Crazy quilt made by Veretta (Ettie) Lucinda Neel. Crazy quilt blocks are on point and made of pieced and appliqued silks, satins and velvets.Decorated with a variety of cotton, silk and chenille embroidery stitches; tied, not quilted. Contains portions of neckties, hatbands, wedding gowns and other family fabrics."V.L.Neel" is embroidered on center block. Finished with a 4"-wide border. Cotton batting. Back is a silk print of silver bells.
Embroidered initials on quilt are SC (or LC), RM, EK, JMP, L(or S)and R. The date 1885 appears twice as well as a music staff, $, pierced heart, five hand-held fans, two painted swallows, owls, boots, hummingbird, stag's head, butterfly, flowers, anchor, etc.
Provenance
Maker to nephew Thomas Ross Neel to daughter and donor, Marianna Neel Akerman.
Maker was an unmarried woman of Scots-Irish descent and Presbyterian. She made this quilt for her hope chest at age 31, but never married. Donor recalls her great-aunt saying she was "unlucky in love" and pointing out the appliqued heart pierced with a downward-pointing arrow as representative of her broken heart. Ettie's sweetheart chose another for his wife (see label from 1990 exhibit). Ettie lived with her parents, Thomas Ross Neel and Verlinda Stubbs Neel (Fulton Twp.), and after their deaths she lived with the family of her sister, Belvidera Neel Carter (Mrs. Samuel Carter) in Christiana.
Maker kept in storage, in unused condition. Two pieces of the same fabric in the center block are shredded and another light colored fabric, used several times, has some staining.
Object ID
G.03.14.01
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Marianna N. Akerman, Heritage Center Collection
Lone Star quilt of cotton prints. Large star of hand pieced diamonds (2" x 4") using 5 prints of pink, blue, red, green and yellow. Set on a ground of a blue print with white & dark blue flecks.
Extensive and elaborate hand quilting includes an undulating corded feather vine at all four sides, a small feather wreath in each corner and large feather wreaths with diamond grid centers fill in around star. Diagonal lines through each diamond of star.
Back is pieced w/ 2 blue calicoes, a floral and a foliate design over stripes.The pink calico binding,1/2" wide, is a print over narrow stripe background. Cotton batting.
Donor claimed maker was Amanda Metzger Rider (21 Jan 1860 - 21 Dec 1961) of Londonderry Twp., Dauphin County, a Mennonite woman who married John Brinser Rider (1885-1921), a farmer and butcher. Donor has since conceded this is doubtful. See Notes
Unknown -- Doubtful Amanda Metzger Rider was maker
Provenance
Quilt passed from Amanda M. Rider to daughter Fannie Metzger Rider Noll (1888-1973) to her daughter Ethel Rider Noll Albright (b.1910 - still living at St. John's Home in Columbia in 2003) to her daughter, donor Phyllis Ann Albright Hertz (1935- ).
Small cabinet photo of Amanda included with donation, depicts her as a young woman before she joined the Mennonite Church and dressed plain. Photo by Le Rue Lemer of Harrisburg. The Miller family genealogy owned by donor notes Amanda died of a stroke and was buried in Geyers Church Cemetery.
Generally very good but with several brown stains: a cluster of 3 about 15-18" from corner border and binding, one very dark. Another light brown stain in same border near opposite corner. One-inch-long dark liquid stain in one green diamond of inner circl. Blue background print has a regular pattern of light areas caused by original print run. Back has some small dark liquid stains and darkening along fold lines.
Object ID
G.03.32.01
Notes
Cousin of donor, Arlene Huss (Lititz, 717 569 3482) was surprised to see her grandmother's quilt during a quilt presentation 9 Nov 2017. Arlene confided later that her mother, Emma Rider Huss, told her that her mother, Amanda Metzger Rider, only made conforters with scraps of material. She did NOT make fancy quilt like this Lone Star. Arlene has another quilt that used the same fabrics as the Lone Star, but it was given by Amands to daughter Emma but not made by her. This information puts the identity of the maker in serious doubt, with the conclusion that the maker is unknown. She later called her cousin Phyllis, the donor, who conceded she was not certain Amanda made the Lone Star.
Tulip block quilt of cottons. Blocks are set on point with tulip blocks arranged in 4 columns of 5, alternating with plain white blocks.Tulip design has 3 blooms with 4 petals each. Blooms are a red floral print and stems w/ leaves are a green abstract print.Tulip blocks pieced in 7 patches and stem w/ leaves are applique. White borders are 4.75" wide except for 9.5" bottom. Back is white and wraps edges toward front to form narrow binding. Cotton batting separated.
