POWERING HISTORY: CHARLES MILLER AND THE STAVE FALLS POWERHOUSE

What's On! Mission | Looking Back

by Ellen Nguyen | Photos provided by Janis Schultz

Charlie with wife, Yvonne

Charles Albert Miller, affectionately known as “Pompa” by his grandchildren, was a man whose life was intricately woven into the fabric of the Fraser Valley. Born in Eastbourne, England, on October 21, 1902, Charlie's journey to British Columbia began in 1903 when his parents, Marcia Elizabeth and Albert George Miller, brought him to Ruskin. There, his father purchased 160 acres of land, laying the foundation for the Miller family's deep roots in the area.


Charlie’s early life was marked by hard work and resilience. His first paid jobs were at Heaps General Store and later at a shingle mill. In 1921, Charlie and his father opened their own sawmill, known as "Riversiding," on the family's land. The mill operated until they logged out all the timber on the surrounding 1,000 acres, at which point they sold the equipment. This period instilled in Charlie a strong work ethic and a deep connection to the land, qualities that would define his later years.


In 1925, Charlie married Blanche Yvonne Antaya, and they soon started a family. Their daughters, Jacqueline, born in 1926, and Charmaine, born in 1928, grew up in the Ruskin area, initially living in the house Charlie’s parents had settled into upon their arrival in 1903. In 1932, after Charlie secured full-time employment with BC Electric, he built a new home on what was then known as Miller Road. The family eagerly moved in before the interior was even finished, excited to begin this new chapter. The house, a blend of Charlie's carpentry skills and Yvonne’s eye for charm and convenience, became a cherished home for the Miller family.


Charlie's career with BC Electric, later BC Hydro, spanned over three decades. He worked as a carpenter at the Ruskin generating station, constructing outbuildings that have since been lost to time. He genuinely enjoyed his work, and his dedication to the job was evident in everything he did.


Charlie’s love for the outdoors was equally strong. Throughout the 1930s to the 1950s, Charles and Yvonne were active 
members of the Mission area, particularly through their involvement in the Mission Rod and Gun Club. Charles served as the club’s president for many years, earning a reputation as an outstanding naturalist.  An avid fisherman and hunter, he often spent his free time in the woods and on the rivers of the region, passing on his passion for nature to his grandchildren.


After retiring in 1963 and the death of his wife in 1977, Charles moved from Hatzic, where they had been living, back to Ruskin to live with his daughter Jacqueline. He devoted himself to chronicling the area's history, capturing the stories of early pioneers and the native Salish Indians. His books, The Golden Mountains (1973) and Valley of the Stave (1981), are treasured for their detailed accounts of the region’s history and are essential reading for anyone interested in the Fraser Valley.


The Miller home, with its rich history and significance, still stands today, protected under a "Heritage Revitalization Agreement" signed in 2010.


Charlie Miller passed away in September 1988 at the Pleasant View Home in Mission, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, community service, and a deep love for the Fraser Valley. His story is not only a tale of one man’s life but also a reflection of the pioneering spirit that helped shape the Fraser Valley.

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Charlie's paycheque from BC Electric

Charlie and his father at Miller’s Mill “Riversiding”, 1922

Charles Miller, age 18 in 1920 Photo used with permission from Maple Ridge Museum #P03346