Cedar Creek Hundred in Milford in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Vaules-Grier Home

Kenton's Legacy

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2019

1. The Vaules-Grier Home Marker

Inscription. The original house on this site was built in 1872 by W. Thornton Vaules, a station agent for the local railroad. In 1895 his daughter, Ella married the young dentist G. Layton Grier and moved into this house with her parents.

Upon the death of Levin D. Caulk in 1896, Dr. Grier moved the L.D. Caulk Company to Milford. In 1900 he became its first president. In time, he and his brother Dr. Frank Grier built L.D. Caulk into a world dental technology leader.

Upon the death of W. Thornton Vaules in 1907 Dr. Grier began a comprehensive reconstruction of the house, embellishing it with balconies, fluted columns, leaded glass windows, and formal gardens—in the fashionable Victorian style.

The Griers raised a son, Vaules and two daughters Margaret and Anne. In 1944 Layton died and in 1946 the two daughters donated this house to Milford Memorial Hospital to use as a nursing school. In 1953 it was sold to Roland and Sarah Beauchamp sho lived here until 1977, when Thomas H. Draper and Rachel Grier (grandniece) bought it. They raised four children. In 1990 they sold it to David W. and Dawn D. Kenton who live here today.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location.

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38° 54.611′ N, 75° 25.937′ W. Marker is in Milford, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Cedar Creek Hundred. It is on Jefferson Avenue just east of Causey Avenue (Delaware Route 36), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 Jefferson Avenue, Milford DE 19963, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Temple Lodge No. 9 A.F. & A.M. (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mispillion River Greenway Historical Sites (approx. 0.2 miles away); Causey House (approx. ¼ mile away); Vale-Williams Memorial City Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Milford (approx. ¼ mile away); Major General Alfred T.A. Torbert (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Major General Alfred T.A. Torbert (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Milford (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milford.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2019

2. The Vaules-Grier Home Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 748 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.