Antique Quilt Finds
A Home At Pittsfield Historical Society
Cedric Dustin and Diane Mather holding
a quilt made by or for the
Congregational Church in 1883.
Mrs. Teresa Smith recently donated a
quilt to the Pittsfield Historical Society made in 1883
by or for the Congregational Church. Diane Mather
arranged to have it presented to President Cedric Dustin
on Old Home Day. Each piece of the quilt has a name or
names on it, most of which are highly recognizable by
the Society's historian as community leaders of the
time. Sometime after it was made, it came into the
possession of Anna (Berry) Smith. It was passed through
several generations and finally to Lawrence Charles
"Chuck" Smith. It was his wife Teresa who donated the
quilt to the Society.
Many believe that it was made as part
of the church's bicentennial celebration, which makes
sense since the building of the church was begun about
1783. However, according to church records, in 1879 it
celebrated its 90th Anniversary, making 1889 its 100th
anniversary.
In 1883 the church was raising money
for a new parsonage. It seems likely that the quilt was
part of this effort. |