Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free
mphasis on preserving the history of Pell City and that of its families and community. One of its most recent exhibits perfectly blended that history with the art of quilting. The museum, on the second floor of the Municipal Complex, typically contains its exhibits to the interior of the museum, but recently has been expanding outside its doors to showcase the work of the area’s talented citizens.
“Hosting exhibits like the quilt show allows us to celebrate the incredible talent in our own community,” said Museum Coordinator Erica Grieve. “It reminds us that art isn’t just found in galleries far away. It’s being created right here at home.”
The quilt exhibit ran from late October through November and featured roughly 40 quilts created by members of the Friendship Quilters Guild of St Clair County. The opening featured a presentation by historian Joe Whitten, a quilt collector himself, who shared stories about the history of quilts and shared some of his quilts. There were also demonstrations showing the making of a quilt from start to finish.
Part of the history of quilting included the quilting bee, a social gathering of ladies whose focus was on finishing a quilt together. Such was the case in the making of Janet’s Double Wedding Ring quilt on display by her daughter Janet Jones.
A group at Pell City United Methodist Church got together to complete the quilt for a silent auction. When the silent auction did not meet the minimum bid to cover expenses, the ladies voted to give it to Janet’s mother, Janet Weldon.
Weldon had reportedly done much of the hand-stitching, including the stitching around each of the intertwined rings. Her daughter said quilting was so important to Weldon that when her mom passed, they elected to drape her casket in the Double Wedding Ring quilt, rather than having a funeral spray. “Because it was cold, we also took some of her other quilts to the graveside to cover our legs,” said Jones. “She would have liked that.”
Ken Kilgroe came to the exhibit to honor his now-deceased grandmother, Roxie Moore. One of her quilts, made more than 60 years ago, was on display. Moore, an Eden native, reportedly hosted quilting bees often in the 1950s.
The Museum of Pell City’s next special exhibit opens Dec. 4 and features the beautiful woodcarvings of local artisan Eric Knepper. A reception will be held on Dec. 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The museum is open to view other compelling pieces of the history of Pell City, St. Clair County and Alabama Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
