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6/19/06   “Caring for Vintage Quilts” - Demonstration/Workshop

Thompson-Ames Historical Society, of Gilford, is fortunate to have among its many collections and artifacts a quantity of vintage quilts.

Each of these quilts was documented as part of the New Hampshire Quilt Documentation Project Phase II (NHQDPII) in April of 2005 during the Quilt Documentation Day in Gilford Village, an activity that was repeated again this past April.

As part of NHQDPII’s service to the community is the willingness of its trained volunteers to help educate the public in the care of vintage quilts.

Stephanie Drake, of NHQDPII, has offered to do a demonstration / workshop “Caring for Vintage Quilts” on Saturday morning, June 24th in Gilford Village. (In case of rain, the activity would be postponed until Saturday morning, July 8th.)

The presentation, which is open free to the public, is planned to begin at 10:00 a.m., at the Rowe House, which is located at 88 Belknap Mountain Road, in Gilford Village. Assisting will be local quilter Rosemary Kacprzynski.

Some of T-AHS’s quilts are on display on vintage beds in the Homestead Room in the Grange Museum Building and in the Rowe House, but many of the quilts are kept in blanket chests or bureau drawers. No matter where a quilt is kept during the year, each quilt needs to be aired annually. -- This activity provides a unique opportunity for the public to see each of the historical society’s quilts.

Quilts that are folded and stored away need to be unfolded each year, aired, and then folded differently to help preserve the fabric.

White cotton sheets are used to protect each quilt from dust and light..-- Gilford’s historical society is always eager to receive old white cotton sheets which can be laundered and then used to protect the vintage quilts!

Each quilt is unique. A photograph of each T-AHS quilt along with its documentation, including its provenance, has been compiled into a loose-leaf notebook entitled “T-AHS QUILT COLLECTION”. This is one of the many volumes created by Thompson-Ames Historical Society’s Collection Manager, Diane Mitton, to preserve the history of Gilford, NH. Most of these historical records are kept in the Society’s office in the Grange Museum Building and can be accessed by the public by calling 527-9009.

Quilts hold a special fascination for many of us. Many quilts are the result of the “waste-not, want-not” thrift ethic of our ancestors.

While each quilt is important, further importance is given to it by its unique provenance. A case in point is evident on the antique spool-turned bed in the Homestead Room, a quilt given to the Society by Dot and Dave Pangburn. (See the accompanying photo.) Documentation indicates that this is a “summer quilt, double bed size. Jack-in-the-box or Whirligig pattern with cross in middle piece….” For further descriptive details, view T-AHS’s website www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org and see the news release of 26 March 2006.

For folks who have already been bitten by the “quilt-admiring bug” or those who are novices to the topic, Stephanie Drake’s “Caring for Vintage Quilts” demonstration / workshop is sure to be an activity that you won’t wish to miss. -- For further information, telephone Stephanie Drake at 524-7419.

Other interesting T-AHS events are scheduled for ealy July. On Monday evening, July 10th, following the Society’s annual Potluck Supper, Richard Wilson will present “Victorian Architecture in New Hampshire”. 5-7 p.m., on Thursday, July 13th, T-AHS will co-sponsor Kathy Salanitro’s program and oxen at Prescott Farm Audubon Society. On Saturday morning, July 15th, the next “Heritage Arts Bee” will be held. At 1:00 p.m., Tuesday July 18th there will be “An Afternoon Tea with ‘Jane Pierce’”, featuring Virginia Gerseny. -- For details, see T-AHS’s website, or pick up a “2006 Programs & Events” brochure, or call 527-9009.