Category Archives: Reflections

Visit to the Pope County Historical Society

Over the winter while finishing up my history degree I did a research project on my families genealogy. The family I research was the Charles Squire family. His wife Maria Alzina Finch (Squire) was born in Belle Plain, Minnesota in 1841. She married Charles Squire in April 16, 1864. Charles and Maria settles down on a farm in Scott County, Minnesota in 1865 after Charles returned from the War. They moved to Glenwood, Pope County, Minnesota in 1882. Maria spent the rest of her life there until her own death on October 6, 1924.

In July my parents and I visited the Pope County Historical society and found in the archives a quilt top made my Maria Squire. I was able to have a close look at the quilt and take pictures of it. The Quilt top was made by my Great-Great-Great-Grandmother. 🙂

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1930’s Quilt and the Heritage of Quilting

Finished 1930’s quilt.

This past weekend my cousin and I had the opportunity to finished a quilt that was begun in the 1930s. We purchased the quilt blocks at an antique shop  and determined it would be an interesting challenge to finished the project. The quilt blocks were accompanied by a newspaper clipping that contained a pattern. The quilter who had begun the quilt had finished the pieced blocks but had not gotten around to the embroidery portion of the quilt. After we embroidery the quilts blocks I pieced the remainder of the quilt on my treadle showing machine. The final step was to tie the quilt and that was finished this last weekend. The project got me thinking a little bit about the history and legacy of quilt making…

Quilts have a long and fascinating part of American history. Families have snuggled beneath quilts as they read inspiring stories of adventure, risk, and kingdom building. Quilts traveled in covered wagons as the pioneer families settled the frontiers. Every little scrap of fabric to be found was sewn into quilts and blankets by the resourceful women during the War Between the States. Quilts also were sewn from scraps left over from the famed “Flower Sack” dresses of the Depression era of the 1930’s. Quilts express the wonderful ideas of multigenerational thinking and  resourcefulness. Therefore, they can remind us of our tasks of dominion under Jesus Christ and our heritage as Christians. They also brighten our home and serve the practical purposes of warmth and comfort.

I have quilts that were made for me by my great-grandmother and my grandmother. They remind me of my own heritage, and remind me of the Providence of God, and His kindness towards me. I’d like leave a similar legacy for my own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (should the Lord bless me with them): I’d like to pass down to them a legacy of resourcefulness and Christ-centered womanhood.