The Gifford-Risley House stands on land that was originally part of the County Poor Farm Property in 1850. The lot was first sold in 1872 by Edward Price for $1,121. Elton B. Gifford, a Quaker merchant from Philadelphia, bought the site in 1877 from James Farnum and erected the present mansion and carriage house in 1877-1878. In 1886, the property was sold to Dr. Samuel Risley, a well known Media physician, who lived there until 1920. The house blends several design motifs, especially Gothic Revival and Chalet, was built of Springfield Granite from the quarries of J. Howard Lewis, and is believed to be the work of the Quaker architect Addison Hutton (1834-1916). It is considered the finest remaining example of Victorian Era residential architecture in Media.