Former Minister Talks Quilts at Museum

Stevenson, WA- A longtime Stevenson minister who left more than twenty years ago is coming back to talk about the history of quilting in the region. Retired United Methodist Minister, Carol Davies, who is fondly remembered by many in Skamania County, will be the featured speaker at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum on Sunday, January 17^th. Her talk at 2:00 pm will explore the importance of quilting to early pioneers in the Gorge. The program is the first one in 2010 of the on-going monthly presentations with topics related to the history of the Columbia River Gorge.

            “Making quilts,” Davies says, “was a way to keep their families warm as well as a creative expression. Today many museums across the country are featuring quilts made by women from the 18^th and 20^th centuries.” Davies will also discuss the social aspect of quilting. “To pioneer women,” she explains, “the social aspect of the quilting bee was second only to church. It’s where women got their news, made friends and traded homemaking information.”

            Davies has a personal connection to the subject. She spent most of her life believing she had no way to express any artistic ability. “When I was in grammar school the day the art teacher came to our class I was sent to the library,” she joked. But then she discovered quilting and her artistic niche.

            One on the churches she served since leaving Stevenson, WA was in Lake Oswego, OR. A group of women invited her to join their quilting bee but she explained to them she had no artistic ability. “Sure you do,” one of them commented. “Let me show you how.” From that experience she proudly states, “I love the idea of taking a bunch of tiny little pieces of fabric that mean nothing, and turn them into a beautiful, whole image. It’s spiritually very transforming.”

            Several examples of quilts will be shown during the presentation including the embroidered quilt from the Museum’s collection. It dates from 1880 and each three inch square is embroidered with a wild flower design on wool.  No square is the same. The design was created by Johanah Kanikkeberg Wineberg. She married John P. Wineberg in 1900 and they raised their family in Stevenson. The quilt was donated in 1977 by Anah, Helen and William Wineberg. (Perhaps Johanah was an aspiring botanist?) 

            Come hear Carol Davies’ presentation on quilting in the DeGroote Theater at 2:00 pm on Sunday, January 17^th at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum, 990 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA. For additional information or questions call (800) 991-2338 or Email: sharon@columbiagorge.org.