ETOWAH GRANGE QUILT of 1953
1st Place - 1953 North Carolina Grange Contest - pattern, "Wonder of the World"
4th Place - 1953 National Grange Contest
- State contests sponsored by the National Grange and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation -
Etowah Grange ~ established 1937
1st Place - 1953 North Carolina Grange Contest - pattern, "Wonder of the World"
4th Place - 1953 National Grange Contest
- State contests sponsored by the National Grange and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation -
Etowah Grange ~ established 1937
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1st Place - 1953 North Carolina Grange Contest - pattern, "Wonder of the World"
This photo, taken in front of Hendersonville High School, appeared on the front page of the Western Carolina Tribune on December 24, 1953. Photo by Lucille Stepp Ray. Quilt pattern: "Wonder of the World" - aka, Solomon's Puzzle, Drunkard's Path, Grandmothers Two-Patch. The week before Christmas 1953, several of the women traveled to Raleigh and presented the award winning quilt to Mrs. William B. Umstead, wife of the Governor of North Carolina. (See photo below of presentation) This was the second year in a row that the Etowah Grange had won first place in the state of North Carolina. In 1952 the 1st place Etowah Grange Quilt was presented to the wife of Governor William Kerr Scott. (no photo or pattern information at this time) |
Fully open, the hand-stitched Etowah Grange Quilt measures 7 ft x 8 ft 4 in. Pale, butter yellow and black with calico star flower print. Reverse side is the same yellow.
In Search of . . . the Etowah Grange, Award-Winning Quilt of 1953
When "Etowah Heritage" first began collecting material for the website in 2014, a couple of items that came to light were old newspaper clippings about a special quilt. Curiosity set in and there was hope that one day we would locate the quilt and show it to the community once again.
Hand-crafted by a group of Etowah Grange women, the quilt was entered into the 1953 Grange State and National Contests...and won! For this small farming community in rural, west Henderson County, a First Place Award in North Carolina and a Fourth Place in the nation was simply outstanding. The Etowah women crafted the quilt with patience and love over many months. With each precise stitch and cut of cloth, the quilt of Etowah took shape, imbued with the spirit of a WNC village community.
In December 1953, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported, "A prize-winning quilt, made by members of the Etowah Grange, has been presented to Mrs. William B. Umstead, wife of the North Carolina Governor." [Asheville Citizen-Times, December 20, 1953, see full article below]
In Grange tradition, the state first place quilts were given to the governors' wives, and the national first place quilt in the 1953 contest (won by Pennsylvania) was given to America's First Lady, Mrs. Dwight (Mamie) Eisenhower in January 1954.
After all these years, what happened to the Quilt?
February 2016 - Etowah Heritage member Mary Jones located and called the Governor's daughter, Mrs. Merle Umstead Richey, to inquire about the quilt. Success! Mrs. Richey graciously invited several Etowah Heritage members to her lovely 1920s historic home in Durham NC for a visit to photograph the quilt. The visit took place on March 3, 2016.
Merle U. Richey, who was 10 years old when the quilt was presented to her mother, inherited the Etowah Grange quilt upon Mrs. Umstead's passing in 1988. Mrs. Richey recalled that her mother called the quilt pattern, "Grandma's Two Patch."
The Umstead family and Mrs. Richey have taken wonderful care of the quilt which is in superior condition. The quilt hangs in the charming Durham NC home of Merle and Russ Richey. The journey to find and photograph the quilt for this website was a memorable experience. We cherish these photographs. The 1953 quilt is a living connection to Etowah's history. Thank you, Mrs. Richey. Your kindness to the community of Etowah, North Carolina is greatly appreciated.
When "Etowah Heritage" first began collecting material for the website in 2014, a couple of items that came to light were old newspaper clippings about a special quilt. Curiosity set in and there was hope that one day we would locate the quilt and show it to the community once again.
Hand-crafted by a group of Etowah Grange women, the quilt was entered into the 1953 Grange State and National Contests...and won! For this small farming community in rural, west Henderson County, a First Place Award in North Carolina and a Fourth Place in the nation was simply outstanding. The Etowah women crafted the quilt with patience and love over many months. With each precise stitch and cut of cloth, the quilt of Etowah took shape, imbued with the spirit of a WNC village community.
In December 1953, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported, "A prize-winning quilt, made by members of the Etowah Grange, has been presented to Mrs. William B. Umstead, wife of the North Carolina Governor." [Asheville Citizen-Times, December 20, 1953, see full article below]
In Grange tradition, the state first place quilts were given to the governors' wives, and the national first place quilt in the 1953 contest (won by Pennsylvania) was given to America's First Lady, Mrs. Dwight (Mamie) Eisenhower in January 1954.
After all these years, what happened to the Quilt?
February 2016 - Etowah Heritage member Mary Jones located and called the Governor's daughter, Mrs. Merle Umstead Richey, to inquire about the quilt. Success! Mrs. Richey graciously invited several Etowah Heritage members to her lovely 1920s historic home in Durham NC for a visit to photograph the quilt. The visit took place on March 3, 2016.
Merle U. Richey, who was 10 years old when the quilt was presented to her mother, inherited the Etowah Grange quilt upon Mrs. Umstead's passing in 1988. Mrs. Richey recalled that her mother called the quilt pattern, "Grandma's Two Patch."
