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Lauralton on State Register of Historic Places

Posted on Nov 24, 2010

Lauralton Hall was recently listed on the State Register of Historic Places by the Connecticut Historic Preservation Council. This is an honorary designation that identifies Lauralton Hall as a historic property. “It is my sincere hope that this designation will serve to encourage the protection of this important historic resource,” states David Bahlman, Division Director of the State Historic Preservation Office.

The school intends to celebrate this exciting State Registry listing in the spring and details about the celebration will be announced in the upcoming months. “We are deeply appreciative of all the support we have received from the community throughout our nomination process,” states President Antoinette Iadarola, Ph.D. Having received designation on the State Register of Historic Places, the school’s next step is to be considered for the National Register of Historic Places. 

Built in 1864 and set on 33 acres in historic downtown Milford, the campus contains a cluster of architectural buildings with a very interesting history. The stunning estate was constructed as the home of Charles Hobby Pond, a New York businessman from one of Milford’s oldest families. The original name of the home was “Island View,” named for its view of Charles Island. The picturesque appeal of the Victorian-Gothic style of “Island View” is achieved principally through much variety and irregularity in its design. A few of the dominant exterior features are a high French mansard roof and two towers, one square and the other round.  The long winding drive up to the buildings enables visitors to catch a glimpse of this impressive architecture.

The estate was purchased in 1889 by Henry Augustus Taylor, a New York financier and one of Milford’s most generous philanthropists. The property was then named Lauralton Hall for his daughter, Laura. Mr. Taylor extensively remodeled Lauralton Hall in a style more characteristic of the later Victorian period. Henry Taylor was a well-respected patron of architecture who donated the funds to construct the Milford Public Taylor Memorial Library building as well as the Mary Taylor Methodist-Episcopal Church in Milford. 

In 1905, the Sisters of Mercy bought the Pond-Taylor estate to establish the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy. To meet the needs of the school, two buildings in the Neo-Gothic/Tudor style were erected around that time. 

The unique barn built as part of the original Pond estate in1864 is one of the finest examples of the late Victorian period. The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation recently awarded Lauralton Hall two highly competitive grants to assist in renovating the barn which, over time, has fallen into a state of disrepair. 

In 2014 the property will be one hundred fifty years old--a real milestone for Lauralton Hall, the city of Milford and the state of Connecticut. 
 



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