Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-08
GARDINER LADY
QUIETLY PASSES
GATH MILESTONE

1
The numerous autoists that pass
along the state road out on Bruins
wick avenue who have noticed lit
| tie white haired lady OF advancing
years on the porch of her pleasant
| home have little idea Of the wealth
of knowledge. the keenness of in
| tellect and the depth of character
that is hidden within her. Mrs.
Susan Neal Dill. widow of the late
Frank w. Dill. has enjoyed half
century Of living in her Brunswick
home and on Tuesday observed her
oath birthday in her customary quiet
manner according to her wishes.
After an hour of conversation with
this little old lady. one realizes that
it is the character of such home low
ing women of the earlier days that
has made possible the prosperity Of
this community. This pioneer resi-
dent is enjoying the best of health.
she is possessed of every faculty,
hearing and sight, and is much more
alert than many 80 years younger.
She is interested in the questions of
the day and it was of particular in
terest when she commented on the
present day styles. Mrs. Dill is
persons of advanced years, and while
mode of dressing and the bobbed
hair, she makes no criticism Of these
fashions because she believes that
everyone should please themselves in
this regard.
The constant stream of automo-
biles. sometimes 200 in an hour,
which pass her door is a source of
pleasure to her. She delights in
, watching the cars speed by, and re-
marks how much travel has in
creased in the past few years.
Mrs. Dill was born in West Gardi-
ner, and is the last of ten children
of the Neal family, every member of
which lived TO a good old age. One
sister died at the age of SO years, an
other 96, and still another 90. Her
| mother was rearing the Goth mile
. stone when she passed away. When
a girl of Is Mrs. Dill moved to Gar
diner and made her home on Wash
ington avenue. She lived there nine
years and then went to live in what
she then termed the country" her
present home at 206 Brunswick
, avenue. In those days the title of
country was deserved for with the
| exception of one farm house there
were no houses on Brunswick ave
nue. beyond the Dill home. In con-
trast to this dozens of beautiful
homes now stretch along the State
road leading TO Brunswick.
| One of Mrs. Dilrs most interesting
stories was that of her grandfather
and his companions blazing a trail
| from Lewiston to Spears Corner
where they built the old homestead
now located at the Corner This
was over 200 years ago and this
| family were pioneer settlers of West
I Gardiner.
/ Her garden and home are her
chief delights. her garden is admired
/ by all who have seen its beauty and
/ its fragrant blooms are never miss
( ing from the rooms of the house
| There are many valuable antiques in
the rooms of the home and every
/ thing is arranged for convenience.
| Some idea OF Mrs. Dilrs remark
able activity may be realized from
( the fact that she does all of her own
( work and keeps the house in perfect
order at all times. She enjoys the
summer months more than the
/ winter ones, but philosophically re-
marks that 1t is all divided for the
! best.
: She Is great grandmother, and
her two great srandsons are daily
/ visitors at her home and delight in
i her companionship. She has one
/ son. Frank Dill with whom she
/ liVes, and one daughter. Mrs Orville
/ Brown. mother of Mrs. Beatrice Fove
| VINO is mother of the two bows. Mrs.
| DllIs husband died five wears ago
after long and useful career as a
/ resident of Gardiner He was a
| brlck mason of State wide reputa-
ton and built the Gardiner Public
Library, the Highland Avenue
! Grammar school. the old High school
pudding, and assisted in building the
| paper mills here and in Augusta and
also many other we'll known public
buildings in this vicinity.
Mrs. Dill has been for over 80
/ years a member of the Universalist
! church and although not now an at
tendanr-takes an interest in the ac-
| tlvltles of the parish She reads a
! great deal, and is we'll informed on
all OF interest. Her many friends
and her kindly neighbors are fire.
quent oacllers and just last week
she was the guest of neiehbors on
an automobile trip over to Toeus and
out 70 Belgrade. She was on Tues
DAY the recipient of many good
WISHES for more years of health and
happiness in her pleasant surround