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Partly cloudy skies. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.

Who knows how many vehicles have driven right through the Township of Milton, NC and not known an earthly thing about it?

But soon, the little town with one traffic light is just about ready to shed that anonymity and it’s time it should.

There is so much rich history that has escaped recognition only because its residents weren’t really interested in a high profile starting in the 1950’s. This status-quo sentiment was verified by a long-time Milton resident in his late 70’s.

That was then, this is now, and there’s a new positive energy and feeling about Milton and its 200+ significant years in Caswell County. Not only will the glorious work of skilled furniture-craftsman Thomas Day move more to the public forefront, other vital chapters of Milton’s history will begin to gradually open.

Thanks to historical-minded citizens like Vanessa “Twinkle” Richmond-Graves, the name and appreciation meter is starting to tick upward.

“My name is Vanessa Richmond-Graves. My nickname is ‘Twinkle,’ which everybody knows me by. When I was born, my tear ducts were closed, so my pediatrician decided my eyes were sparkling and he wanted my name to be ‘sparkle.’ But the nurse intervened and said ‘no, Twinkle!,’ hence the name,” laughs Richmond-Graves.

Twinkle is working with the Thomas Day House/Union Tavern Restoration, Inc. in Milton. Currently, she is president and conducting different programs for homeschooled groups and regularly schooled groups. There had been tours on a regular basis, but due to Covid, significant cancellations affected the over-all scheduling. Lately, the restoration project is waiting on the group, Preservation Greensboro, Inc., who had 40 people coming for one big tour, but called to say half of them had Covid and were rescheduling. Not only was there a revenue loss, but the good word-spreading of 40 people was lost, too.

Richmond-Graves was born in Danville, Va., raised in Milton, lived in Greensboro, but came home to Milton every weekend. She just loves Milton and calls herself a “Miltonian.” She attended Bennett College in Greensboro, received her master’s degree at NC A&T, and half of a doctorate at UNC Chapel Hill. During that time, she contracted cancer and couldn’t finish the course study. Richmond-Graves decided not to pursue it because she didn’t care to be known as Dr. Twinkle!

“I worked here in Caswell County for vocational training, and I worked at Bartlett Yancey High School. When I moved to Greensboro, I worked in several schools there and taught at Bennett College as well. I didn’t get married until 1999 to my husband, Ray Lee, and we take care of both our elderly mothers, mine here in Milton and his in Reidsville. We have a beautiful marriage,” she confides.

The people that take the tours (ticket is $6) of Milton’s historic district are a mixture of all types. Many are there to view and appreciate Day’s iconic work, but there are also the curious and antique dealers from far and wide. Some visitors have claimed they have signed pieces by Thomas Day. But Twinkle has a vital reference source in the book, Tom Day, “Master of Mahogany” by Pat Marshall. This comprehensive work provides positive proof to the identification of his work or that of an imposter.

“If you go on a tour, some of them are long and some of them are short. We do the Thomas Day Museum, the Union Tavern, we tell them about the history of Thomas Day and how he came to Milton and his many accomplishments in woodworking. Then, we’ll take you on a tour of the High Street Baptist Church. There is a Thomas Day church pew there and that’s the only African American church in the Milton Township. Then, we’ll come down to the Milton Presbyterian church and he has the walnut pews there. That has been our basic tour before Thomas Day began as a museum.”

Then, the group will go down to the Milton Baptist church where Day has pews and architecture displayed. There, one gets a true appreciation of three different types of pews and the fine woodworking he did. If there is time, the enclave will go down Broad St. and have an informal outside house tour and view informational signs posting the history behind each house.

Yanceyville realtor, Cindy Millay, helps the museum with the signage.

Time-permitting, the tour will go up to Oak Tree Tavern ( at nearby Virginia International Raceway) as Day did almost all the architecture there in the stately, 1800’s manor.

“And if it’s a pretty day, and you really feel like going, we’ll go to Cedars Cemetery and you can see the mass grave, where we have Union and Confederate soldiers buried there from the Civil War. They were in a battle in Farmville, Va., during Lee’s retreat south and there were thousands of casualties. A train came through and so many soldiers died on the way to the Danville hospital, that the train just continued on to Milton, and they were taken up the hill and buried together.”

Even though the town is small, the landscape prevents a walking tour with its hilly incline. Tour members can drive their cars down, park and walk down Broad St. After seeing all the historical houses, the tour will take them to the small businesses in town (several blocks worth) , especially the Renaissance Museum. There are two restaurants and the brand-new Milton 66 Beer Garden.

After leaving there, guests may inspect the Milton Mural that depicts much of everything that’s happened in Milton from the 19th century on. It’s on the side of the Milltown Eatery and Saloon on the building’s north wall.

Then, there’s the renowned artist, Shirley Cadmus’ Milton Studio Art Gallery, Aunt Millie’s Antique Shop and then wind up at Aunt Millie’s Pizza (try the cheesy breadsticks with sauce!). There are plenty of things to see and do, it’s just up to the individual. The all-day tour is very popular because it ends up at Oak Tree Tavern, known for its fine cuisine with an imported Irish bar named “Connie’s Pub.”

In addition to the guided tours, the Township Milton presents “Christmas in Historic Milton” on the first Saturday in December (this December 3). All the merchants share a little something special in their stores like cookies, brownies, homemade treats, and that takes place from about 1-5 p.m., right after the Yanceyville Christmas Parade.

Covid prevented that for two straight years, so the merchants are hoping for the best this year. It is possible food may not be served this year, but at least customers can walk in, shop, and enjoy some free bottled water.

As for project funding, grants and Milton’s immediate future, the State of North Carolina is going to be taking over and making the town a state historical site. Though the town is already a national landmark and has been for 20 something years, this title may be more prestigious and beneficial. The restoration staff is currently working with the state on that project. Hopefully when the designated funding gets approval in the legislative budget, Richmond-Graves can get things started and fast-track events for next year. “We’re hoping to restore many more of Mr. Day’s furniture and architectural work and give it the international focus it deserves,” concludes the director.

Twinkle Richmond-Graves can be reached at 336-616-6381.

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