Quilt, pieced top of silk octagons, cotton batting, dark green velvet backing, tied (not quilted) with green yarns. Pieced top only was made by Marianna Gibbons while living at her farm, Beechdale, just north of Bird-in-Hand. Octagonal patches made Dec. 18, 1893 to March 17, 1894, except for final embroidered center patch. Quilt top likely completed soon after, during 1894. but definitely before her 1902 marriage to Oram David Brubaker (1862-1929), since she used intials MG instead of MGB.
Top has 25 blocks, each with 25 octagons. Each 8 1/2-inch block uses different silk fabrics; solids, prints and velvets. The 25 blocks are separated by an inner sash of dark green ribbed fabric, 1 1/2" wide. Only the squares at the intersections of the sashes are different, a midnight blue velvet (although many are worn off to show a black fabric backing). Outer border is dark green silk 4 1/2" wide and mitered at the corners. Center block containing alternating yellow and black octagons has the embroidered initials "MG" in center and the remaining yellow ones are embroidered with flowers.
Provenance
Provenance: Descent in Brubaker family to step-granddaughter Margaret Thompson Herr (donor's cousin). When Margaret died, donor acquired the quilt at the circa 1980 estate sale in Quarryville for ten dollars. Donor is also a step-granddaughter of maker.
Donor states that at some point before she bought the quilt, "church ladies" had put a pale green, quilted backing on it and secured it with ties. It had not been finished by Marianna Gibbons. Donor eventually replaced it during the 1980s with something more to her taste -- the present backing of dark green polyester velvet. It is secured at the corners of each of the 25 blocks with ties knotted at the back.
History: Donor reports that the Dr. Joseph and Phebe Earle Gibbons family were Quakers and their farm, Beechdale, was a primary station on the Underground Railroad. (The house itself is now gone, and the farm is now a horse farm.) Jack Brubaker (the Scribbler) owns the diaries of Marianna and her mother. The donor has worked on transcribing the diaries for years. Both women were well educated and accomplished. Marianna earned two degrees at Millersville Normal School in 1871 and 1872, was a writer, was well travelled and lectured with the temperance movement (W.C.T.U.). After Marianna completed the quilt, she married in 1902 a widower who was 14 years her junior, with 9 children aged 6 - 19. Oram David Brubaker & children came to live on his new wife's farm since she had a large farm and greater wealth. With trees and water, the 56-acre farm became a duck farm.
Generally very good. Some silk octagons are deteriorating and some velvet has lost its nap. The quilt had been finished by "church ladies" at some time while owned by Margaret T. Herr. Donor disliked it so replaced it with a polyester velvet in the 1980s. Small bleach spot on outer border.
Object ID
G.03.18.1
Place of Origin
Bird-in-Hand, East Lampeter Twp.
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Marian Brubaker, 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
Whitework quilt of cotton, densely quilted. Made by unmarried sisters Elizabeth (Lizzie) and Martha (Mattie) Longenecker while living on family farm southwest of Lititz.
Same white cotton, front and back. Quilted designs define quilt. Centerfield is a grid-quilted large square w/ a centered 16.5 - 17" scallop-edged ring filled with a large scallop-edged 8-point star. Between star points are 8-petal flowers flanked by small circles. Centered within an inner circle of fine grid is a small star.
Surrounding centerfield are four borders; inner border has straight feathers, next is a grid followed by another feather border and a final wide grid border. Binding (3/8" wide) of same fabric, w/ quilt corners "wrapped" (no seams). Cotton batting.
Farm at 820 Woodcrest Ave., SW of Lititz
Provenance
Quilt made by the Longenecker sisters, Elizabeth (1838-1915) and Martha (1843-1899), while living on family farm inherited from their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Longenecker. Quilt was passed on to niece Ellen Jane Longenecker (1891-1998) who married Warren Souder in 1921. Upon Ellen's death in 1998 at age 106, quilt was inherited by unmarried daughter Molly Souder. Molly then did not know which family member to give it to, so decided in favor of this museum at the suggestion of her oldest cousin, Marilyn Ebel, an acquaintance of Trish Herr.
Family were long-time members of the Longenecker Church of the Brethren (642 Temperance Hill Rd.) just west of Lititz (now the Evangelical Christian Baptist Church). Longenecker Cemetery adjacent to church is where makers are buried (photo of gravestones in file). Longenecker farm is located on Woodcrest Ave., near Erb's Quarry Rd. (see Atlas pages in file).
Scattered light stains and some darkening fold lines.
Object ID
G.09.04.01
Notes
Family were longtime members of the Longenecker Church of the Brethren (642 Temperance Hill Rd.) just west of Lititz. Farm adjoins the church, now Evangelical Christian Baptist Church. Owner of farm is now Forney Longenecker.
Place of Origin
Lititz
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Given in memory of Ellen Longenecker Souder by Molly Souder, 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.
Quilt of hand pieced cottons in a pattern of nine blocks with a star variant, finely quilted. Nine large blocks in centerfield, each with a large radiating 8-point star composed of diamonds, done with a calico of white polka dots on blue ground. Sashing made with narrow diamonds. Sawtooth border. Cotton batting, now in clumps. Calico binding of white stars on blue, hand sewn to front, wrapped and hand stitched to back.
Hand quilted in white. Stars have concentric circles and white corner patches have feather wreath with a pinwheel center. Smaller white triangles around stars have diamond pattern.
Several brown stains on front. Back shows areas of stains and one brownish yellow acid-burned section (when folded). At least three areas of pieced back have 1-1.5" holes or deterioration. Binding is detaching, fraying and tearing at front, 20" from corner. A seam of binding at back is separating. Cotton batting is separated and clumped from laundering.
Object ID
G.84.05.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
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
