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- MILLER ALBERT E. son of Ezekiel and Polly (Hogaboom) Miller was born in Covert Seneca county NY and is the youngest of ten children and a descendant of the New England family of Miller.
His father when quite a young man emigrated to New York and settled on a farm on which the early life of the son was spent He entered school at six years of age having previously read the New Testament Hale's History of the United States, Robinson Crusoe, and a number of books taken from the public library.
After passing the district schools he was sent to Cortland Academy where after one year's attendance he with one other boy was selected by the superintendent to receive the benefits of the state normal department at Homer Academy. Here he remained three years His desire was to study medicine but was over persuaded by friends to read law After reading law one year he returned to his first choice medicine and was graduated from the Syracuse Medical College in 1855 and from the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia in 1864 He was a private student of HH Smith MD professor of surgery in the university also of the celebrated D Hayes Agnew MD.
Failing health forced him to abandon local practice He began lecturing on public health in the principal cities and towns throughout the country and for the last few years much of his time has been spent lecturing before schools He has latterly returned to practice has an office in Needham and one in Boston his specialty being lung diseases.
Dr Miller is an active temperance man working in the Republican party but is not a politician He was elected to represent the 9th Norfolk district in the House of Representatives 1888 was re elected for 1889 and was House chairman of the committee on public health.
He is a prominent Mason a member of Zenobia Commandery Cortland Chapter No 194 RAM New York past master Norfolk Lodge AF & AM and past grand of Eliot Lodge IOOF Needham member of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has several times held the office of DDGM is a member of Aurora Chapter Eastern Star Natick of Jewel Lodge K & L of H of Roxbury and is DDGP of district No 16 State of Massachusetts.
He was one of the foremost in starting the Village Improvement Society of Needham and was its first president He has also beautified and rendered fertile a portion of the town reclaimed from waste land built twenty fine houses and planted a total abstinence colony as he refuses to allow entrance to any tenants who use alcoholic stimulants Dr Miller was largely instrumental in securing from the Legislature the act allowing the town of Needham to supply its inhabitants with pure water He was elected chairman of the water committee He is superintendent of the First Parish Sunday school president of the Union Temperance Band the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle and is active in all literary work in the village He is a liberal public spirited citizen Dr Miller was married in New York November 25 1866 to Vesta Delphene daughter of Alonzo and Vesta Ketchum Freeman of Newark NY She is also a physician and assists him in his practice She is an active temperance worker and has been president of the WCTU of Needham since its organization.
(One of a Thousand: A Series of Biographical Sketches of One Thousand Representative Men Resident in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89 - edited by John Clark Rand)
- CARLA HUNTINGTON, Hometown Weekly Staff • Thu, Aug 14, 2008
The beautiful Victorian home located at 90 Dedham Avenue has sat on its foundation for over 130 years, but now is getting a literal boost as it balances on timbers and metal, awaiting a small, yet momentous journey to its new home.
The new owner of the property, Needham developer Michael Tedoldi, explains that he has a great respect for his hometown and is incorporating and saving the historical home as part of a condominium project that will be completed on the property. “The home will be relocated on the original site and be restored as part of the condominium community,” said Michael’s mother and Needham realtor, Betsy Tedoldi. “There are plans for a beautiful courtyard in-between the units and it will all be in keeping with the historical preservation of the land.”
In 1876, Albert Ebur Miller, MD, and his wife Vesta Delphine built the commanding structure at its original Dedham Avenue location. Known to local residents as the creators of “Millerville”, the couple was well respected for their reputation of being contributing members to town’s history.
When George K. Clarke penned his 1911 “History of Needham”, his associates (Dr. Miller and Boston partner Ernest Thorpe) had already built 17 homes in six years under the name of “The Needham Associates”. Prior to building his home, Miller was the owner of the Nehoiden Land Company, which sold 80 lots in the Warren St., Grant St., Kimball, School St., Dedham Ave. and Great Plain areas. Many of the properties are known for their intricate woodwork and beautiful replication of the Victorian period, with the Miller residence holding the crown for design and beauty.
Dr. Miller was a past president of the Needham Cooperative Bank and a member of the committee that first brought a public water system to the town. He also was a General Court representative and a trustee of the library. His wife Vesta was also an M.D. and she herself practiced medicine in the Needham and Boston area for over 30 years. A member of the “Temperance Movement”, Vesta was described as skillful, faithful and self-sacrificing. She often attended emergency medical situations as a skilled nurse for hours at a time. The local “Vesta Park” is named in her memory. When she passed away in 1908, it was said the town of Needham was “in great sorrow.”
The grand home is currently awaiting a break in the weather so that it can be shifted further back on the lot. Tedoldi is working hard to ensure that the move creates as little damage to the home as possible and restoration work will begin when the home is rotated into place at 90 degrees and pushed farther back on the lot. The Victorian will make up two of the five condominiums that will be built on the property. The builder has also purchased an adjacent building and the completion of the condominiums is slated for next spring.
Tedoldi has completed various projects in the area and tries to preserve the history and beauty of Needham whenever possible.
According to Betsy Tedoldi, “Michael loves the town of Needham and wants to do whatever he can to contribute.”
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