08/31/2026
QUILTS QUILTS QUILTS – At the Arts & Antiques Festival, Saturday, September 12th, the historical society has two 1976 quilts on display at the Gibby House Museum (331 W. Main St. from 10am to 1pm) and the 250th Anniversary Quilt which you can sign, will be at the Old Fire Hall (15 Liberty Street from noon to 4pm).
At the Gibby House, one of the 1976 quilts was designed as a signature, or autograph, quilt and was made by Rebekah Lodge #275 and Eastern Star Chapter #337. It is a pale blue quilt with a Liberty Bell applique in the center. Community members signed their names – and often their addresses – on the quilt. It is a record of that period.
The other quilt made for the bicentennial depicts Arcade’s heritage and was designed and sewn by seventeen women. The project was headed by Bonnie Slocum of North Java, and later by Linda Wood of Arcade. Mary Hamm hosted meetings at her business, Wind Song Studio. Each person chose what they wanted to put in their square.
The squares, and their creators:
Top Row L to R:
First Congregational Church by Bonnie Slocum.
B&S Railroad Station (Park Street) by Linda Wood.
83 Park Street by Loretta Payne. Home of an early village history buff, D. Grant Hodge.
SS. Peter & Paul Church by Donna Ellis.
2nd Row L to R:
Wienk’s Barn (off North Street) by Sharon Nichols.
Emblem by Gert Hamm.
Dairy Farm by Sheila Zawadski.
3rd (middle) Row L to R:
Arcade Woolen Mill and Sanford Avenue Bridge by Jayne Ritter.
U.S. Post Office by Ruth Heinz.
The Elm by Shirley Yansick. A former landmark at Main & Church Street, cut down in 1970.
Arcade Free Library by Mary Hamm Wertz.
4th Row L to R:
A&A Railroad Station by Pat Edwards.
Bicentennial Emblem by Gert Hamm.
A&A Railroad Train Engine No. 14 by June Dennison.
Bottom Row L to R:
First Baptist Church by Helen Slocum.
93 Park Street by Paula Schreier (her home).
Arcade Village Park by Kathy Mason.
United Methodist Church by Jacki Laird.
This year, a signature quilt for the Nation’s 250th anniversary has been designed, sewn and donated to the society by local quilt authority, Sandy Pirdy. It is at the Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street and you can come sign your “John Hancock” and become a part of history! Come sign it during the Arts & Antiques Festival on September 12th while you are at our BASKET RAFFLE fundraiser or during the society hours at the Old Fire Hall - Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-6pm through the end of this year.
