Z
Miers farm
is honored
By CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Correspondent
The Ralph Miers farm in Lehman
Township was honored this week by
the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture as a Pennsylvania Cen-
tury Farm. The 126-year-old farm
had the distinction of joining 848
other farm families in the Common-
wealth which have earned this rec-
ognition.
Ralph and Nettie Miers, whose
address is RD 5, Shavertown, are
the Lehman Township farm. The 87-
acre Miers property was originally
purchased by Ralph’s grandparents,
Johnson C. and Mary J. Miers for
approximately $11.96 an acre.
Johnson and Mary had a son
William, who continued to operate
the farm. William had a brother,
sister, two half sisters and a half
brother but he was the only one
interested in farming.
At that time the principal crop
was hay which Ralph’s grandfather,
Johnson, and father, William, sold
to the mines in Wyoming Valley. It
wasn’t until the 1940’s that the
Miers changed to dairy farming.
Today, Ralph has about 40 head of
cattle, at present 29 of them milk
COWS.
Ralph’s parents, William and
Mary Loretta Cease Miers, had
three boys, Ralph, Ernest L. and
Arthur M. and a daughter, Beatrice
L. Hawk. Ernest and Arthur are
deceased, but Beatrice resides in
Mountaintop.
Ralph and Nettie have four chil-
dren, Gary A., Roger C., Eileen
Headman and Rachel Miers but
Roger is the only one interested in
the farm and plans to continue in
dairy farming.
Ralph and Nettie reside in the
original house on the property. The
only renovation done was when
Ralph’s father made the roof higher
and added a room upstairs in the
farmhouse.
According to Ralph, the barn has
had additions constructed since it
was first built, one in 1868, one in
1899 and a third in 1915.
Today, in addition to dairy farm-
ing the Miers grow only a few
vegetables for their own use. The
farm, however, still has its original
87 acres.
Ralph says he has no idea what
the value of the farm is today
Old farm
Dallas Post/Ed Campbell
recognized as a Century
Department of Agriculture.
because he has never been inter-
ested in selling it.
State agricultural secretary, Pen-
rose Hallowell said “The Century
Farms program recognizes those
farm families which have contrib-
uted so much to our Common-
wealth’s economic and agricultural
heritage. For more than 200 years,
our farm families have worked to
make Pennsylvania the leading
agricultural state in the Northeast--
and agriculture the state’s number
one industry. Our Century Farms
are proof that Pennsylvania Agri-
culture is truly Growing Better.”
To be recognized as a Century
Farm, the farm must have been
The following area couples have
announced births recently:
A daughter to LINDA AND
RICKEY GASPER, Box 152, RD 5,
Shavertown, on May 3 in Nesbitt
Memorial Hospital, Kingston.
A daughter to MARION AND
JAMES SICKLER, RD 2, Box 20,
Harveys Lake, on May 1 in Nesbitt
Memorial Hospital, Kingston.
A daughter to JEANNE AND
WILLIAM KRAVITZ, RD 1, Box
291, Harveys Lake, on May 1 in
Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kings-
fon.
MOTHER'S DAY
FATHER'S DAY
CALL FOR
DETAILS
100 Hazle St.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18702
SINCE 1951
Farm by the Pennsylvania
owned by the same family for the
past 100 years, and a family
member must still live on the land.
The farm must also contain at least
10 acres of the original holding.
In addition to the Miers farm, the
Donald L. and Mary Cook farm of
RD 3, Drums, was also recognized
as a Century Farm. The two farms
join seven other farms in Luzerne
County designated as Century
Farms. They include Gordon and
Judith Dawe, Lehman; Elizabeth
Knies, Mountaintop; Nelson Lewis,
Pittston; Carl and Harriett Michael,
Eugene Marvin, Walter Hontz, and
Ralph Harrison, all of Shickshinny.
A son to JANICE AND ANTHONY
PERO, 117 Watkins St., Swoyers-
ville, on April 26 in Nesbitt Memo-
rial Hospital, Kingston.
A son to SUE ELLEN AND JEF-
FREY BOYES, RD 1, Bethel Hill
Road, Sweet Valley, on April 28 in
Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kings-
ton.
A son to ELIZABETH AND
JAMES HARKINS, 188 Mount Airy
Road, Shavertown, on April 4 in
Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kings-
ton.
A daughter to CONSTANCE AND
CHARLES -LAJEUNESSE, 128
Perrin Ave., Shavertown, on April
18 in Nesbitt Memorial Hospital,
Kingston.
A son to SUSAN AND ROBERT
SHAFER, 251 Hughes St., Swoyers-
ville on April 19 in Nesbitt Memorial
Hospital, Kingston.
A daughter to SUSAN AND
ANDREW SORDONI, Pole 48, RD 1,
Box 298, Harveys Lake, on April 20
in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
A son to MARGARET AND
HARRY VAN KUYK, RD 1, Box
135, Dallas on April 20 in Wilkes-
Barre General Hospital.
A son to SHARON AND PATRICK
LYONS, 93 Grandview Ave., Dallas,
on April 20.in Nesbitt Memorial
Hospital, Kingston.
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For a free brochure of rules and
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SINCE 1951
ETE
NKBA
EAE TI
\
David Kasmark. Second
The third grade class of Gate of
Heaven School, Dallas, under the
direction of Mrs. Ann Gray, planted
a flowering dogwood tree on the
church grounds recently, commem-
orating Arbor Day.
A ceremony followed consisting of
ELIZABETH DENNIS
Elizabeth Dennis, 91, formerly of
Noxen, died May 2 in Valley Crest
Nursing Home, Plains Township.
Her husband, Jerome, died in
1964. Surviving are nieces and neph-
ews.
