Thom Block

The Thom Block, a four-story, flat roofed, granite commercial block is situated in The building covers nearly all of the 3000 square feet, trapezoidal-shaped parcel on which it stands; it fronts on Main Street on the southeast, Calley Square on the northeast, and Spruce Street on the northwest. Due to its shape, the Thom Block is commonly known as the Flat Iron Building. The street facades of the Thom Block are built of locally quarried, rock faced granite blocks. The windowless southwest wall is a red brick (24" thick at the base, 8" thick at the top), and was originally shared with an adjoining commercial block which was destroyed during the 1960s. Heavy timber framing - some members as thick as 8" x 10" - braces load-bearing walls and rests upon vertical granite slabs at basement level.

The street facades are composed of coursed and random sections of ashlar, with suggestions of quoins at the Calley Square corners. Rectangular windows with one over one sash are framed by plain granite lintels, slightly projecting sills, and jambs of alternating wide and narrow blocks. The facades are simply articulated by granite belt courses and unusually decorative storefronts. The building was at one time topped by a metal cornice, added probably in the late 1920s to prevent roof leaks and removed several years ago after serious deterioration. Below a granite frieze, the Main Street storefronts are separated by seven poly- chromatic piers which alternate blocks of polished and rock faced granite. The piers are each capped by a carved modillion block.

At the building's northeast corner, a recessed entrance is supported by a polychromatic column of polished granite cylinders separated by narrow bands of rock faced granite. A rudimentary, rough hewn capital block surmounts this column.

/Architect James Thom Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Thom Block retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location and setting. The building is significant for its associations with Milford's late 19th century industrial prosperity and as a fine example of a granite commercial block of the period; it meets criteria A and C of the National Register. Since the mid 19th century, granite quarrying has been Milford's largest and most important industry. H. H. Richardson's Boston and Albany railroad stations and his Allegheny County Courthouse are built of Milford granite, as are McKim, Mead and White's Boston Public Library and Pennsylvania Station.

Other notable structures of Milford granite include the New York City Public Library, Boston's South Station, and Washington's Executive Office Building and Museum of Natural History. Milford granite was shipped to all corners of the U. S. and as far afield as Europe. Although Milford's granite industry declined precipitously in the early 20th century, the town's late 19th century commercial blocks continue to dominate Main Street and to define its character. The Thom Block is the town's only surviving granite commer- cial block,and as such serves as a prominent visual reminder of the industry whose prosperity built much of Main Street.

Although rock faced granite ashlar is not unusual in Massachusetts, load bearing walls of randomly sized courses are notably less common, particularly among buildings of the late 19th century. In addition, the Thom Block's polychromatic piers of polished and rock faced granite are unique in the region. James Thom came to Milford around 1889. Soon after joining Milford Pink Granite Quarries as a "foreman stone-cutter," Mr. Thom was the target of a "murderous assault" by a disgruntled quarry laborer by the name of Scampini. Shortly thereafter, Thom submitted his resignation.