In the 1940s the Hemlock Grove Ladies Aid began work on a special fundraising quilt that involved the whole community—a signature quilt. In cooperation with the South Sterling Ladies Aid, the women gathered the names of more than 500 friends, neighbors and family members who, for the small contribution of one dime, would have their name embroidered on a block and added to the quilt. We don’t know what the funds were earmarked for but, since it was during World War II, perhaps it was a worthy cause related to the war effort.
The quilt is made up of 30 blocks in a silky light pink cotton. Using a template, a Dresden plate pattern was outlined in chalk on each block. The names were carefully embroidered within the borders of the fan-shaped wedges and center circles and then pieced together with light blue sashing of the same fabric. Blue floss was used for the pink blocks and pink floss for the blue sashing. All of the embroidery was done freehand in tiny running stitches to form an elegant rounded script. It appears to have been done by one, or at most two, needlewomen, who remain anonymous. The layers were assembled—top, batting and backing—and basted together before being hand quilted in a Dresden plate design. The stitches are as evenly spaced on the back as they are on the front.
Each block has 17 signatures, plus a few squeezed in around the edges, for a total of 515 names. Families were often grouped together on the same block, including children and even newborn babies. Far-flung family members and distant cousins were contacted by mail or invited to contribute when visiting the area. A few individuals may have been guests at summer boardinghouses. At the center of the quilt is the name of First Lady Bess Truman, along with the date the quilt was completed, 1946. At ten cents per name, the quilt raised almost $52, a substantial sum at the time, but not when compared to the hours of meticulous handwork required to complete the project.
The women had a special recipient in mind when they began their charity endeavor. As a token of appreciation and friendship, the quilt was presented to Lena Roof, organist at Hemlock Grove ME Church and wife Rev. Harry Roof, who served as pastor at both the South Sterling and Hemlock Grove ME Churches. Lena was a quiltmaker with both Ladies Aids, and she very ably filled in at the pulpit one summer when her husband was ill. She was also an accomplished lace maker and gave every young couple married in the church a set of pillowcases with tatted lace trim as a wedding gift. Although Lena had worked on the Signature Quilt she did not know it was to be a gift and, according to her granddaughter, was very surprised. She treasured her Friendship Quilt and it remains in the family to this day.