling, terra cotta ornament, and brownstone carvings.

Terra cotta panels are also employed within the facade pediments and piers. An elaborate corbelled cornice encircles the building. Unfortunately, all of the block's first floor storefronts have been remodelled in the twentieth century.

/Architect Rinaldo V. Carey Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Gillon Block retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship, setting, and 1o- cation. The building is closely linked to Milford's late 19th century development and is Milford's most outstanding excellent example of eclectic, late Victorian cormercial architecture; it meets criteria A and C of the National Register. The Gillon Block was designed by Rinaldo V. Carey, a local architect whose self- proclaimed specialty was public buildings. This is Carey's only known building, however, 'The Gillion Block's variety of mofis, materials, textures, and colors exude a plyfulness and exuberance typical of the late. Victorian period, although tha idiosyncrasy of this design is highly distinctive.

The largely intact interior spaces are a rare survivor of the period. In the 19th amd early 20th centuries, Milford's economy rested on shoe manufacturing and granite quarring. Milford granite was preferred by many an architect-- McKim, Mead & White among others-- and was shipped to all corners of the U.S. and even to Europe. The Gillon Block is the largest of a number of imposing conmercial buildings erected dur- These late Victorian, red brick structures contin- ue to dominate Main Street and to define its character. Patrick Gi1lon, was errected, made his fortune in the liquor business 1 number of survivina bottles markec suggest that he was a bottle manufacturer as well. The lower floors of the Gillon Blockhavehoused a great many conmercial interests.

These include insurance, legal, medical, and dental offices, musicians" studios, a tailor, bank, barbershop, union hall, municipal offices, and a number of restaurants and stores. The building's two large third floor meeting halls were originally known as Temperance Hall and Red Men's Hall.