Milford Rural Agricultural School

Located in the center of the Village of Milford, the Milford Rural Agricultural School, completed in the summer of 1926, was in the heart of the community it would serve. It was built in fulfillment of the Rural Agricultural School Act of 1917, and the layout was planned specifically to accommodate rural agricultural education. Plans for the school gave special attention to a good heating, lighting and ventilating system, as well as proper and up-to-date sanitary facilities. This school was an important part of the movement in Michigan for consolidation of schools to provide better education for the young people in rural areas and the 'standard school' reforms aimed at providing proper surroundings in which children could be educated. The Art Deco style of the exterior of the school made it a product of its time, and the fine workmanship and attention to detail throughout guaranteed its survival.

Situated in the center of the Village of Milford, the Milford Rural Agricultural School is a two-story, L-shaped, brick building trimmed in limestone. The building exterior remains virtually unchanged from the time it was built in 1926. It is Arts-and-Crafts in inspiration, featuring an arched entrance which is topped by a gabled parapet. The brick exterior is accented by polychromatic brick work, and punctuated by square limestone medallions. The construction of this building made use of the finest available materials and workmanship, and used the most modern advances in construction. The school faces west on Hickory Street and sits rather high above the street with one set of steps from the street to the sidewalk, and another from the sidewalk to the building. The building itself is only a few steps above ground, as there is no basement under the school proper. This building occupies approximately 1.4 acres in the middle of the block between Summit Street on the north, and Detroit Street on the south and extending from Hickory Street to East Street. The ground on the east side is level from the building to East Street, and is covered with the remains of asphalt paving formerly used for playground and parking.