Frazier Farmstead Museum
   William Samuel Frazier, his wife Rachel Paulina and their seven children left their home in Texas in 1867 to seek a better life in the fabled west.  They settled in the Walla Walla Valley and purchased a homestead claim for 320 acres.  A cabin was built in which they lived for the next 24 years.  Frazier lad out the town site for Milton in 1872, naming the new settlement after the English poet, John Milton, whose poems he greatly admired.
     William had the present home built in 1892, ten years after his wife's death and gave each of his sons a plot of land on which to build their homes in the growing community.  Upon his death in 1896, the local newspaper, "The Milton Eagle" spoke of him affectionately as "Father Frazier, a beloved citizen, friend and parent--the founding father of Milton, Oregon." 
     At this time his youngest son, William Hardee and wife Frances Beardsley Frazier, whose family had migrated from New York in the 1870's acquired the property.  The house was remodeled to reflect a prosperous Victorian residence of the era. In 1913, a basement was dug and the house was moved approximately 100 feet to bring it in line with other residences.  It was again remodeled, this time in the currently popular Craftsman style.  It has remained basically unchanged since that time.
   William and Frances spent the rest of the their lives in the home and died in the 1950's.  Two of their three children, Lela and Earl, lived on in the home until their deaths in 1983 and 1978 respectively.  Having no descendants, they willed the entire Frazier Estate to the Milton-Freewater Area Foundation and it was opened to the public as the Frazier Farmstead Museum on October 6, 1984 by the Milton-Freewater Area Historical Society. 

    Most of the furnishings and household goods have been in the home since the turn of the century, with some brought with them on their westward migration in 1867. Area residents have also generously donated items from other pioneer families.
     Aside from the house, the six acre site also includes six outbuildings; two barns, a combination carriage house, milk barn and tack room, a small  one-room cottage, a woodshed and a chicken house.  These structures were all integral parts of a working farm.  The creek running through the rear of the property was the mill race for the first city-owned hydroelectric power plant in the Northwest.  It has been noted that baptisms have been held in this creek...but many years ago!


      The Frazier's were a practical and frugal pioneer family and their traits which made them successful are reflected in their building style.  During the first ten years as a museum, the home has been restored with the addition of period wallpapers, floor and window coverings.   
    It houses a fine collection of antique furniture and other items of 19th century living. Other structures contain old farm related machinery and other primitive pioneer collections.
     

    Flower, herb and rose gardens, many of which are heirloom varieties, have been added to the property.  The basement, which is out of the sight of the viewing public now houses a modern kitchen, office, research and work space which are necessary for the many activities held in the home and on the spacious grounds.

 
     The Frazier property is a unique bequest to the community of Milton-Freewater as it has enabled the collection and preservation of pioneer artifacts, all enhanced by the depiction of a past way of life.  It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and an endowment fund has been established to ensure the maintenance and survival of Frazier Farmstead Museum far into the future.

Dining Room