The National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier is hosting a “Southeast Idaho Folk Arts Showcase” featuring quilts of historical significance from the counties of the eastern corner of the state.  According to the curator, “These quilts tell the history of Southeast Idaho.  Some of them were made to commemorate people and friendships.  Others were made out of necessity; they were made to be used.  All of them tell a story about their creators and what they valued.”

In addition to displays of carefully collected and curated quilts from Idaho’s southeast counties as well as northern Utah, the exhibit features a quilting room where the quilting process is explained and demonstrated, as well as a number of explanatory materials and hands-on activities.  The exhibit is scheduled to run through October 15, with fall hours in place as of September, which means Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment only during the winter.

One quilt featured was on loan from the Oneida County Pioneer Museum in Malad. The quilt, labeled “The Rebekah’s Quilt” contains some of the story of the history of fraternal organizations in southeast Idaho communities.  The Rebekahs are an auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a non-political, non-sectarian fraternal order with lodges around the world. In Malad, according to the museum, the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs shared a lodge and held dances and other social events for the community.  The quilt blocks were made by the Rebekahs members in 1937 and given to the Oneida Quilters Guild to put together; the quilt was eventually donated to the museum in 2002.  Each member embroidered their name on the squares to memorialize their friendship.   

Brenda Daniels, who was born and raised in Malad, has spent many of her days farming and ranching in the valley.  When she retired, she started quilting and is currently the president of the Oneida Quilt Guild.  Her “Iron Door” quilt represents the legend of the Iron Door.  Brenda drew the pattern, enlarged it, and appliqued the different fabrics.  She then found a picture of mountain similar to the Samaria mountains for the pattern on the upper and lower borders of the quilt.  After the exhibit, the quilt will be raffled off to support efforts to restore the roof of the Iron Door Playhouse.

The “Welsh Heritage Quilt” is also on display, commemorating the Welsh settlers of Malad, who brought their country’s traditions with them.  The eisteddfod, which had been an extremely well-attended event in the early part of the twentieth century, was curtailed at the outbreak of World War I, and not resumed again until 2004.  The quilt represents many aspects of Welsh culture and Malad’s history.  The quilt was donated by the United Quilters local club to be auctioned off at the resumption of the Welsh Festival.  Many of the community members wanted the quilt to stay in Malad, rather than be purchased by someone outside the area, and a fund was raised to obtain the quilt and keep it as a permanent display item of the Malad Valley Welsh Festival.  The quilt includes the colors of the Welsh flag, the Welsh Dragon, Bara Claddue, Saint David’s flag, daffodil, sheep, and many other symbols of Wales.

A quilt made by Bonnie Howard’s grandmother, great aunt, and great grandmother in the 1930s is also on display.  They lived in the Jerome and Buhl areas of Idaho as farmers.  The top is hand stitched and is made from the women’s clothing as well as pattered flour sacks.  The daughter of Bonnie’s great aunt found the quilt top and sent it to Bonnie who had it machine quilted to better preserve it. 

There are many other quilts of local interest to find in the exhibit, as well as some surprises.  The Center is a beautiful facility in the heart of Montpelier, and makes for a great day trip for those interested in local history, handcrafts, and especially quilts!  Admission is free.