Charlotte Holzhall
Bexley graduate Evie Holzhall and Bexley resident Claire Bahlmann head home after a day of sledding at Miller’s Hill.
When most people wake up to a fresh layer of snow on the ground, they curl back into bed and have a relaxing day of hot chocolate and comfort movies. However, some would rather turn to exhilarating outdoor adventures in the snow. A popular spot for these thrill seekers is Miller’s Hill.
Miller’s Hill has been a sledding spot for members of the community for decades. Located at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Parkview Avenue, the hill isn’t immediately noticeable from the street. To get to the beloved sledding spot, children have to drag their sleds across the front yard and down the driveway of Bexley resident Blythe Brown’s home.
It’s not instantly apparent why a homeowner would want children and their parents trespassing on their property everytime it snows, but Brown said the sledding fun has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Brown added she grew up in this house. It was built in 1951, after her parents, the Millers, bought the land from her grandparents, she explained.
Brown said that originally children could sled at her home as well as at three other neighboring houses. However, the new neighbors that moved into her grandparents’ house started to fence off their yard for security reasons, she explained. After they stopped allowing sledding in their yard, Brown added the other two houses around them started limiting access as well.
“The people to our north were also very skeptical of anybody sledding, so our house became the only house people were allowed to sled on,” she said.
Brown explained her mother was the reason her family continued to let children sled in their backyard.
“My mom continued the tradition of letting everybody sled,” she said. “She was lovely. Back before cell phones, she would let kids come to the house, use the phone and give them hot chocolate while they waited for their parents to pick them up.”
The city even awarded her mother with a plaque that still sits in their front yard, Brown said.
There were constantly kids at her house while she was growing up, and even now, there are still many kids there whenever it snows, she added.
Sixth grader Lucie Kaplansky said she has been to Miller’s Hill over 15 times. She added it can get pretty crowded with all of the children coming to sled.
“One time I was sledding down the hill, and I got hit by another kid,” she explained.
Even with the bustle and possibility of an injury, Kaplansky said she still loves how big and steep the hill is.
Brown said when she bought the house from her parents, she never thought about prohibiting kids from sledding in her backyard. She added there was popular rumor about her family which is not true.
“The urban myth goes that it’s written in some sort of part of the sale from my mother that we had to continue it on,” she explained. “That is not true.”
She said that hopefully her son will buy the house from her, as she did from her parents, and carry on the tradition. However, she added she won’t require him to.
Brown said the choice she made to continue the tradition was an important one because Miller’s Hill has had such a positive impact on the community. She explained she has been able to see its impacts firsthand.
“To have kids be able to get outside on a snowy day and just go have fun and see their friends, that’s lovely,” she said.
Bexley resident Mary Heckler brings her kids to Miller’s Hill whenever there is enough snow, and she explained having Miller’s Hill is an important part of the community.
Heckler added Miller’s Hill being close to home is helpful because when it is crazy in town during snow days, you can sled easily.
Senior Owynn LaFollette also said Miller’s Hill has a positive impact on the community.
“I think that Miller’s Hill is a great opportunity for everyone to come together,” she explained. “It gives families the opportunity to spend more time together.”
LaFollette said she remembers going to Miller’s Hill when she was younger as a way to bond with her family. She added being able to go with her dad and sister whenever he was off work was always very special.
Brown added sometimes the sledding makes her nervous, and she gets the most worried when people build jumps on the hill, especially when the little kids are out.
“It scares me a little bit, but I just enjoy all the giggling,” she explained. “I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t sledding to be honest.”