Quilts

Quilts are part of American cultural history. They started out as utilitarian blankets to keep warm, using worn out cloth. These on display are mostly decorative works of art that were kept as family heirlooms. The Museum has 40 quilts, in many different patterns. Here you see a bow time, wedding ring and log cabin.

Framed Quilt

The framed quilt on the wall was made by Catherine Hunt in 1900. It is made out of silk neckties and won first place at the Grundy County Fair.

Red Cross Quilt

The Red Cross Quilt dates back to WWI. It is a fund raising autograph quilt to provide money for the boys overseas. People donated money to have their name on the quilt, then the finished quilt was raffled off. The price for a signature depended on where it was placed. The center was most expensive—25 to 50 cents. Other spots were 10 cents.

This one was made in 1918 by the Mazon Red Cross. Each block has at least four names. It was bought by George Wheeler. The purchase price matched the funds raised by the quilt blocks. George gave the quilt to his son, Vernon, who had five boys, and told him to give it to the first granddaughter. Mary Wheeler was born December 1925, so this quilt was given to her by her father.

GCHS Sesquicentennial Quilt

This quilt was made as a fund raiser during Grundy County’s 1 50^th anniversary in 1991. Members could create their own quilt block depicting some aspect of Grundy County history. Milt Carlson made the winning bid and gave the quilt back to the Historical Society.