Milford History Online

In the photo above, it’s 1988 and if you are going to park on the Oval, you are going to have to pay for it. The “meter debate” raged in Milford for decades — the kind of issue that everyone has an opinion about and is more than happy to share. 

The meters were originally approved by a nearly unanimous vote at the March 1951 town meeting after a budget committee made up of Union Square merchants led by Ray Dyer reported that “parking meters are the only way to control our traffic and parking problems.” The town meeting signed off despite the strenuous opposition of legislator and Ober clothing store owner Fred Wadleigh, who argued that the new parking “tax” would take away one advantage enjoyed by Milford merchants. 

The meters originally allowed for two-hour parking at five cents an hour (or a penny for just 12 minutes) and in 1952, the committee reported back that “the meters have been successful far beyond our expectations” — having eliminated all-day parkers and generated revenue. But the meters would become less popular and less profitable over the years, especially as Union Square storefronts emptied and successful shopping centers touted free parking.

A new cast of merchants in the 1990s called for the removal of the meters, and of course, today the Oval enjoys free (if not always easy to find) parking. While few are asking for a return of the meters, one complaint voiced in 1951 is still a problem today. From a 1951 Cabinet article: “There is frequent criticism of merchants and clerks who occupy spaces (all day).” From 2018’s Nashua Telegraph, quoting the Union Street Grill’s Kevin Stephens, “When business owners take up parking spaces on the Oval, it’s ridiculous.”

It seems that parking downtown has come full circle.