Funeral was held May 5 from the
Nulton Funeral Home, Beaumont,
with the Rev. Pegg Ainslie-Rich-
ards, pastor of Noxen United Meth-
odist Church, officiating. Interment,
Orcutt Cemetery, Noxen.
ROBERT MICHAEL
Robert H. Michael, 23, of RD 2,
Dalton, formerly of Noxen, died
May 1 in Mercy Hospital, Scranton.
Surviving are a daughter, Nicole
Swlangbang; brothers and sisters,
Paul, Susan and Sherry, at home;
Mrs. Paula Fox, West Wyoming;
maternal grandmother Mrs. Ger-
trude Woodruff, Luzerne.
Funeral was held May 5 from the
Nulton Funeral HOme, Beaumont,
with the Rev. Jerry Tallent, pastor
of the Noxen Independent Bible
Church, officiating. Interment,
Beaumont Cemetery, Beaumont.
MARTHA KOWNACKI
Mrs. Martha M. Kownacki, of Box
189A, Overbrook Road, Dallas, died
May 3 in Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-
Barre, where she had been a patient
for two days.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs.
Matthew Weiss, with whom she
resided; two granddaughters and
three great-grandchildren.
Funeral was held May 7 from the
Mark V. Yanaitis Funeral Home,
Plains, with a Mass of Christian
Burial in St. Joseph’s Church. Inter-
ment, parish cemetery.
ALFRED FEIST
Alfred M. Feist, 90, of Oval Drive,
Dallas, died April 30 in the Mead-
ows Nursing Home, Dallas.
His wife, the former Loretta
Kearney died in 1975. Surviving is a
brother, Howard J. Feist, Oxon Hill,
Maryland.
Funeral was held May 3 from the
Luther M. Kniffen Funeral Home,
Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Dr.
James L. Harring, pastor of the
Albright United Methodist Church,
officiating. Interment, Oak Lawn
Cemetery, Hanover Township.
ROBERT BRIAN HARKINS
Infant Robert Brian Harkins, son
of T. Shawn and Cheryl Hanson
Harkins, Box 100, Country Club
Road, Dallas, died April 28 in
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Surviving in addition to his par-
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
led by Tara Bradbury, a recitation
of Joyce Kilmer’s poem ‘“Trees’ by
Melanie Kuniskas, and a story of
the Dogwood Tree by Margaret
Gilgallon.
A capsule containing the names of
home; paternal grandparents, Mr.
and mrs. Edward T. Harkins Jr.,
Forty Fort; maternal grandparents,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hanson,
Dallas; paternal great-grandparent,
Mrs. Ellen Clarke, Ashley; mater-
anal great grandparents, Mrs. Lil-
lian Kata, Nanticoke; Charles Kata,
Nanticoke; Mrs. Helen Hanson,
Harveys Lake.
Private funeral services wee held
from the McLaughlin Funeral
Home, Kingston, with interment in
St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover
Township.
MILDRED HOLMGREN
_ Mildred P. Holmgren, 69, of RD 1,
Dallas, died May 5 at Wilkes-Barre
General Hospital following a
lengthy illness.
Surviving are her husband, Spen-
cer Sr.; a son, Spencer Jr., Noxen;
a daughter, Mrs. Ellouise Rogers,
Mehoopany; six grandchildren.
Funeral was held May 9 from the
Nulton, Funeral Home, Beaumont,
with the Rev. Pegg Ainslie-Rich-
ards, pastor of the Noxen- United
Methodist Church, officiating. Inter-
ment, Memorial Shrine Cemetery,
Carverton.
NORMAN SHANNON
Norman A. Shannon, 70, of RD 2,
Harveys Lake, died May 6 at
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital fol-
lowing a lengthy illness.
Surviving are his wife, the former
Sarah Jane Zacharias; a sister,
Mrs. Helen Bainbridge, Harveys
Lake; a son, Phillip, at home;
daughters, Virginia, at home; Mrs.
Carson Gramley and Mrs. Renford
Swire, both of Beaumont; seven
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the children, their nicknames, their
dog’s name, a penny, and other
memorabilia they felt important to
them was placed at the root of the
tree. To honor the appointment of
the new Bishop, James Clifford
Timlin, his name was included in
the capsule. \
grandchildren and three great-
grandchildren.
Funeral was held May 8 from the
Nulton Funeral Home in Beaumont
with the Rev. William Kennard,
pastor of Alderson Methodist
Church and the Rev. Donald Baker,
pastor of the Bowmans Creek Free
Methodist Church, officiating. Inter-
ment, Kitchen Cemetery, Alderson.
WILMA SAKOSKI
Mrs. Wilma M. Sakoski, of Pellam
Terrace, Dallas, died May 6 in
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Surviving are sons, Charles W.
Sakoski, Hanover Township; Bishop
Robert Clement, Union City, N.J.;
dughter, Mrs. George Offshack,
Tunkhannock; brother, William
Nancarroll, Kingston;’ sister, Mrs.
Louise Hamrick, Dallas; five grand-
children; four great-grandchildren.
Funeral was held May 9 from
Lutheran M. Kniffen Funeral Home,
Clement and Peter Episcopal
Church, Wilkes-Barre. The Rev.
ated. Interment, Oak Lawn Ceme-
tery, Hanover Township.
LLEWELLYN JONES
Llewellyn R. Jones, 86, of North
Lake, Sweet Valley and Sarasota,
Fla.; died May 5 at a Wilkes-Barre
hospital.
Surviving are sons, Harold K.,
Bala Cynwyd; Lawrence, Enfield,
Conn.; Llewellyn B., Mechanics-
burg; brothers, Theodore R., St.
Petersburg, Fla.; Homer, New
Jersey; sisters, Mrs. Margaret
one great-grandson.
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