quiltersmuse.com Blog

July 22, 2010 – PRESS RELEASE

MADISON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS “BUNDLES, GUT ROBBERS AND BEANS EVERLASTING” BY DICK FORTIN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010, 7PM.

The Madison Historical Society presents “Bundles, Gut Robbers and Beans Everlasting” by Dick Fortin, on Thursday evening, August 19, 2010 at 7pm at the MHS Building at the corner of Village Road (Route 113) and East Madison Road. The program is free and open to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted, and refreshments are served.

What was life like in the 1800 lumber camps? Who were these men who worked from sun up to sun down in this back breaking and dangerous occupation? “Bundles, Gut-robbers, and Beans Everlasting” includes a slide presentation and storytelling depicting the daily routines, the food the men ate and the antics of the 19th century logger. Tales of some of the more colorful characters will be told using lumberjack lingo and lumbermen songs.

MADISON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS “RANGER COMPANIES OF COLONIAL NEW ENGLAND” BY ADAM AND MARY SPENCER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010, 7PM.

The Madison Historical Society presents “Ranger Companies of Colonial New England” by Adam and Mary Spencer, on Thursday evening, September 16, 2010 at 7pm at the MHS Building at the corner of Village Road (Route 113) and East Madison Road. The program is free and open to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted, and refreshments are served.

The program is a wonderful presentation about units such as Roger’s Rangers and more during the period of King Philip’s War in New England, (c. 1670) through the French and Indian War, (c. 1750s). Ranger companies of this period were the forerunner of what we now know of as ‘special forces’. This intriguing program too has garnered rave reviews to packed houses! Although not specifically about firearms, Adam Spencer brings many objects pertinent to the program such as a musket, tomahawk, clothing and accessories of these fighting men of the colonial period. He comes dressed in 1740-50′s clothing as well.

MADISON HISTORICAL SOCIETY REACHES BENCH MARK FOR IT’S BUILDING RESTORATION FUND.

The Madison Historical Society is engaged in a ten year plan to restore it’s building located at the corner of Village Road (Route 113) and East Madison Road. The Executive Board is pleased to announce that an important bench mark has been reached since, to date, $25,000 has been raised for the Building Restoration Fund. This amount, combined with funds from the Town of Madison, will assist the organization in taking on its first major project, the renovation of the building’s foundation, scheduled for completion in 2011. Presently, the Executive Board is working on obtaining a detailed plan to move the building onto a new foundation approximately 6 feet away from the present location. The plan will address drainage issues and provide additional work and storage space. The foundation relocation will also give the MHS greater accessibility to the northern most property line.

The Building Restoration Fund was established in January 2007, and each year it receives a growing number of donations from members and the general public. Donors choose to designate their gifts toward the restoration of one of the Town’s most historic buildings, which once served as the Town School and Town Hall. The organization keeps these contributions separate from it general operating fund, whose income is generated from participation in the Old Home Week Craft Fair, the Blueberry Festival, the Madison School PTO Christmas Craft Fair, general museum sales and memberships.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire have inspired many a painter and photographer. This photo was taken in the autumn by James Cummings, several years ago.

Over the past two years, donations to the Building Restoration Fund have also come through the sale of the book, Visions from a White Mountain Palette, The Life and Times of Charles A. Hunt, by Roy Bubb, a MHS member and museum docent. The book is available for purchase for $30 by sending a check with your request to the Madison Historical Society P.O. Box 505, Madison, NH 03849. In 2008, the MHS established an annual spring Flea Market, whose proceeds also go into the restoration coffers. The event was recently held on May 22, 2010 at the Madison Fire Station, and sincere thanks are extended to Chief Rick Judkins, Deputy Chief Richard Clark, and the volunteer firemen for opening their facility to our organization and for all their extra help. The Flea Market and Bake Sale generated over $300 toward the fund, and the MHS thanks those who rented space and tables as well as those who contributed baked goods.

The MHS building got a much needed face lift last spring. New fencing was installed which accentuates the old granite posts. The building was also been freshly painted. A few of the back windows needed replacing, many were re-glazed, and all were cleaned. On the inside, we placed the glass doors on most of our exhibit cases. The MHS invites you to attend an upcoming program, and take a look at the improvements. The organization welcomes new members You do not have to be a Madison resident, and visitors to the MWV are welcome to join as well. Support a worthy cause to preserve local history, and for a fair price, receive our quarterly newsletter, containing topics of historical interest.

Save the date for these additional events during Madison Old Home Week, August 7- 15, 2010:

MHS Blueberry Fest, August 8, 2010, 6-7pm.

MHS Museum Open House, August 10, 2010, 2-4pm.

For more information, contact:

Robin M. Tagliaferri
Publicity Secretary
Madison Historical Society
PO Box 505
Madison, NH 03849
(603) 662- 8158
ferreirarobin@yahoo.com
http://madisonhistorical.us/

This announcement is brought to you courtesy of Quilter’s Muse Publications

A few years ago, when a friend invited me along to another friend’s home to work on “Ugly Quilts,” I was taken back by the term and wondered why anyone would want to make an “ugly” quilt. I soon learned that the name represents quilts made of this and that, including old tee-shirts, curtains, bedspreads, drapes, old ties, and leftovers from quilting projects, as well as leftover batting and blankets. No textile is value-less in this project. It is a good way to recycle AND aid a homeless person at the same time. You see, these textiles are assembled and tied together to make sleeping bags, ugly enough so that they have no resale value (so they won’t be stolen to sell for money), but warm enough to shelter someone from the cold.

