History Of Antique Dealers Salem Or

Quilts carry thread of history

For the first time last week, a quilt turning was held at the Salem County Fair showing off what really are works of art.

Bonnie Hiles, coordinator for the quilt turning, showed off each quilt to fair-goers, laid out delicately on an old-fashioned bed.

Hiles said a lot of people she talked to said they hadn’t heard of quilt turning.

“I went to a quilt showing ... and loved it so much, I brought it here. It’s new to this area,” Hiles said. “This is my third quilt turning. I enjoy it so much and I wanted to bring this here.”

The quilts presented were antique, passed on through the 1920s and 1930s to the early 1970s and 1980s to the present.

Hiles showed and described the quilts by design, pattern and stitching and said many were passed down from generation to generation.

According to Hiles, quilting was a big deal during the Great Depression.

“Back in the ‘20s and ‘30s, you didn’t go to the store for a blanket, you made it,” Hiles said.

Colors and patterns awed fair-goers. Patterns and stitches used included “chicken scratch,” scraps, appliqué, “yo-yo’s,” and a new cancer quilt what was completed recently.

One quilt was made from scraps of smock dresses.

According to Hiles, quilts are delicate and need special care.

“You can’t just wash quilts because the cotton and batting will scrunch up,” Hiles said.

The hand-sewn and machine-sewn quilts varied from floral and plain solids to tailor scraps.

Hiles discussed how quilting is changing because of new long arm sewing machines and many of the quilts took close to 200 hours to complete.

The last quilt to be turned and presented was a signature quilt and was from 1885.

Names of Salem County residents were scripted in brown throughout the quilt.

Salem. Still making history.: The Phillips House Car Meet Turns 10

Join Historic New England’s Phillips House and the North Shore Old Car Club for the Tenth Annual Car Meet on historic Chestnut Street.  Members of the North Shore Old Car Club will display their vintage and antique vehicles; there will be special tours of the Phillips House and Carriage House, including a close-up look at the two Pierce-Arrows, Model A Ford, and five carriages on display in the collection. Special family activities and games will be set up in the backyard. Jazz music will be provided by the Trent Austin Duo. Light refreshments will be provided as well.

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