Sayles House

The restoration of the 1843 Sayles House in the 1970's was made possible through the estate of Robert Sayles, the last family to reside in the home.  The Western Reserve colonial-style house welcomes visitors to step back in time when Milan was a busy inland lake port and life flourished in the small town. Climb the front steps to the second floor. The master bedroom's 1800's Pennsylvania pencil post bed illustrates the desire for the "niceties" on the new frontier. From a window in this room we can see the birthplace of Thomas A. Edison just one block away. Venturing to the weaving room, narrow back steps take us again to the first floor and the kitchen where the "Goodwill" iron stove looks ready for stoking. An up-ground cellar provided storage before the days of modern refrigeration. The spirit of a pleasant life was kept alive with dinner parties in the dining room and Sunday visits in the formal parlor. You can envision afternoon callers, seated primly on the horsehair furniture and listening dutifully to the music of the melodian. > Back to Exhibits