"OUR WOMEN OF SANDWICH"
(2020 Summer Exhibit)
LOUISA MINER
1918-2004
Louisa Sutton Miner was born in 1918 in New Jersey. She grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania and was educated at Smith College, earning a Bachelor of Arts. As an avid outdoorswoman, she was working as a camp counselor when she met her future husband, Robert F. Miner whom she married in April 1942. She and Robert moved their family to Sandwich in 1953.
Upon their arrival to town, they almost immediately became in involved. They operated the Wentworth Place Restaurant in the grand manor atop Wentworth Hill. Bob was the chef and Louisa was the pastry cook. The restaurant lasted only a couple seasons, and they moved onto more creative pursuits.
In 1953, Louisa opened her business, Botanical Lampshades. She operated Botanical Lampshades for many years, creating beautiful pressed flora designs that were well known, not only in the Lakes Region, but can be found in houses all over the country. Louisa sold her botanical lampshades at the Sandwich Home Industries and soon became Vice President of the organization in 1958. In 1979 she was elected President. Louisa’s ‘Shady Ladies’ - Suzanne Rowan, Sarah Zucharelli, and now Jennifer Allen - have continued this lampshade art through today.
A life-long learner, Louisa returned to school in the late 1950s and earned a master’s degree from Plymouth State College. She and Robert moved the family to New Jersey where she taught high school history for fifteen years, though they still maintained their connection to Sandwich. Louisa and her husband returned to spend their retirement in Sandwich and continued to stay active in town.
Upon their arrival to town, they almost immediately became in involved. They operated the Wentworth Place Restaurant in the grand manor atop Wentworth Hill. Bob was the chef and Louisa was the pastry cook. The restaurant lasted only a couple seasons, and they moved onto more creative pursuits.
In 1953, Louisa opened her business, Botanical Lampshades. She operated Botanical Lampshades for many years, creating beautiful pressed flora designs that were well known, not only in the Lakes Region, but can be found in houses all over the country. Louisa sold her botanical lampshades at the Sandwich Home Industries and soon became Vice President of the organization in 1958. In 1979 she was elected President. Louisa’s ‘Shady Ladies’ - Suzanne Rowan, Sarah Zucharelli, and now Jennifer Allen - have continued this lampshade art through today.
A life-long learner, Louisa returned to school in the late 1950s and earned a master’s degree from Plymouth State College. She and Robert moved the family to New Jersey where she taught high school history for fifteen years, though they still maintained their connection to Sandwich. Louisa and her husband returned to spend their retirement in Sandwich and continued to stay active in town.