Cumberland County, likely Shippensburg area
Hand quilted with white thread following still-visible pencil lines. Outer borders have an undulating feather interspersed with an 8-petal flower. The tulip blocks have horizontal parallel lines and the white blocks have a feather wreath. All quilting has double lines.
See Provenance & Notes.
Provenance
Letter of 6/5/1948, in file, from donor's great aunt Nannie (Nancy) Foreman Spangler, states the tulip patches were made by donor's great great great Grandmother Culp, being "at least 150 years old" and that she (Nannie) "had them quilted about sixty years ago" (c.1890?). Trish Herr believes the prints used in the tulip blocks are circa 1840s, confirming the story.
Thus, patches were made by the mother of Mary Culp Atherton (1812-1849), she passed to Mary, then to her daughter Ann Margaret Atherton Foreman (1840-1925) to daughter Nannie Foreman Spangler (1859-1951) who had quilt assembled, to grand niece & donor Margaret Wagner Aungst (1918- 2012).
Generally good with some brown scattered stains and a large stained area at middle of left edge. Apparently rarely washed due to still very visible pencil lines. Many seams in piecing are separating. Backing has acid burn on fold lines and section that was folded and likely touching wood of blanket chest.
Object ID
G.08.03.03
Notes
Nancy Foreman was the maternal aunt of donor's father, Marshall Wagner. Printout of digital photo taken by Trish of the Foreman sisters is in this file. Aunt Nannie Foreman Spangler is positioned at two o'clock. They were raised in Shippensburg where their father James K. Foreman was Sheriff. Nannie married Henry Spangler & lived in Phila. where Henry was a professor at U. of Penn. They had one child, also Henry.
Donor states the Culp gr gr gr grandmother who pieced the quilt patches is unknown at present, altho she believes descent went from a great great great grandmother Culp to an Atherton to the Foreman family. (Correct - wrz). Donor may have records or photos in storage, but unlikely to discover soon. (Deceased 2012)
Place of Origin
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Margaret C. Aungst, Heritage Center Collection
Quilt with lightning pattern, all cottons. Lightning pattern composed of alternating yellow and dark rust-red lightning streaks within an outer border of green (width varies 7"- 7 1/2"). Thin batting. Hand-stitched rolled binding has front green wrapped to back.
Cotton backing is mostly reds and browns in a medium-scale print of diamond shapes within a "grid" of smaller circle shapes, all on a ground of speckled brown. (see scan in file).
Hand-stitched quilting patterns: diagonal lines within the yellow, diamond grid within the red. Border has rope pattern of two twisting 6-strand parts.
Considerable liquid staining/soiling, front and back. Especially evident are dark liquid stains in yellow.
Provenance
Donor states family lore claims quilt was made by Emma & Annie Eshleman, two sisters of his grandfather Jacob Burkholder Eshleman who lived in Ephrata. Both girls died young of TB. The daughters were the two youngest of eleven children born to parents Daniel Eshleman and Mary Burkholder Eshleman. According to Lanc. Mennonite Hist. Society research done by volunteer Ivan B. Leaman, Emma (1864-1888) and Phinnia ("Annie") (1867-1889), the daughters both died young and are buried near their parents in the Groffdale Mennonite Cemetery.
Quilt ended up with Grandfather J.B. Eshleman who manufactured cigars according to the 1890 and 1909 Directories. Donor states he was a tobacco wholesaler. He passed quilt to daughter Mary Catherine Eshleman (married Dr. George Willauer) and then to donor.
Lone Star pattern quilt, all small-scale cotton prints. Star comprised of diamonds using a progression of 12 different prints in green, yellow, blue, pink and red. Star is done on a central field of a pink print. Outer border (5" wide) is a print of yellow flowers on a dark green ground. The 3/8" wide binding is the backing brought forward. This cotton backing is an abstract speckled grid of brown and tan. Thin batting evident.
Quilting patterns, hand-stitched in white, are: perimeter of each small diamond of the star; triangles & squares of the pink center field have unusual floral and foliate motifs, including a large feathery leaf in triangles and a scallop-edged circle filled with grid pattern in corner squares; outer border has undulating vine snaking through a repeating pattern of a large single leaf.
Earl or Ephrata Twp.
