Milton Renaissance Foundation

06/19/2026

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

A new friend in Texas, a member of the Dodson family, sent a photograph of a watercolor piece by Mary Dodson Ramseur, 1864-1935. She grew up at “Woodside.” She studied art in New York and Paris, later teaching art in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

06/11/2026

What is guano? It was a potent, natural fertilizer, used in the 19th century, before modern fertilizers were invented. Made from seabird or bat excrement, guano was a significant commodity in the world market in its heyday.

A guano warehouse is shown on the Milton Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of 1893, near the Milton & Sutherlin Railroad Depot; both would have been along what is now the Milton Heritage Greenway & Walking Trail, and the location is marked.

Recently, donations were given for a bat house installation project near where the guano warehouse would have been on the trail. Several of the 17 species native to NC are considered endangered.

Thank you to Tracy and Stephen Blaine, daughter Laura and grandson, Gabe, for this idea and for heading up this project, as well as for the donations they received.

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06/06/2026

Had a most splendid time seeing people from Oxford, Chapel Hill and across Caswell today! Then more splendidness seeing and holding a King George III half-penny that was found on the grounds of Red House Presbyterian. Visiting Hugh McAden’s grave at the site of a British encampment was a splendid conclusion.

06/05/2026

This interesting discussion is tomorrow! The goal is to lead up to the documented history in the American Revolution that this area has, specifically the Thomas Mill and Rev. Hugh McAden.
-Begin in Milton at 11928 Academy St, 10:30
-Lunch on your own around noon
-Excursion to Red House Presbyterian Church, featuring a display of Red House archaeological finds by Lost Treasure Recovery.

05/31/2026

On the last day of May, National Preservation month, it’s worth mentioning how special it was to have a WEDDING in Milton, which certainly adds to community life, while allowing an 1890 structure to serve once more as the backdrop for a momentous occasion. Congratulations, Aiden and Amanda Cash Liberty! Just today, neighbor Katherine McGee spoke of how much she enjoyed seeing the wedding flurry at the little church on the corner.

05/31/2026

Perfect weather yesterday for a cemetery restoration workshop. Thank you to Ivan Nielsen for another stellar time of mentoring and teaching. One attendee from Pittsboro, with an archaeological preservation background in Utah, heard about the event on a Raleigh radio station, and she expressed how she had wanted to attend such a workshop. Clueless as to how the event made it to radio, but yay!

05/29/2026

Tomorrow at 9, with special guest, Ivan Nielsen, with the Danville Historical Society.