Thank you John and Janet P. MIller

In 1979, Carola A. Wormser donated two parcels of land along with Paul Plisher’s land donation.  These three parcels initiated the preservation of open space by the Bethel Land Trust. While a good number of individuals and corporations have donated land over the years to the Bethel Land Trust, I wish to fast forward to 2013.

In 2012, John Miller, a Bethel resident since 1951 and a long time Director with the Bethel Land Trust, approached the Bethel Land Trust to establish a preserve in memory of his recently deceased wife of 66 years. John and Janet raised their four children in a small home built in the 1860’s situated on 14-acres  comprised of meadows, wetlands and forested areas, located adjacent to our largest preserve -- Wolfpit.

Through the years, John and Janet’s children played in and explored the preserve and trails were built which John maintained well into his eighties. John and Janet enjoyed sitting on a bench built by John, watching and listening to the Wolf Pit Brook flow by, and who knows what exciting natural wonders the children discovered.

Years passed. The children grew and moved away, leaving John and Janet to enjoy the Wolfpit Preserve and their 14 acres.  On any given day, they would observe deer, rabbits, foxes, perhaps even a bobcat, seasonal beavers, bats, a large variety of birds, both residents and migratory, and insects. I wonder how many nights the Miller household watched lightening bugs or fell asleep listening to owls and spring peepers.

As John and Janet aged, they were confronted with the same issues as all of our elder citizens -- declining health, increased taxes and distance from their children. But Janet was in love with the property, especially the birds that visit the bird feeders located outside the kitchen window. John loved his land and the Wolpit Preserve. There were discussions of selling some or the entire homestead, an easy conclusion for some, but not for the Millers. They loved nature and they loved their home, they supported land conservation.

Sadly, Janet passed away in 2012. John approached the Bethel Land Trust to donate 10-acres to establish the Janet P. Miller Preserve, which was finalized this past January. John is now 94 and is still able to enjoy the deer, rabbits, foxes and birds among others that visit the homestead and he can still see Janet sitting on the bench along Wolf Pit Brook enjoying the sound of their children’s laughter and the sounds of nature. His action of land conservation ensures that the land will remain preserved in the state that he, Janet and their children enjoyed for all those years

Thank you John and Janet.

Bethel Land Trust