Provenance
Provenance: Donor states family lore claims quilt was made by Emma & Annie Eshleman, two sisters of his grandfather Jacob Burkholder Eshleman who lived in Ephrata. Both girls died young of TB. The daughters were the two youngest of eleven children born to parents Daniel Eshleman and Mary Burkholder Eshleman. According to Lanc. Mennonite Hist. Society research done by volunteer Ivan B. Leaman, Emma (1864-1888) and Phinnia ("Annie") (1867-1889), the daughters both died young and are buried near their parents in the Groffdale Mennonite Cemetery.
Quilt ended up with Grandfather J. B. Eshleman who manufactured cigars according to the 1890 and 1909 Directories. Donor states he was a tobacco wholesaler. He passed quilt to daughter Mary Catherine Eshleman (married Dr. George Willauer) and then to donor.
Hole torn in border, 23" from corner, is 1" long on back and 1/4" long in front. Several small brown stains on front and back. Back also darkened along some fold lines. One peach-colored diamond print has mysterious blue mottled stains(?) that likely were present before piecing.
Object ID
G.08.15.03
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Basket of Chips pattern, all-cotton quilt. Thirty-six 8"x8" basket pattern blocks in prints (mostly reds and greens), set on point 6x6, made of 2 eighteen block sets facing eaching other. Alternating blocks are in a black star print. Triple border, 2" each of red, green and red again (in one corner and along side, outside red border in orange, but same print.
Batting is thin cotton. Backing is a navy blue plaid cotton. Binding is same black print as alternating blocks in body of quilt, 1/4" wide.
Quilting is parallel lines over the blocks and borders.
Pinned tag on reverse indicates quilt was documented by the York County Quilt Documentation Project as #W-3-8.
Made in York Springs area, Adams County by Annie Trimmer Spangler (11 October 1850 - 20 September 1911).
Provenance
Made by donor's great-grandmother, Annie Trimmer Spangler, and passed down through son Charles to his daughter Edna Spangler Keefer to daughter and donor Betsy Keefer.
Annie Trimmer married Franklin Spangler (1846-1911) on 5/28/1871 and they had 3 children: two daughters, Hermie and Clennie, and one son Charles. They were likely Lutheran and lived in the York Springs area of Adams County.
Death certificate of Franklin Jacob Spangler records his father as Emanuel Spangler and the maiden name of his mother as "Myers". Baptism of "Jacob Franklin" Spangler notes mother's name was Maria.
Some fading on both sides. Several small spots of brown stains on front. One of the alternating black print blocks, near center, has incipient holes forming.
Object ID
G.09.03.03
Place of Origin
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Betsy Keefer in memory of the Spangler family quilters, Heritage Center Collection
All-cotton quilt, hand-pieced Baskets pattern with appliqued flowers on off-white ground. Thirty-six 9.5" squares in 6x6 arrangement have baskets of red and green prints set on point with an off-white and green appliqued tulip bud in each. Triple borders are mitered; inner border is 4" off-white, middle is 3.25" red and green zig-zag and outer border is again 3.5" off-white.
Batting is thin cotton and separating. Backing is solid off-white cotton. Binding is back brought forward, 1/4" wide.
Precisely hand-pieced and densely hand-quilted. In each block, quilting follows applique, parallel lines in basket fill, feather cable conforms to basket handle. Feather cable quilting on both off-white borders. On red and green zig-zag is a simple grid.
Made in Latimore or Reading Twp., Adams County, PA by Catherine E. Stoke Wilt (15 October 1843 - 8 August 1910).
Provenance
Made by great-grandmother of donor, Catherine Stoke Wilt, who married James Alfred Wilt and lived in York Springs area. James was a miller at Trostle's Mill in Huntington Twp., Adams Co. Later in life he was a farmer near Hampton in Reading Twp They had a family of 14 children of whom the eighth was Mary who married Charles Spangler (donor's grandparents). Quilt descended to son George, donor's uncle, who presented the quilt to donor as a college graduation gift.
Front has some staining and yellowing. Colors faded. Batting is deteriorating/separating.
Object ID
G.09.03.04
Notes
Note: This quilt is nearly identical to one pictured on the cover of "The Hands That Made Them...Quilts of Adams County, Pennsylvania" by Adams Co. Quilt Documentation Project (see file). Made circa 1875 by members of the Leer family on their farm near York Springs.
James & Catherine Wilt's oldest daughter Sarah Elizabeth (born c. mid-1860s) had a daughter Nora Elizabeth who married Calvin Leer. In any case, this appears to provide an example of pattern sharing based on close proximity and intermarriage.
