Promont House Museum
Promont House Museum
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Promont is a Victorian mansion that was built in 1865. As the former home of John M. Pattison, Ohio’s 43rd Governor, this home has a vibrant history behind it.
Now a museum and a hub for GMAHS, Promont is filled to the brim with period furnishings and exhibits. It also houses a reference library and a gift shop. The structure of the home has never been altered, remaining as true to its original build as possible. It has three levels and a tower that was recently renovated, so you can now climb up it for a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area.
History of Promont House
Promont stands as a majestic Victorian mansion built in 1865, rich in history and architectural beauty. Once the residence of John M. Pattison, the 43rd Governor of Ohio, this remarkable home has witnessed over 150 years of the region’s history. Today, Promont serves as a museum under the stewardship of the Greater Milford Area Historical Society, showcasing an array of period furnishings and rotating exhibits that bring the past to life.
Remarkably, the structure of Promont remains unaltered from its original construction, offering visitors a genuine glimpse into the past. The mansion is renowned for its Italianate architectural style, characterized by a central hall flanked by two connecting rooms on each side, consistent across its four floors. The Italianate influence is further evidenced in its window designs, wide eaves, and decorative quoins that embellish the corners of the house. The mansion also features a recently renovated tower, providing a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
Promont’s grounds, originally spanning 56 acres and reaching the historic Five Points intersection, have been a witness to the changing times and various families that have resided within its walls. Beyond its historical and architectural significance, Promont also hosts a reference library and a gift shop, making it a vibrant center for historical exploration and learning in the Milford area.
Iconic Arcitecture
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Work on the Promont began in 1865 and continued until its completion in 1867. The bricks were all made and fired on the grounds. Promont was designed in the Italianate Style, which means that the house has a center hall with two connecting rooms on each side. Each of the four floors boast the same layout. Other features that make it Italianate include the shape and size of its windows, its wide eaves, and the use of quoins throughout, which are decorations on the corners of the house.
The grounds of the house originally stretched over 56 acres, reaching as far as the well-known Five Points intersection near the location of the current police station. It offered its residents over 3,360 square feet of living space.
Who has lived at Promont?
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Promont has been around for more than 150 years, so it should come as no surprise that it’s had multiple owners. This timeline showcases the various families that have called this historic house home.
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WhAT’s In a nAME?
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Before it was known as Promont, the house was called Beechwood, thanks to the abundance of beech trees on the property. William George Williams, John Pattison’s father-in-law, later re-named it Promont, which is Latin for a prominent mass of land overlooking or projecting into a low land. Williams was a professor of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and English grammar at Ohio Wesleyan University.
historic Features
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The house had state-of-the-art features for its time, including:
- Inside shutters
- Call bells in every room
- Argon gas light fixtures
- A gravity-flow running water system
- A force pump in the kitchen to send water from the outside cistern up to the tanks on the third floor
- A stationary washstand in every room
- A closet in the kitchen with a slide to the dining room service area
Currently, the museum has been restored to how it looked from 1879 to 1906 when Governor Pattison and his family lived there.
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TAKE A TOUR
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Promont is more than a museum, it’s a journey into the past. We offer docent-led tours for a personal and immersive experience.
Public tours of the museum are on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of each month from 1 PM to 4 PM. Tours begin no later than 3 and the museum closes at 4:00.
Public Tour Costs:
· Our docent-led public tours are $8 per person
· Students 13+ $3 per person
· Children 12 and under – free with member or paying adult.
Private tours may be available throughout the week and can be scheduled by contacting us at (513) 248-0324, Monday to Thursday, between 9 AM and 3 PM.
Private Tour Costs:
• $10 per person for 8 or more
• $15 per person for 7 or less
• Children 12 and under – free with member or paying adult.
Private event notice. Promont is often booked for private events and these engagements can overlap with regular open hours. Please check this website or the GMAHS Facebook page for closure notices. Or, call 513/248-0324 (Monday to Thursday, 9am to 3pm).
Tours must be set one week prior to the event.
Teas:
We are postponing Teas until further notice due to circumstances beyond our control. Please feel free to leave your contact information if you like to have us contact you when the Teas resume.
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Promont For Events
Nestled amongst the trees on top of a hill overlooking Milford, Promont is an ideal location for weddings, bridal showers, afternoon teas, corporate meetings, and more. Promont’s Italianate architecture acts as a beautiful backdrop, adding a touch of old-world elegance to any event.
Inside, the vaulted ceilings and intricate woodwork create an intimate ambiance for small gatherings. Out on the grounds, the elegant gazebo and wooded lot will easily accommodate larger events.
With advance notice, we can even provide you with docent-led tours of the museum during the event. Better yet, GMAHS members receive a discount on the house rental fee!
If you’re interested in holding your special event at Promont, contact Kim Phipps, our Event Coordinator, at (859) 409-3504 or promontevents@gmail.com. For more information, check our Facebook page:
About Us
GREATER MILFORD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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History of Promont
The Greater Milford Area Historical Society (GMAHS), established in 1967, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of Milford and Miami Township, Ohio. Originating as Old Milford Incorporated, the society has grown from its initial small museum setting to occupying the historical Promont mansion, reflecting its commitment to safeguarding the area’s heritage. Through extensive restoration projects, educational initiatives, and community engagement, including a noteworthy partnership with local schools, GMAHS serves as a vital custodian of the region’s past, ensuring its stories and traditions are kept alive for future generations.
Promount Museum
Promont stands as a majestic Victorian mansion built in 1865, rich in history and architectural beauty. Once the residence of John M. Pattison, the 43rd Governor of Ohio, this remarkable home has witnessed over 150 years of the region’s history. Today, Promont serves as a museum under the stewardship of the Greater Milford Area Historical Society, showcasing an array of period furnishings and rotating exhibits that bring the past to life.