The Umstead family and Mrs. Richey have taken wonderful care of the quilt which is in superior condition. The quilt hangs in the charming Durham NC home of Merle and Russ Richey. The journey to find and photograph the quilt for this website was a memorable experience. We cherish these photographs. The 1953 quilt is a living connection to Etowah's history. Thank you, Mrs. Richey. Your kindness to the community of Etowah, North Carolina is greatly appreciated.
Known by many names, Mrs. Merle Umstead called this pattern, "Grandma's Two-Patch." Four inch squares in two opposite fabric combinations are joined to form two different 8" blocks.
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Argyle Wells Gash, 87 years old, recalls making the Quilt
- written March 1, 2016 "[I am] The only living person who worked on the quilt. Others were: Alma Pike, Gladys McKinna, Mamie Saunders, Margaret Bruce, Vera Morgan, Lucy Sitton, Margaret Gash, E.M. Stewart, and Polly Thornton in 1953. We met and worked on the quilt over several months. We were thrilled when we won the first prize of $100. When we finally came off cloud nine and settled down, the Grange began making plans for us to go to Raleigh. We were met at the Governor's Mansion by the gracious Mrs. Umstead, who took us on a tour of the Mansion. We had lunch with the First Lady and presented her with the quilt. We had a safe trip home. We then began planning for the next project." |
Etowah Grange women present Quilt to Mrs. Merle Umstead, wife of Governor William B. Umstead (1895-1954)
"Etowah Grange Presents Quilt"
to Mrs. Merle Umstead, wife of Governor William B. Umstead (2nd from left), December 1953
Based on the photo caption, this article was published in a December 1953 newspaper serving the capital of Raleigh
- to be identified.
Picture Caption: THE EXCITEMENT of having a North Carolina prize-winning quilt to present to Mrs. William B. Umstead here yesterday was just a little more important to these Etowah Grange members than the luncheon the First Lady gave in their honor after the informal ceremony at the Executive Mansion. the Henderson County women above, winners for the second year, are Mrs. Walter Pike with Mrs. Umstead; Mrs. C. G. Thornton, Mrs. F. D. Saunders, Mrs. William Gash, Mrs. W. H. McKinna, left to right.
Transcription of newspaper article:
"Mrs. William B Umstead, wife of the Governor, received the North Carolina State Grange prize-winning quilt yesterday from members of Etowah Grange of Henderson County.
Taking first place in the state for the second year, the Etowah Grange selected as its 1953 quilt pattern "Wonder of the World," often called "Solomon's Puzzle," "Drunkard's Path," or "Grandmother's Two-Patch. It is made in a combination of pale yellow and black.
Mrs. Harry B Caldwell, of Greensboro, wife of the State Grange Master and Mrs. Walter Pike of Hendersonville, State Grange Home Economics Chairman, were at the mansion for the presentation. Other Etowah members in Raleigh for the event were Mrs. W. . McKinna, Henderson County Grange Home Economics chairman; Mrs. C. G. Thornton, Mrs. F. D. Saunders, and Mrs. William Gash.
The State Grange participated in the National Grange Quilt contest, with Etowah Grange placing fourth in the nation
as well as first in the state. The national prize-winner, made by a Pennsylvania group, will be presented to Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower at ceremonies at the White House.
Mrs. Umstead entertained the group at a luncheon following the informal ceremony."
to Mrs. Merle Umstead, wife of Governor William B. Umstead (2nd from left), December 1953
Based on the photo caption, this article was published in a December 1953 newspaper serving the capital of Raleigh
- to be identified.
Picture Caption: THE EXCITEMENT of having a North Carolina prize-winning quilt to present to Mrs. William B. Umstead here yesterday was just a little more important to these Etowah Grange members than the luncheon the First Lady gave in their honor after the informal ceremony at the Executive Mansion. the Henderson County women above, winners for the second year, are Mrs. Walter Pike with Mrs. Umstead; Mrs. C. G. Thornton, Mrs. F. D. Saunders, Mrs. William Gash, Mrs. W. H. McKinna, left to right.
Transcription of newspaper article:
"Mrs. William B Umstead, wife of the Governor, received the North Carolina State Grange prize-winning quilt yesterday from members of Etowah Grange of Henderson County.
Taking first place in the state for the second year, the Etowah Grange selected as its 1953 quilt pattern "Wonder of the World," often called "Solomon's Puzzle," "Drunkard's Path," or "Grandmother's Two-Patch. It is made in a combination of pale yellow and black.
Mrs. Harry B Caldwell, of Greensboro, wife of the State Grange Master and Mrs. Walter Pike of Hendersonville, State Grange Home Economics Chairman, were at the mansion for the presentation. Other Etowah members in Raleigh for the event were Mrs. W. . McKinna, Henderson County Grange Home Economics chairman; Mrs. C. G. Thornton, Mrs. F. D. Saunders, and Mrs. William Gash.
The State Grange participated in the National Grange Quilt contest, with Etowah Grange placing fourth in the nation
as well as first in the state. The national prize-winner, made by a Pennsylvania group, will be presented to Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower at ceremonies at the White House.
Mrs. Umstead entertained the group at a luncheon following the informal ceremony."
L to R, Merle Umstead Richey and Leslie Martino - March 3, 2016, Durham NC
In keeping with the custom of the 1950s era, the Etowah Grange Quilt was a gift to First Lady Merle Davis Umstead in December 1953. Governor William B. Umstead (1895-1954) was elected in the fall of 1952 and took office in January 1953. The 1953 Etowah Grange Quilt resides in Durham NC with Governor and Mrs. Umstead's daughter, Merle Umstead Richey. |
Asheville Citizen-Times, December 20, 1953
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