Quilt, Drunkard's Path pattern, cottons. Pieced by donor's grandmother, Amanda Castle Sharpe and quilted by unknown woman in Landisville.
Top is white cotton ground and pattern is executed with a floral print of red and yellow flowers on a blue ground. Edges are all scalloped. Quilting patterns are
Drunkard's Path quilts were particularly popular in the late 19th century and again in the 1930s when a revival in quiltmaking swept across America. Quilts with this pattern are quite common.
Donor's maternal grandparents were Phares C.H. Sharpe and Amanda Castle Sharpe. Phares was a butcher and the couple lived at 30 N. Plum St. in Lancaster later in life after moving around quite a bit. They had four children: Kathryne (donor's mother), Henry, Herbert and Esther. In their last years, Phares and Amanda moved to a house on Martha Ave in Grandview Heights. Phares died circa 1936, after which their daughter Esther lived with Amanda. Donor recalls her grandmother making hooked rugs. The Sharpes were Lutheran, although Amanda's sister was a Mennonite.
Amanda pieced this quilt specifically for her granddaughter's (donor's) bed, about 1930. Donor believes the quilt was then quilted by a woman who lived across from the Mennonite Church in Landisville. Donor's parents were Albert Wohlsen (1894-1971)and Kathryne Sharpe Wohlsen (1895-1964) and the family lived at 452 Race Ave. Father worked in Wohlsen construction business. Mother graduated in 1912 from Lancaster General Nursing School.
Provenance
Given by grandmother, maker Amanda Sharpe, to her granddaughter Carolyn Wohlsen (donor)
From grandmother Amanda Sharpe to granddaughter, child of her own daughter Kathryne (Mrs. Albert Wohlsen) who was born 1895 and died 1964. Photo of Amanda in file (c. 1938) and photo of Phares & Amanda Sharpe, their daughter Kathryne S. Wohlsen and granddaughter Carolyn Wohlsen (baby), circa 1923.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Carolyn W. Ripple, Heritage Center Collection
