A REAL LIFE PIONEER

HISTORY IS HER HOBBY

Shirley Beam, Tribune Correspondent

[The Evening Tribune, 23 December 1980]

May Miller, of Niagara River Parkway, celebrated her 95^th birthday at an open house in her home,  that was attended by over 100 friends and relatives. During the celebration Scott Thwaites, Joyce and Sharon Morellato, attended the guest book and welcomed the guests.

Miss Miller, one of the oldest residents in the area, is in excellent health and has many hobbies that occupy her time each day. She was born, Dec. 10, 1885, on the same land where she has always lived and was originally owned by her great grandfather, Jacob Miller, who bought the property in 1804. The property then consisted of 200 acres and Mr. Miller lived in a log cabin.

In 1810 the Millers bought a new log house on part of the land, where Miss Miller (Zettie May) was born to William and Priscilla Miller, and they lived there until the family built a new house in 1912, where she has resided ever since. Miss Miller had one brother Fermin that died in 1963.

THE EARLY YEARS

Miss Miller’s excellent memory takes one back over the years, as she tells of just a towpath along the river, how her great grandfather travelled to Kitchener and Clarence, N.Y. by horseback to preach. He was one of the first ministers to preach in the Methodist church, built along the parkway in 1824. It was the first church in the area.

Miss Miller received her education at Willoughby number 4 school, then to the collegiate in Niagara Falls where she boarded five days a week at $2 per week. To get to school in Niagara Falls, her father would take her to Chippawa and she would get the trolley to Bender Hill in Niagara Falls and walk up Victoria Avenue that was pasture land to get to her home where she boarded. Miss Miller later took music lessons and oil painting lessens in Niagara Falls, and many of her paintings still decorate her home.

CHARTER MEMBER

She is still a faithful worker with the Willoughby Historical Society, a charter member and one of the founders of the Willoughby Historical museum. She is an honorary president and held office on the Museum Board until she reached her 90^th birthday. She is also a charter member of the Willoughby Women’s Institute and a member of the Chippawa Presbyterian Church and the Women’s Missionary Society of the church that she attends regularly.

Time never seems to be a burden to this active lady. She gets up at 8 a.m. daily, does light housework, enjoys looking after her plants and spends considerable time working on things that have historical interest. For many years Miss Miller has been keeping a diary and can recall things that happened years ago.

WELL WISHES

During the celebration Miss Miller received many cards, floral arrangements, some coming as far as England and Germany. Plaques were received from Prime Minister Trudeau, William Davis, Wayne Thompson, mayor of Niagara Falls, Ed Schreyer, governor-general and letters of congratulations from Al McBain and Stan Price.

Pouring from a table covered with a hand crocheted cloth made by Mrs. Albert Thwaites that was centered with a floral arrangement and flanked with white tapers in silver holders, were Dianne Dunkin, Violet Glasgow and Ina Dobbie. Refreshments were served by Mrs. Frank Thwaites and Mrs. Andie Morellato.

When Miss Miller was asked if she would like to live to 100, she smiled and answered, yes, if she would not be a burden to anyone.

*Miss Miller passed 2 May 1984.