Appraiser Dawn Heefner notes that this 19th c. quilt pattern of the tulip or rose bud in a basket, may be a design unique to the York Springs area of Adams County. It was not referenced in the principal quilt pattern encyclopedias.
Quilt documented by the York County Quilt Documentation Project, #W-3-2.
Place of Origin
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County, PA
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Betsy Keefer in memory of the Spangler family quilters, Heritage Center Collection
All cotton album quilt of 30 blocks of 12" x 12", each with a different papercut applique done in solid red and green with minor use of a mustard yellow floral print (possibly one of the chrome yellow small-scaled prints used in the 1830-1860 period.( See p. 66 of "Dating Fabrics" by E. J. Trestain.) Most appliques are floral or snowflake designs, but one stands apart, a pair of hands with a pair of scissors.
Surrounding blocks is a 7" wide pieced strip/border of white cotton, decorated with scallop-edged crescent appliques of alternating red and green.
Imaginative quilting includes hearts, cable, floral and foliate motifs. Outer border has parallel slanted lines. Batting is minimal with only tiny clumps remaining.
Attributed to George Evans Howett (31 Dec 1841 - 8 May 1864??) & mother Ann Howett. See Provenance and Notes.
Gatchellville, Fawn Twp.,York Co., Pennsylvania or Pylesville, Harford Co., Maryland
Provenance
Reported provenance of quilt: Howett family to Wright family operating a store in Gatchellville, York Co. Then to the Wright daughter who relocated to Christiana and sold it to Teressa Phillippy Brinton (1893-2002) of Christiana. Teressa wrote down the story and passed quilt and story on to donor, her granddaughter. (See NOTES).
Significant overall fading and wear, esp. evident in red fabric binding and appliques. Minor losses and small holes in binding. More significant holes in red appliques, esp. large hole (1-1.5") in one red scalloped crescent.
Overall light staining; significant dark stain on white outer border near one corner (3" x 0.25") and one small dark stain within centerfield.
Object ID
G.11.03.01
Notes
Written account passed to donor from her step-grandmother Teressa P. Brinton, states that a Civil War soldier, George E. Howett, returned from the war badly wounded to his parents' home (John and Ann Howett). To pass the time until death took him, he cut out quilt patches which his mother Ann Howett appliqued to a white ground to make an album pattern quilt top. Later, since the family needed money to settle an account at the local store, the quilt top was offered in part payment. The store operated by Mr. Wright, was located in Gatchellville, York County, PA (about 9 miles from McCall's Ferry). Mrs. Wright, the wife of the store owner, then had the top made into a quilt for $2.00.
The Wright's daughter Mary eventually moved to Christiana along with the quilt, where she sold it to Teressa Phillippy Brinton, 2nd wife of Maurice Jackson Brinton of Christiana. He was the grandfather of donor. Teressa Brinton (5 Nov 1893 - 13 May 2002) passed quilt on to granddaughter Esther H.M. Power, who then donated quilt along with the story as recorded by her step grandmother.
Copies of military documents given by donor appear to contradict George's return from battle to die at home. The repeated statement is that Howett died May 8,1864, "of wounds rec'd on the battlefield" at Spottsylvania, VA. Does "killed" mean mortally wounded but not yet deceased?
After George's birth in Drumore Twp., the family lived near Pylesville, Harford Co., VA. By 1870 census they were living in Gatchellville, Fawn Twp., York Co. All three locations are in close proximity. Other Howett relatives were living in Fawn Twp.
Credit
Gift of Esther H.M. Power, Heritage Center Collection
All-cotton quilt with four-block appliqued princess feather design on an orange (cheddar cheese color) ground. Center of quilt has a star variation that is also used as the center of each of the four princess feather designs. Each of 4 blocks has alternating feathers of blue and dark rust that radiate out from star. An inner sawtooth border is made of triangles of the same blue and dark rust. Outer border of cheddar is mitered. Quilt corners are rounded. Binding is the same dark rust. Backing is a cotton floral print of red and white flowers on a brown ground. No batting.
Hand quilted in white: Outer border has a bold cable design of ten strands. Center field is a diamond pattern and the feathers are outlined and have a double line quill in center.
The bold colors, particularly the cheddar cheese color, are typical of northern Lancaster County. This quilt is reported to be from the Ephrata area.
Provenance
Ex-collection Mr. and Mrs. David Cunningham and ex-collection Richard Flanders Smith. Purchased by vendor and sold to Heritage Center.
Crazy quilt, made by Anna Lillie Frantz working in Lancaster City. Top is pieced with small velvet and silk scraps and decorated with extensive embroidery as well as some painted decoration.
