Gravette museum acquires vintage friendship quilt

Photo by Susan Holland Steve Mitchael, chairman of the Gravette Historical Museum commission, poses beside the vintage friendship quilt recently acquired by the museum. The quilt, believed to have been made in the late 1940s, was purchased at the estate sale of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Skaggs in Springdale. It was pieced by Mr. Skaggs’ mother and contains the names of several area residents.
Photo by Susan Holland Steve Mitchael, chairman of the Gravette Historical Museum commission, poses beside the vintage friendship quilt recently acquired by the museum. The quilt, believed to have been made in the late 1940s, was purchased at the estate sale of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Skaggs in Springdale. It was pieced by Mr. Skaggs’ mother and contains the names of several area residents.

GRAVETTE -- The Gravette Historical Museum recently acquired a vintage quilt estimated to have been quilted in the late 1940s. The quilt was a part of the estate auction of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Skaggs. It was pieced by Kenneth's mother.

When Rob Hopkins, an area auctioneer, discovered the quilt among the inventory of items for an upcoming auction in Springdale, he contacted Steve Mitchael, chairman of the Gravette historical museum commission. Knowing Mitchael had been present at some earlier auctions and purchased similar items for the museum, he thought he might want to attend. Since Mitchael was unable to be present at the Skaggs auction, he authorized Hopkins to be the museum commission's agent and bid on the quilt for them. After checking with several area quilt experts, he told Hopkins to bid on behalf of the museum for the item. Hopkins contacted him after the auction and said the museum was the successful bidder. A donor has since offered to pay for the quilt, so it actually didn't cost the museum anything.

The quilt is a friendship quilt with a number of names stitched into it, as well as inscriptions for "6th Grade 1947" and "8th Grade 1946." The blocks are done in shades of pink, red, turquoise and purple with a couple of yellow ones thrown in. Accents of white and white borders set the blocks off well. The quilt is generally in good condition, although there are a couple of badly worn spots.

Mitchael has made a list of the names on the quilt and is asking that descendants of the people on the quilt, other family members or friends and neighbors who might know something about those named on the quilt contact him. He would like to have some genealogies for those named and asks that those who might have knowledge of their family histories call him at 479-795-2094.

Names on the quilt include: Doris McCloud, Jim Covertson, Bobby Wasman, Bonnie Duncan, Belva Dow, Shirley Hoke, Betty Lewis, Leonard Belew, William Fairly, Alice Wilmoth, Wilma Thunbla, Harold Carnahan, Clarence Garman, Billy Payne, Betty Phillips, Nellie Radcliff, Carl Rife, Carolyn Banks, James Payne, Glenda Butler, Evelyn Greene, June Collins, Ray D. Fowler, Patsy Engleman, Donald McKensie, Carol Wagner, Jack Haynes, Agnes Delay, Rebecca Milburn, Marvin Shields, Leo Pinkenton, Kenneth Skaggs, Ona Varner, Ruth Roark, Donald Evans, Polly Douglas, J.B. Duncan, Danny Edwards, Darlene Hilbish, Nadine McCloud, Jim Skaggs, Sue Brown, Billy Hebermeh, Carlene Ring, Alberta Roberts, J.V. Patton, Delmar Porter, Allen Phillips, Alice Cramer, Darrel Adams, June Cornwell and Mrs. Fern McAlister.

Names are listed as they are spelled on the quilt, but it is thought that there are some misspellings of names. Fern McAllister was the teacher, according to Mrs. Skaggs.

Other recent acquisitions at the museum are an old World War II ration book, old advertising cards, wartime signs placed on railroad cars which read "U.S. Army Supplies. Persons attempting to pilfer this car will be shot without warning" and a copy of the Daily Times Herald from Dallas, dated Dec. 8, 1941, with the headline reading "U.S. Declares War on Japs."

The commission is investigating the possibility of moving the old switch house from the Frisco Railroad, which once sat near the depot, back to Gravette. Years ago, when the apple spur was pulled up and the building was no longer needed, it was purchased by an individual and moved to a rural property between Gravette and Sulphur Springs. The commission plans to contact movers and railroad officials who might be interested in restoring the building and assisting in moving it.

General News on 04/13/2016