Even if you are not interested in assembling a quilt of this kind yourself, there are ways you can help. The obvious way is by donating money to buy the toiletries and warm socks that are stuffed within the quilt. Another is by sending old ties to the organization that can be used to “tie up” the sleeping bag during the day.

For more information, just Google “Ugly Quilts” or visit: http://www.uglyquilts.org/ or http://www.reese.org/sharon/uglypict.htm Alternately, you can start an “Ugly Quilt” group in your own community.

The homeless are the most forgotten of our society, until they become a nuisance of some kind. In my own community, last winter they hung out at the public library, dozing in the chairs, and trying to stay warm, at least during the day. Quilters are always trying to find ways to help others, and this would be a nice program idea for guilds. Quilters make neo-natal quilts for hospitals, to place over neo-natal units to block light from the sensitive eyes of newborns. They make wall quilts and bed quilts for hospital wards, and quilts to brighten nursing homes. There is always a greater “need” for quilts and there are always spots that can be brightened by the work of our needles, but let’s not forget the least powerful among us, those who are just happy to keep from freezing when the weather turns cold. “My Brother’s Keeper” program has come up with at least one solution.

God Bless!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Dear Friends,

For those who care, and I am sure that many of you DO NOT CARE, let me reiterate that Ellen Webster, New Hampshire’s early quilt historian, did not travel far and wide to collect quilt patterns. In fact, contrary to the following statement that can STILL be found on the New Hampshire Historical Society’s website, Ellen Webster reproduced quilt patterns on her charts that were from quilts found in her travels to Vermont, Massachusetts and within New Hampshire.

The NHHS site says this: “She found most of the patterns in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but also collected them during travels across the rest of New England, New York, Illinois, South Dakota, and Virginia.” The names of these states are mentioned on her charts.

At the time that Ellen Webster was collecting patterns, she was a judge at Storrowton and Eastern States Exposition and so, had access to prize-winning antique quilts from New York, Illinois, South Dakota and Virginia.

As a widow, Ellen was age 65 when she actively began making her quilt charts. Keep in mind that it was also the Great Depression, and she was caring for family members who boarded with her. She also had a heart problem and financial concerns. While she had traveled to the Holy Land and to California, in part by stagecoach, earlier in her life, she did not stray beyond New England in her later years.

I had called this error to the attention of the New Hampshire Historical Society but was told that since it had been part of a press release that already went out, the error could not be corrected.*

I guess I am just a real stickler for details. I insist on calling Ellen by her name of Ellen, and not “Emily” or “Helen” as others have falsely reported her name to be. But, my friends, the rampant errors have not ended there. To see a very “insightful” title of a talk, just visit the International Quilt Study Center, Symposium 2007, that describes a talk about Ellen Webster called: “Patterns and Insight: The Work of Emily Webster.” Very bright! Very scholarly. NOT!

I sound like a broken record…even to myself. I have tried very hard to let people know that errors have been made and have asked that they be corrected, most often to no avail. Apparently, I am the only one involved who cares about presenting the correct facts to the public. Everyone else is too busy trying to save face, or cover their own or someone else’s butt. Sad, indeed.

I am struck by the lack of scholarship or responsibility from people and institutions who are charged with presenting the truth, which should include updates to their misconceptions, as needed.

These kinds of continuing errors make me want to withdraw my financial support of certain institutions in question.

All I can say is, if you want the true facts, “Read my book!”

Amen.

*Update: As of July 6, 2010, the Assistant Director of the NH Historical Society has amended the false statement that previously appeared on their website. Wonderful!

Patricia Cummings, author of Ellen Emeline (Hardy) Webster (1867-1950): Her Amazing Quilt “Charts,” Her Writings and Her Life
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Today, we went out of town to a few antique shops in different towns that we have enjoyed browsing through, in the past. The first shop, Antiques Gallery of Franklin, is shut down for good. The space is offered for lease. The second shop we visited was finally open for the season, and I was able to look at the offerings on the first floor of three levels. I spent a total of $15.00 for some small items, and Jim was surprised that I did not want to browse further.

Business owners should pay attention to the comfort of their customers and not GLEEFULLY announce that they have no public restroom, particularly when the business is situated in the boonies and the alternative choice is perhaps finding a bush!

There was no one else in the shop. The owner had to fill out three different forms for the three different dealers who offered the merchandise I bought. I felt sorry for him. It’s a tough life and business is bad, all the way around.

I would have happily shopped on, but well… I couldn’t!

This kind of situation has happened before. In one case, I was told that I could “just” drive about five miles down the road to the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts. In another case, it was suggested that I drive over the state line to find the nearest restaurant. This is unacceptable. In the future, I will not plan to shop at ANY antique shops that do not offer rest facilities. Really, “TP” cannot be that expensive, considering that, in each case, I would have shopped more, given the chance.

Wise up, antique shop owners! You can be smug, or you can be hateful, but in the end, YOU will be the losers! Of course, I realize that this message will not reach its intended destination. I’m told that antique shop owners and many of their shoppers are ignorant and don’t know how to even turn on a computer. (I was actually told this by a shop owner!) Oh, well! Maybe someone will pass the word along. One can only hope!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications