The Daily Grind is a blog series all about the historic Morningstar Mill at Decew Falls.

Getting to know the Morningstars: Emma Morningstar

As we know from the letter presented to Wilson and Emma on their 50th anniversary, they were both equally admired and cherished by their community and, of course, their family.

While Wilson Morningstar was a resourceful and hard-working millwright, skilled in milling, sawing, carpentry, blacksmithing, and invention, Emma balanced her roles as a homemaker, mother, grandmother and community figure with grace and determination.

The Morningstar household thrived on self-sufficiency. They maintained an orchard, vegetable gardens, and a barn with livestock. Emma made many of the family’s necessities by hand, including bread, butter, cheese, and sausage. She preserved and canned fruits and vegetables and stocked the cellar with crates of apples, boxes of celery and root vegetables packed in earth for the winter months.

Emma was also talented in sewing, embroidery, crocheting, and rugmaking. She enjoyed art and music and taught her daughters to play the piano and organ.

As a mother and grandmother, she was caring yet firm. Emma instilled moral values and high standards in her children and grandchildren, sometimes to their frustration, especially when it came to chores, homework, or bedtime. She maintained close ties with family and friends, often travelling by horse-drawn buggy to visit them.  As was customary at the time, she also journeyed to Georgia to support her daughter Jessie when her grandchildren were born.

Emma was also talented in sewing, embroidery, crocheting, and rugmaking. She enjoyed art and music and taught her daughters to play the piano and organ.

As a mother and grandmother, she was caring yet firm. Emma instilled moral values and high standards in her children and grandchildren, sometimes to their frustration, especially when it came to chores, homework, or bedtime. She maintained close ties with family and friends, often travelling by horse-drawn buggy to visit them.  As was customary at the time, she also journeyed to Georgia to support her daughter Jessie when her grandchildren were born.

Emma and Wilson’s complementary strengths enhanced the other’s contributions to their family and community. Today, they might be considered a true power couple. A reflection written at the time of Emma’s passing noted that her mind was likely at ease during her lifetime, nurtured by the enduring romance of her youth, and her and Wilson’s shared accomplishments.

Carla Mackie is Historical Services Coordinator with the City of St. Catharines. Historical Services includes the Morningstar Mill, the Lakeside Park Carousel, and the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.