The Hill Family
Every small town has a family that earns widespread respect for their efforts in making that town a better place to live.
FRONT ROW, L-R: Edna Hill, Rita Hill
BACK ROW, L-R: Ida Hill, Jim Hill, Blanche Hill
This statement is especially true for the Hill family, who became an integral part of the fabric of Bridgetown for several decades.
When Rita Hill’s husband died while she was pregnant with their fourth child, she was left to support her family alone by taking in sewing, doing housework and picking berries. Working hard was a way of life for Rita and it became a major characteristic of the family as a whole. In time, the children – Ida, Blanche, Edna (Scissors) and Jim, were able to work and contribute to the family income. Though they hired out for most kinds of odd jobs they were experts at picking berries and always knew where the best berry patches were located. Even though the family did not own those berry patches in any legal sense, it was well known that these prime locations were off limits to the average picker.
The community of Bridgetown and surrounding areas meant a great deal to the Hill family. If there was a good cause that interested them, a project worth raising money for or a family in need, the Hill family was there to help. We will never know the full amount of money that they raised in support of the rink, fire hall, churches, service organizations and many other causes but you can be assured that any organization of today would see their fundraising efforts grow substantially if the Hill family was still with us. It would be futile to imagine the hours (thousands upon thousands) that they gave while fundraising, while helping at BRHS Track and Field meets, cheering on local sports teams and in just
being a part of whatever was going on in the community.
In particular, the three “Hill Girls” were arguably the most successful salespeople our community has ever seen. They knew all the best locations to pitch a ticket sale and they knew exactly which tool to use on which buyer: Blunt force, cajolement, embarrassment, a kiss and a hug, guilt and community pride were just some of those tools. Bridgetown’s Liquor Store was famously the only government controlled liquor outlet in Canada that had a cover charge. As Ida would say, “If you can afford to drink, you can afford to put in the jar.” The rate of refusal to buy a ticket or drop in a coin was extremely low and Bridgetown must surely have been more supportive of charities and causes than any community on the continent. To refuse to support their cause of the day would be regarded as a very poor example of logic, and was not a mistake that many folks made twice. And who can forget the Fire Hall “Walk-a-thons”?
Despite their hard work ethic and the incredible sums of money they raised, the family always lived frugally. Nice clothes and a new hairdo were not ever a consideration for the girls or Jim. They thrived on being connected to their community and they attended many a wedding without the need of a formal invitation. They knew everyone, and everyone knew them, and that was apparently more than enough for the Hill Family.
The respect for the Hill Family went public in 1975 when the graduating class at BRHS dedicated the Blue and White Yearbook to this very special family. The dedication page reads as follows: “The Hill Family have been constant supporters of the student body for many years, be it by attending school events or by providing financial assistance. They are friends to all in the truest sense of the word. They can be found among the B.R.H.S. cheering section at hockey and soccer games, as well as track and field events. Through the determination of many community organizations and the Hills in raising the necessary funds, Bridgetown now boasts a fine rink which provides many hours of pleasure for both students and adults. On several occasions, they have financially assisted families who unfortunately have experienced a house fire or other tragedy. We feel sure that this town is most happy with our decision to honor the Hill Family in this manner. This dedication is an acknowledgement of their unfailing friendship and we extend to them a heartfelt thank you.”
When Edna, the last surviving member of the family, passed away, assets and donations from the family estate were given to many churches and organizations in the Bridgetown area. Even with their passing, the Hill family continued supporting the community they loved. With this induction, we hope that Rita, Ida, Blanche, Edna and Jim will always be remembered as great examples of what it means to be true volunteers.