Milton J. Hill's mouse trap, with his Canadian patent displayed behind, dated Nov. 26, 1907.

Left to right: Valerie Fry, Ellen (Hill) Heffner, Gertrude (Strausser) HIll, Mabel (Heffner) Fry.

Milton Jacob Hill (b. 23 Mar 1887, d. 2 Jan 1972).

A tribute published by the Hamburg Item, Jan 6, 1972, in memory of Milton J. Hill.

Milton Hill and Gertrude (Strausser) at their 50th wedding anniversary party. Married 6 Nov 1910.

Milton J. Hill, baptism ceertificate

Milton J. and Gertrude (Strausser) Hill with their daughter Esther (later Derr), in their back yard. Likely around 1944, when Esther was around 17 years old. She says she never drove because her father said he would take her anywhere she ever wanted to go - and he did. He was always happy to drive anyone anywhere - but drove extremely slow.

Milton Jacob Hill in his early 20's before he was married.

Left Sallie Adam (mother to Elda (Adam) Grim). Sallie had large brown eyes. Right is 'Granny' Hill (Gertrude Strausser Hill).

Milton Hill, famous PA Dutch Hex Sign painter.

The children of Gertrude Hill's sister Sallie (Strausser) Hoffa: LeRoy, Esther and Jeanette Hoffa. Leroy was out shooting birds. Mother asked the Esther to go get him. She ran out the house, got in his line of fire and died. Parents John Hoffa and Sallie Strausser moved around the country and eventually settled in California.

(L to R) Strausser sisters; Gertrude Hill, Sally Hoffa, Mabel Hinnershitz

Milton Hill's mouse trap; internal view showing the guillotine.

Left to right: Valerie Fry, Ellen (Hill) Heffner, Gertrude (Strausser) HIll, Mabel (Heffner) Fry.

Milton J Hill at work, painting 'hex' signs.

A tribute published by the Hamburg Item, Jan 6, 1972, in memory of Milton J. Hill.

Milton Hill in front of his car, showing 'hex' signs that he painted. Photo taken at Kutztown Folk Festival, 1960.

Gertrude (Strausser) Hill

Hill reunion; Milton D. Hill.

Post card showing Milton Jacob Hill at the Kutztown Folk Festival, painting barn star 'Hex' signs. Milton entertained visitors at the festival with his paintings for 17 years before retiring in 1968.

On the scaffolding, L-R: cousins Oscar and Wilson Adam, and Milton Hill. (Adams worked for Milton). People on the ground were unknown farm owners and/or their family/workers.

Milton Jacob Hill (b. 23 Mar 1887, d. 2 Jan 1972).

Gertrude's sister Sallie (Strausser) Hoffa with her pony in Escondido, CA. July 1969.

Back: Curtis Strausser, Wilson Strausser, Warren Strausser. Front: Mabel Hinnershitz, Sally Hoffa, Gertrude D. (Strausser) Hill.

Milton Hill's Canadian patent for his mouse trap, dated Nov. 26, 1907.

Seated - Father John Milton Hill, sons Milton Jacob Hill and John Thomas Hill. Ellen Heffner said she adored her grandfather John M Hill; he knew his Bible in-side-out and read from it every day. He would have made a good preacher.

Milton J Hill at work, painting 'hex' signs.

Back side of "A tribute published by the Hamburg Item, Jan 6, 1972", in memory of Milton J. Hill.

Marriage cirtificate of Milton J. Hill and Gertrude Strausser.

Newspaper article, dated July 14, 1907, regarding Milton Hill's mouse trap invention: "New Trap Catches and Cuts off the Head". The trap automatically reset itself, allowing for multiple mice to be 'trapped', or rather 'guillotined'. This invention was estimated to be valued at $25,000.00 dollars in 1907! However, Milton could not find a manufacturer to make it.

Gertrude Strausser (later Hill) confirmation picture, she is front row, w2nd from left.

"Milton J. Hill, creator of Authentic Barn Symbols". This is the sign he took each year to the Kutztown Folk Festival. Ethel Smith offered to paint it for him.

Milton Hill & Gertrude Strausser married on 6 Nov 1910. Front row: Gertrude (Strausser) Hill, Esther (Hill) Derr, Ellen (Hill) Heffner and Milton J. Hill. Back: Milton D. Hill, Jacob W. Hill and John L. Hill.

Gertrude (Strausser) & Milton Hill at their 50th anniversary. (Married Nov 6,1910 in Bethlehem, PA).

Kreg Jones found this barn star in someone's barn. He loved it and convinced the ownder to sell it. Although not a family member, he then contributed this image for the Hill legacy project. Does anyone know the date of this star?

Three sisters: Mabel (Struasser) Hinnershitz, Sally Hoffa, Gertrude Hill.

R. Paul & Elda (Adam) Grim, Linda (Krick) & Dean L. Grim, Melva (Brobst) Hill, Gertrude (Strausser) Hill.

Gertrude (Strausser) Hill and Milton Hill, infront of their barn, with barn stars 'hex' signs that he painted. She had to stand in the trough to see over the fence.

Milton J Hill at work, painting 'hex' signs.

Back side of "A tribute published by the Hamburg Item, Jan 6, 1972", in memory of Milton J. Hill.

Marriage cirtificate of Milton J. Hill and Gertrude Strausser.

Milton Hill's letter to businesses interested in buying his mousetrap patent

Milton J. Hill had his own painting and wallpapering business and all of his sons and son-in-law worked for him. Here's the crew in 1941; Stanley Heffner (son-in-law, husband of daughter Ellen), Jacob Hill, Milton J. Hill, and Milton D. Hill. His son John L. Hill worked for him, but is missing from this photo.

Newly married couple with their grandparents. Back: Mary (Hill) and Donald Grim. Front: Gertrude (Strausser) & Milton Hill, and Sallie Adam.

Back: John M, Milton D, Jacob W, Agnes (Brobst), Harold Derr, Stanley Heffneer, Melva (Brobst), John L, William T, Daniel T. Middle: Anna (Hill) Billig, June (Schappell), Gertrude (Strausser), Esther with baby Dorian (Derr), Ellen, Milton J, Mary, Mable. Kid front: Robert Milton, Patricia Irene, Carol Susan, Betty Jane, Lee Stanley.

Gertrude (Strausser) Hill with her grand-daughter Dorrian Derr, at Milton and Gertrude's barn on the Hill homestead.

The back side of Kreg Jones' Hill barn star.

Strausser sisters: Mabel Hinnershitz & Gertrude Hill, May 29, 1961 in Clearlake Oaks, CA. John & Melva Hill took these two with them to CA to visit Sallie Hoffa. The one time they drove in a 1948 light ble dodge, the next time in a 55 dodge.