Karen Hansen will present a signature quilt to members of Crystal Lake Church at the worship service at 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.
he quilt was made in 1914 and has more than 152 signatures from families who lived in the Crystal Lake Corners area. The names represent four generations and 65 different families.
This quilt was completed in 1914, to be auctioned off for the Crystal Lake Church.
Philip Addison Ham placed the winning bid and gave the quilt to his daughter, Marion Darling. She then passed it down to her daughter, Beatrice (Darling) Hansen. She passed it to her daughter, Karen (Hansen) Nelsen.
Karen is gifting the quilt back to the church for display and preservation, to close the circle of heirs and allow the quilt to go back where it started. This represents the first time that quilt has been displayed in public.
The same, though unknown, person embroidered all of the names on the quilt.
Back in the early 1900s it was common among Methodist churches to make signature quilts. People would pay 10 cents to have their names stitched onto this particular quilt.
Many of the names on the quilt are also on the numerous gravestones in the Crystal Lake Cemetery.
The public is invited to view this piece of history at the Aug. 19 service. Crystal Lake Church is located at N697 County Road K. Refreshments will be served following the service.