One of my favorite organizations, the Oliver Miller Homestead Associates, recently sponsored an event at the Homestead, commemorating fifty years of their dedicated stewardship to that venue. I had the pleasure of attending this well-attended event, significantly adding to my knowledge of their organization and the heritage that they continue to enhance.
Any discussion of the Oliver Miller Homestead must begin with the story of its namesake. Oliver Miller was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1720 and came to the New World with his family when he was a teenager. The Miller family initially lived in West Nottingham Township in Chester County in the colony of Pennsylvania. In 1744 Oliver met and married Mary Tidball. They settled in Cecil County, Maryland, in 1750, where Oliver operated a general store. When the Fort Stanwix Treaty of 1768 opened up southwestern Pennsylvania to settlers, the Oliver Miller family moved west and purchased the property on which the Homestead stands from Silas Dexter for thirty-nine pounds.
This acquisition took place during the period when this area was claimed by two colonies, Pennsylvania and Virginia. On January 11, 1774, Oliver Miller, “of Mingo Settlement”, was appointed Justice of the Peace for the Westmoreland County (Pennsylvania) Court of Common Pleas. On December 23, 1776, he was appointed Justice of the Peace for the Yohogania County (Virginia) Court in “Augusta Town” (now Washington, Pennsylvania). He appears to have been a law-abiding citizen, content to conform to the prevailing governmental jurisdiction.
By the 1780s the Millers had four daughters and six sons. When Oliver died in 1782, he left the homestead to his youngest son, James, with the stipulation that he support his sister Mary until she turned eighteen, then give her thirty pounds. The remainder of his significant property holdings were divided among the other siblings. William inherited an adjoining plantation located where the South Park golf course currently stands. Alexander’s plantation was about a mile and a half to the west, and John’s, two miles to the southeast. Thomas established his estate near Canonsburg. Oliver, Jr. inherited his father’s still. When he died in 1783, William acquired the still.
At the time James inherited the homestead, its centerpiece was a two-story log house with a wooden shingle roof, a rarity at the time. In the late 1700s a stone-walled kitchen was added to the rear of the house, followed in 1808 by a large two-story stone extension on the uphill side. In 1830 the log portion of the house was demolished and replaced by the handsome stone building that exists today. The homestead was occupied by Miller descendants until 1927, when Allegheny County acquired over 2,000 acres of land in Bethel and Snowden Townships by eminent domain and established South Park.
Many of the houses in the new park were retained and repurposed; many more were demolished. County officials recognized the historical significance of the Miller Homestead and had it designated an historic landmark, misnaming it “The Stone Manse”. From time to time various organizations attempted to use it for various purposes. As the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1975 approached, a group of local women, led by Anna Connor, petitioned the County for permission to maintain and operate the Miller home as a public museum with the goal of interpreting, demonstrating, and promoting pioneer skills, values, and lifestyles. That permission led to the organization of the Oliver Miller Homestead Associates and a productive partnership with Allegheny County Department of Parks.
The Associates, an impressive volunteer organization, proceeded to restore the Homestead, to furnish it as a late eighteenth/early nineteenth century home, and to preserve its heritage. Initially the Homestead consisted of the original stone house and the nearby 1785 spring house. In the ensuing five decades their stewardship has resulted in the addition of a replica log house in 1988, a working blacksmith’s forge in 1991, a demonstration shed (currently used for woodworking) in 1997, and a large Pennsylvania bank barn in 2006. In addition to serving as an authentic replica of a vintage barn, it also functions as a museum and gift shop. One of the prize artifacts in the barn is Oliver Miller’s original 130 gallon still, the very one that was in William Miller’s possession on July 15, 1794, when Marshal Lenox and General John Neville attempted to serve a writ on him for not registering it, the act that precipitated the violence in the Whiskey Rebellion. The Homestead is open for visitors every Sunday afternoon from May through early December, with special events once a month. I have particularly enjoyed Whiskey Rebellion related re-enactments, as well as those associated with colonial times, like the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on July Fourth.
This particular Sunday the volunteers, attired in authentic eighteenth-century garb, gave a broad variety of presentations on relevant topics. I never fail to be impressed by artisans operating spinning wheels, or weaving on a hand operated loom, or forging a wrought iron tool, or carving a wooden implement with a spoke shave. In addition, this was supplemented by an excellent discussion of the history of the house and the volunteer organization that has made this possible. I also learned a lot about the Miller family and specifically about whiskey production in colonial times from a gentleman in the barn. I wish I were young enough to function as a docent at a place like the Miller Homestead (or at Woodville).
I was encouraged by the turnout of visitors at this event. We have a rich historical heritage here in western Pennsylvania, only vaguely appreciated by most of our neighbors. Next year’s semiquincentennial (250th) celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence will provide us with a unique opportunity to take advantage of it.