All quilts have their own story to tell. By examining the fabric and stitching, much can be gleaned about the skill, resourcefulness, and creativity of the maker.
Providing a glimpse of that history, the North Wood County Historical Society is displaying 22 quilts at Upham Mansion for this year’s holiday theme, a “Piece-ful Christmas.” An Open House will be held on December 1 and 2 from 1-4 p.m and is open to the public.
One of the earliest quilts dates to the 1880s and 90s. Donated by Ann Waters in 2002, the handmade “Crazy Quilt” was made in Ohio in two stages by the Waters family. The colorful quilt incorporates whimsical stitching such as a spider in a web, a cat in a boot, and a girl holding a doll.
The irregular shapes and feather stitches were signature features of Crazy Quilts, a style which first developed in the late 1800s. “They not only use material that people had on hand, but show off the workmanship of the individual making the quilts,” said Kim Krueger, coordinator.
Another quilt dates to 1928 and was made by the Shady Lane Homemakers Club, seen in a photograph in the society’s collection. Called a Friendship Quilt, each square includes an embroidered name. These types of quilts date to the 1840s and were gifted for weddings and relocations.
“This is another one of the quilts that is a precious one in our collection simply because we know who did it,” Krueger said. “It’s part of the history of the community.”
A 1920s fan quilt loaned for the exhibit represents an intriguing part of the nation’s historic fabric. According to family lore, it was entered into the Sears Century of Progress quilt contest at the 1933 World Fair during the Great Depression. With 25% of Americans unemployed, the cash prize of $1,000 for first place was tantalizing enough to draw in over 25,000 entrants.
Ultimately, due to a last-minute switch of some the judges, who preferred traditional quilts over the wildly creative ones that were encouraged for the contest, the top prizes went to the former. To add insult to injury, the first place winner was a woman who had hired others to make her stunning quilt.
On a local scale, one of the quilts was made by 13 women to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Marshfield. Each block depicts a portion of the city’s history, including the 1887 fire, the World’s Largest Round Barn, and Upham Mansion itself.
“We would be remiss if we did not include this quilt in the exhibit. It’s an important part of our collection,” Krueger said.
Besides quilts, Upham Mansion is beautifully decorated for Christmas and even has a tree of quilt ornaments made by members of the community with materials purchased thanks to a grant from Sunrise Rotary. The public will have the chance to make their own quilt ornaments Saturdays in December from 1:30-4 p.m.
After the Open House, the exhibit can be viewed at Upham Mansion during normal visiting hours Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1:30-4 p.m or by special appointment. Donations are greatly appreciated to help continue the mission of the historical society.
Stay tuned for a special video on the exhibit.