There are 16 squares of crazy design enclosed bya red silk border. Design motifs include birds, flowers, spider webs(both painted and embroidered), etc. At top in center of red border are the maker's initials "ALF" in fancy gold embroidery. There is a fan motif at each inner corner, pieced and embroidered. Dates found on various patches are 1885 through 1888. Greek letters for the fraternity Phi Kappa Sigma are included as well as the verse "And must the weary task/ Be done agin./ A clean shave every day." This may suggest a family association with a college or university.
Anna Lillie Frantz's sister, Letitia Landis Frantz, became the second female physician to practice in the city of Lancaster. These two sisters lived together at 238 East Orange St. The family came from a Reformed Mennonite background and their parents were Andrew Miller Frantz and Esther C. Landis Frantz
Quilt was given by maker to her brother's daughter, Mary Frantz Amidon (b. 1914), then to museum. Donor lived with her two aunts for a short period of time. This quilt was on loan for 1986 exhibit. Photo of maker as a young woman is included with original label from the 2000 exhibit "Quilting Traditions of Lancaster County."
Minor stains, pulls and discoloration (see condition report of 1986 in this file).
Unusual Center Square Amish quilt made by Jacobena Stoltzfus (later Mrs. John B. Smucker, Jr., b. 7/22/1859 d. 7/11). Burgandy wool inner border is pieced into an overall ground of gray wool twill. Unusual corner block design of burgandy wool squares appliqued to suggest a 9-patch design. Binding is maroon twill wool, machine stitched to front, wrapped and hand stitched to back; folded/tucked at corners. Backing is a woven pattern of tan cotton flecked with blue and black.
Hand quilted with white thread (extremely uncommon). Grapevines in outer border except for corners that have disconnected floral elements: a rose bloom, two rose buds and 3 branches of leaves, with each leaf decorated with an unusual zig zag line. Inner border has thin pumpkin seed flowers within repeating chevrons. Scallops on all edges of inner border and outer gray border. Centerfield has diagonal grid with blocks of floral design. Half-blocks at periphery have attenuated floral design custom made to fit. Granddaughter Bena Lapp Beiler says maker designed & drew her own quilt motifs.
Quilt made by Jacobena Stoltzfus before becoming the second wife of John B. Smucker, Jr. in 1896 at age 37. (Fisher book # A60 and A107)
Provenance
Maker to only child Elizabeth E. Smucker Lapp, circa 1929; then to her daughter Bena Lapp Beiler of New Holland circa 1942, who sold it to dealer Emma Witmer in the summer of 1988 due to need for funds to buy a house as well as fear of theft. Emma Witmer then sold to Museum.
Sampler quilt top of 20 pieced and appliqued blocks, each a different pattern. Made of solid and printed cotton fabrics, both hand and machine stitched. Sawtooth border at two opposite sides. Used by Anna (Susanna) Brubaker to illustrate patterns.
Donor says her grandmother, Mary Brubaker Rickert (daughter of maker) called it her "pattern book." Documented in Quilt Harvest (# 21E). See NOTES.
Hammer Creek area of Elizabeth Twp., Lancaster Co.
Provenance
Passed from maker to daughter Mary Brubaker Rickert (donor's grandmother) to Cora Rickert Zartman (donor's paternal aunt), then to donor.
Soiled, including liquid stains; tears and deteriorating fabrics.
Object ID
G.91.08.2
Notes
Different names used for the maker of this quilt top: Susanna, Susan, Anna and Kitty. They are all variations of her birth name of Susanna Bear, daughter of John and Anna (Frantz) Bear.
1. Most of the notes in file state ANNA Brubaker. Informant is of course donor.
2. Four-generation chart in file states KITTY HACKMAN Brubaker. (2nd marriage for both John Brubaker and Kitty Hackman and Mary Brubaker was indeed their daughter). Informant is again of course the donor.
3. Death certificate for maker's daughter (Mary Brubaker Rickert) states her mother's name was SUSSANNA(sic) Bear. Informant was Cora Rickert Zartman, Mary's daughter.
4. Findagrave.com for David Hackman (1801-1831) states "His wife was SUSANNA Bear, daughter of John and Anna (Frantz) Bear. After Hackman's death, she married John Brubaker".
Place of Origin
Elizabeth Twp.
