MIDDLETOWN SPRINGS — The Middletown Springs Historical Society has opened its doors for the summer with a new exhibition highlighting the artistry and heritage of local quilting traditions. Titled “Patterns and Provenance: Quilts of Middletown Springs, 1840–1920,” the display features 20 heirloom quilts representing 15 historic patterns, all passed down through six longtime Middletown Springs families.
The exhibit is located in the ground-level gallery of the Historical Society and will be open to the public every Sunday from 2–4 p.m. through Oct. 12. Private appointments are also available through Dec. 21 by contacting the society directly.
The quilts on view showcase both utility and creativity—many were hand-pieced and hand-quilted, reflecting a blend of resourcefulness and design sensibility. While some quilters worked with leftover scraps from home sewing projects, others used store-bought fabric, which became increasingly accessible by mail order during the mid-19th century, even in rural communities. Period publications such as Godey’s “Lady’s Book” played a role in popularizing quilt patterns across the country, contributing to the diversity of designs featured in the collection.
Two standout quilts in the exhibit are attracting special attention. One is Juliet Barrett Gray’s “Sunshine and Shadows Log Cabin” quilt, made with silk, satin, taffeta, and velvet—luxurious materials that include remnants of her 1860 blue and red plaid silk wedding dress. That same dress, later altered for her daughter in the 1880s, is also on display. Another highlight is an 1883 Double Four Patch quilt top created by Katherine B. Goff, meticulously constructed from 10,200 small cotton squares in a patriotic red, white, and blue palette.
Curator Mary Lou Willits welcomes quilting guilds and community groups for special guided tours by appointment.
For more information, visit: mshsvt.org.
