Imagine a time when theaters, dances, and Studebakers filled the weekends. Plaid skirts, button-up blouses, and can-cans were what the girls were wearing. Children all went to school and Sundays were a time of family and church. These were the times when Nancy Miller was born. Nancy was born on March 30, 1941. She spent her childhood in growing up in Oak Hill, going to dances, movies, and helping her family. Nancy's childhood was just like any normal child. With her common interest in helping people, she was always at the local hospital trying to find a way to help. She found her answer at Mercy Hospital in Manistee. During some of her early childhood years, she collected dolls, hated English, loved pizza, and enjoyed board games. She dreaded getting into trouble with her parents for anything, especially for skipping school. The style then was plaid skirts and can-cans for rare occasions, but everyday clothes were jeans and t-shirts or sweaters. Nancy graduated from high school in 1958. She went to college in Traverse City to become a nurse. She graduated in 1960 with a degree in nursing. From then on she was wrapped up in nursing at the local doctor's office and at Mercy Hospital in Manistee and Memorial Hospital in Onekama. During her childhood, her family never moved once but lived in a average-sized, two story house at the top of Oak Hill. This house holds the memories of her past. Growing up with a younger sister and a dog, Nancy's family was normal. Her father was a laborer for Hardy Salt Company and her mother was seamstress at Glen of Michigan. On Saturdays, Nancy and her family would go into town. They would go to the A&P store on River Street, along with The Racket Store, and the Newberry Store. Throughout those shops, Nancy was able to find anything from records to candy. The weather when she was young was a different story from what we see today. According to Nancy, the winters now are like a light shower compared to what she had to deal with. She recalls having really high snow banks. Summer was a time of heat and sun; the fall was cool with all the autumn colors. Nancy made the most out of the weather and the wonderful variety of Michigan's seasons. “Winter was a great time with all of the snow as early as Thanksgiving,” said Nancy. Children in her day dressed warm in the winter while sledding on the hills, ice skating, and skiing. “In the Fall we had hay rides and then roasted hot dogs afterwards. These were great times,” she added. “We never felt cooped up.” When she was indoors, Nancy enjoyed playing board games such as Monopoly and Bingo, and predicting her future on a Ouji board. She also enjoyed reading and looking through magazines. Today, Nancy enjoys the peaceful nature of Onekama. She currently works at the Manistee Medical Care Facility. She has one son, Brad, who graduated from Onekama High School in 1988. She enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren, Brendan, Alyssa, and Eli. She likes living in Onekama and contributing to the community through her work at the hospital. One day, Nancy hopes to take a trip, exploring parts of the country that she has not yet had the chance to visit. We hope that she will take us with her!
The Church of the Brethren, on Mill Street in Onekama, has been an important part of our community for many years. The church's dedicated congregation has worked hard to help make our community a better place through organized activities and committed acts to reach out to those in need. The Onekama Church of the Brethren has had a long and interesting history. Since its organization in 1909, the church has occupied two buildings. The first building burned down when its furnace overheated on Sunday, February 17, 1946. Construction of the current building began with architect Charles Deardorff drawing up a blueprint. Members were upset to learn that the church had only been insured for $2,250. They decided, therefore, to set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for the rebuilding. The building fund was called the “J. Edson and Sylva Ulery Memorial Fund,” named after the church's pastor and his wife. The congregation was able to celebrate the completion of the current building at 8266 Mill Street on August 17, 1947. The Brethren recall their beginnings as a persecuted minority in eighteenth-century Germany. The Church of the Brethren was established almost 300 years ago. The Brethren work locally and worldwide to help victims of poverty, war, and natural disasters. The Brethren also emphasize compassion, peacemaking, and simplicity. Some church members take a pledge against fighting. Though the Onekama Church of the Brethren is almost a century old, it has only had six pastors. Back in 1910, Rev. J. Edson Ulery became the first pastor. Before coming to Onekama, he was a missionary in Brooklyn, New York. The book A Heap of Living by Cora W. Helman was written in celebration of the church's fiftieth anniversary. Part of the book described the Ulerys' selflessness. According to Helman, “Whether they received pay or not, the Ulerys gave freely their time and energy-not only to pulpit work, but to call on the sick, comforting those that mourned, welcoming newcomers to the community and the church. Reverend Ulery, in particular, was chum of the children, advisor of young people, friend of the aged, and a fellow worker with those of his own age.” Reverend Ulery stayed on as pastor until his death in 1959. The pastors that followed Reverend Ulery were Reverends Martin Krieger, Charles Quay, Richard Ward, Vernon Mitchell, and Timothy Binkley. The Onekama church currently has a vacancy for this position. After more than 50 years of change and additions, most people will say that the church has changed for the better. Improvements have been made to the kitchen, sanctuary, and accessibility of the building. With pride, one of Onekama's oldest church buildings remains standing, welcoming those who come to worship and extending help and kindness to our community. |
