Millier

(submitted by Jim Millier)

Jim Millier (1932–) was born on the 4^th Line (Confederation Rd.), Watford in the home of his grandparents, Jim and Maud Bryce. Jim was the only child of Charles (–1974) and Lucy (Bryce, –1994) Millier. Lucy was born on the Bryce farm.

Jim spent much time in Watford during the depression and the war years. When his father could not get work in Sarnia, he helped on the farm. Jim attended SS#16 at the corner of the 4^th Line and 6 Sideroad (Kingscourt Rd.) Social events and monthly church services were also held here. The kids played softball in the fields in summer and hockey in the winter on frozen ponds. During harvest season, everyone helped with threshing and the men appreciated the great meals that were prepared by the farmers’ wives. The Bryce farm made maple syrup each spring.

Jim lived with his grandparents and attended Watford District High School from 1946–1951. All students took the same subjects including Latin and French. There were no options or spares. Track and field and basketball were the two sports in which they competed against schools in Forest, Petrolia and Strathroy.

In the early fifties, his parents moved to the Maple Lodge, a store, gas station and cabins that faced Highway 7. Jim’s father worked at Imperial Oil in Sarnia while living at the Maple Lodge.

SS#16 c. 1940. Back row: Ross Collins, Robert Garside, Gerald Williamson. Third row: Norma Winegarden, Don McCormick, Don McEwen, Stanley Garside. Second row: Ross Garside, Jim Millier, Kathleen Garside, Helen (McEwen) Edwards, Delta Collins. Front row: Muriel (Thompson) Butsch, Jim Sayers, Bernice (Bryce) Slack, Murray Bryce, Murray McEwen. Courtesy J Sayers.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Millier Family

Back Next