Lester
Miner
(1908-1981)
Lester
Miner was born on April 7, 1908 in Mill Run, Fayette County, PA, the son of William
Henry ‘Squire’ and Sara Jane (Basinger) Minerd. He and his wife were
longtime employees of Fallingwater®, the house over a waterfall designed by Frank
Lloyd Wright that is considered America’s “most famous modern house.”
On April 20, 1936, Lester married Mildred Anderson (1920-1994), the daughter of James "Nelson" and Jenny (Rowan) Anderson, and a native of Mill Run.
[Note – Mildred was the granddaughter of George E. and Alphea (Prinkey) Rowan and the great-granddaughter of Jonas and Julia (Williams) Rowan.]
The Miners
had seven children – Mildred ‘Beryl’ Cumberland, Ronald Lester Miner,
Esther ‘Gail’ Mowry, Gladys Louise Shepler, Barbara Jean Shawley, Gary
Dwayne Miner and Marcy Ann Witt.
Lester worked at Fallingwater in the mid-1950s. His brothers Frank and Ralph also labored at Fallingwater for many years. Lester's boss, George Green, had responsibility for managing the grounds around the house, greenhouse, gardens, trees and landscaping. Lester often supervised the crew when Green was absent. Papers in the Fallingwater archives cite his work activity as follows:
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“Miner’s men had just completed several new glass sashes and repaired several old ones for Mr. Green’s boxes. Also … four large oak containers made by Miner’s men for Mr. Green to plant small evergreens in for the big house.” (Nov. 6, 1956);
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“Lester Miner worked an extra day (Sunday) during the past pay period – this was due to Mr. Green’s illness and Mr. Miner came and watered the greenhouse plants and looked after things.” (June 5, 1958);
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“Lester Miner will work 7 days a week – coming on Sundays to regulate the heat of the green house, according to the temperature and to water the greenhouse plants.” (Aug. 19, 1958).
Lester and Mildred Miner and family
Lester
is seen at left raking leaves at Fallingwater, at a date unknown.
He passed away on May 8, 1981, and is buried at the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near Mill Run.
After Lester’s death, Mildred began working at Fallingwater’s Child Care Center. She spent a decade directing the Center, and retired at the end of 1991. Their daughter Gail and granddaughter Candi now work in the Center – the third generation of service caring for the children of Fallingwater’s visitors.
Mildred died at age 73 on April 25, 1994, at the Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville, a suburb of Pittsburgh. She was laid to rest beside her husband. At the time of her death, she had 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Lester and
Mildred both are mentioned in the 1970 book, A
History of Mill Run.
In July 2004, Lester and Mildred were honored at our national family reunion
for their work at Fallingwater, and Mildred was mentioned in a related
Associated Press story published in newspapers throughout Pennsylvania.
Grandson Ross H. Miner in 2001 was the Republican candidate for Supervisor of Springfield Township, Fayette County, a six-year term.
Copyright © 2004-2005 Mark A. Miner