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
In memory of Mary Brubaker Rickert by her granddaughter Herma Rickert Losensky, Heritage Center Collection
Crazy quilt with nine blocks of crazy quilt patches of silks, satins, etc.. Of significance is a ribbon in upper middle block reading: "1854. / Chestnut Hill / ACADEMY / Reunion / 1876." Extensive decorative embroidery on seams as well as some extending into center of patches. Some ribbons are appliqued with decorative embroidery stitches only. Two blue ribbon bows also applied. Eight-inch-wide border of red velvet with mitered corners is a replacement as well as red satin floral weave back. This same red satin is used as a very thin edging around crazy quilt blocks. Binding also formed by backing brought forward.
Quilt made by donor's grandmother Harriet E. L. Alexander who was born in Cecil County, MD. and lived in Rock Spring, MD. Her parents were Robert Levis and Amanda Mullin; father operated a paper mill at Walnut Hill, Md. She apparently attended Chestnut Hill Academy in Colerain Twp, in early 1860s(?). She then met her future husband, Vincent King Alexander, while both were attending Millersville Normal School.
Maker's daughter May Jackson reportedly replaced the border and back. Thus, only the 9 blocks are original. See NOTES
Trish Herr believes the quilt has a Quaker look to it, especially due to its wide borders.
Southern Lancaster Co.
Provenance
Maker to daughter May C.A. Jackson (1875-1903) who "refurbished" quilt before giving to her daughter Helen Jackson (1912- ? , married 3 times) according to Anna S. Alexander (donor's sister-in-law). Helen gave quilt to her cousin John S. Alexander (donor).
Note in file indicates backing was replaced c. 1960.
Scattered deteriorating patches. Most have shredding or splitting. One in middle block of top row is brittle and broken with extensive losses. See condition report in file. Border and back have been replaced.
Object ID
G.96.22.1
Notes
Ribbon pertains most likely to the Chestnut Hill Seminary of Andrews Bridge, Colerain Twp., 1854-1877, run by Thomas Baker. The 1854 initial year of operation matches the date on the ribbon. Biographical Annals has a bio of Baker pp. 497-97, noting his teaching and surveying professions. A Bio of Hon. Marriott Brosius (1843-1901), p. 17, states his early education was in the "Octoraro and Chestnut Hill Academies under the tutorage of the veteran teacher, Thomas Baker..."
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of John S. Alexander, Heritage Center Collection
Crazy quilt with 11" teal blue velvet borders at top and bottom and centerfield of velvet, silk, satin, brocade patches, etc. Of various sizes and colors pieced haphazardly with no organized blocks. Extremely elaborate emboidery stitches of many colors decorate seams. Also used are chenille, hand painting, stuffed work, and beading. The stitching is also multicolored. Incorporated towards the upper left corner is a light blue ribbon of the Lancaster Tourists bicycle club which reads: "LANCASTER TOURISTS/ 1888." Back is a blue and white foliate printed cotton, plain weave.
Appraiser notes in file that the patch with Mr. Toad, reading: "Fine morning Sir!" was probably purchased. Also notes that the finishing consists of "well done 'knife' edges with both sides turned in."
Bertha K. was the 3rd daughter of Robert M. and Mary Morrow and lived at 212 East Lemon Street. Mr. Morrow was a partner at Swartzwelder & Morrow (builder and carpenter). See NOTES.
Note: An 1898 Lancaster Cycling Club printed invitation is in David B. Landis collection (P04.14.1). See copy in this file.
Lancaster, western PA or Canton, Ohio
Provenance
Maker to daughter Gertrude Spindler to granddaughter / donor.
Minor to heavy fabric shredding and breaking on at least a half dozen patches, esp. the painted ones. Loss on two patches along top edge. Central black patch has extensive deterioration. Bleach type stains with some discoloration along outer edges of both teal borders. Minor staining overall.
Object ID
G.99.08.1
Notes
Donor notes that Bertha Morrow married Benjamin Augustus Spindler on July 5, 1887. The quilt has a ribbon dated one year later, in1888, but the quilt could have been started earlier or later, incorporating the ribbon at any time. Not known where Bertha was living when quilt was made, but by 1891 Benj. Spindler is listed as "boarding" in the Canton City Directory. Son Robert was born there in 1892. Benj. Spindler worked at the Dueber-Hampden Co., a watch factory in Canton.
The newlyweds' first residence is unknown, but Canton, Ohio seems likely. The donor notes that the Spindlers lived in western PA and were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, PA. The donor further states that Bertha died in "Mars, Allegheny, PA", but this is unclear since Mars is in neither Butler Co. nor Allegheny Twp.
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Terri Middlemiss in memory of Gertrude Julie Spindler, Heritage Center Collection
