Civil War Reproduction Quilt Contest Deadline June 22 - Quilts to be displayed at Orange Town Hall Auditorium

The Quilting Room, Morris-Jumel Mansion,  NYC - LOC

Civil War Reproduction Quilt Contest Deadline June 22

Quilts to be displayed at Orange Town Hall Auditorium

“During the Civil War, women on both sides of the conflict formed Soldier’s Aide Societies to raise funds and provide items of clothing and bedding for war weary men.  One of the most popular items was the Civil War quilt that would be auctioned off at Fairs and Craft bazaars or sewn as bedding for military cots,” according to Genevieve Fraser, coordinator of the Quabbin Civil War Day of Remembrance scheduled for July 4^th in Orange, MA

To honor the memory of the brave men and women of the Civil War era, individual quilters and quilting groups are invited to participate in the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War by submitting quilts up to 60 inches by 60 inches as part of the Quabbin Civil War Day of Remembrance,” Fraser said.  “The quilts will be put on display, hung from the balcony of the Ruth B. Smith Auditorium in the Orange Town Hall, and will remain on display during the production of “Lincoln: The Musical” by Dr. Michael Riccards on the weekends following the July 4th Civil War commemoration.”  The dates of the performance are Saturday, July 7 at 7:00 pm, Sunday, July 8 at 2:00 pm and the following weekend Saturday, July 14 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, July 15 at 2:00 pm.  The production is free of charge and open to the public with a handicapped accessible side-entrance elevator.

Orange Town Hall Auditorium

The Civil War Quilt Contest is sponsored by the Drama Circle, the performing arts division of the non-profit Art for Life, which is also sponsoring “Lincoln: The Musical.” Awards will be presented to the quilters at a reception following the Sunday, July 15^th matinee performance of the play, with trophies and plaques donated by Ames Trophy and Screen Printing in Orange.  The deadline for quilt entries is June 22.   All quilts are to be dropped off at North Quabbin Woods, 1 East Main Street, Orange, MA

According to Kirby Lecy, project coordinator of North Quabbin Woods, and Nancy Blackmer, co-chairs of the contest, the quilts will be judged in two broad categories: hand made and machine made quilts.  Additional categories will include individual quilters and those made by groups.  All patterns must be representations from the Civil War era. The Civil War Quilt Contest is open to quilters throughout the region, state and nation.  

All entries in the Civil War Quilt Contest must adhere to the following rules. Quilts with a signed registration form must be dropped off at location listed below by June 22^nd.

Rules

1.     Quilts may be made by either an individual or by a group of quilters. Manufactured quilts will not be accepted.

2.     Quilts must use patterns and blocks must be representations from the civil war era. Examples of these can be found online http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

3.     Quilts size - must be a minimum of 18” x 18” and a maximum size of 60” x 60”.

4.     All quilt fabrics must not be more than 50% synthetic fiber, including backing. Pre-Printed Quilt cloth [cheater cloth] may not be used.

5.     Quilts may be MACHINE or HAND sewn. Quilting is defined as a running stitch that passes through top, batting, and backing. Tied quilts are not eligible for the contest. Machine and Hand quilts will be judged in two separate categories.

6.     All entries must have a sleeve or tabs attached to the top of the quilt for easy display. Any quilt received without these will be automatically disqualified.

7.     A label must be sewn on the back of the quilt. Label must include the name of the quilt and the quilt owner’s name.

8.     All Quilts submitted must be enclosed in a sturdy, large, clear appropriately sized blanket bag with a working zipper.

9.     All Quilts must be submitted by June 22nd. To North Quabbin Woods , 1 East Main Street Orange, MA for submission in the display.

DISPLAY & JUDGING

1.     All entries will be on display from June 30th  to  July 15^th at the  Orange Town Hall .

2.     Quilts will be judged on workmanship, design, and suitability/color in both machine and hand quilted categories. This will be done before the quilts are hung

3.     A “viewer’s choice” will also be chosen by the general public who comes to see the display of quilts.

4.     Quilts must be picked up on July 15^th, a small reception will be held after the final performance of Lincoln the Musical for all quilters. If you are unable to do this other arrangements must be made in advance. 

Other activities planned for the July 4th Remembrance will take place at the 70 acres Orange Gun Club, the oldest charted gun club in Massachusetts, located at 357 West River Street and the Orange Historical Society, 41 North Main Street in Orange.  Stating at 9:30 am, the Orange Gun Club will sponsor a Black Powder Shoot, to be followed by a presentation and discussion on antique fire arms with Environmental Police Officer Terry Whitney who will be joined by members of the 15^th Massachusetts Infantry Civil War re-enactor group. At 12:30 pm the gun club will host a Civil War chicken bar-b-que and game stew lunch. 

The Civil War Remembrances will start at 2:00 pm at the Orange Town Hall with musicians performing songs of the Civil War era, an appearance by Abe Lincoln (Chuck Berube), and Lucius Spooner (Larry Buell) of Petersham, a reading of Mark Twain’s “The Campaign that Failed,” with Tim Waite, plus stories, group discussions and readings from Civil War era diaries and letters from cities and towns throughout the region.  And two doors up from the Town Hall, starting at 2:00 pm, the Orange Historical Society will host a Tea, to be followed by a light supper and “Tin Type Show and Tell,” from 4:30 – 8:00 pm. Both the Orange Gun Club and Orange Town Hall sites will also feature a “Living Heritage Farmer and Artisan Market.”

Organizations, businesses or individuals wishing to help sponsor the play or other 150th Anniversary Civil War commemorative activities should make tax deductible donations to "CF Pals - Drama Circle," 1 South Main Street, Orange, MA 01364.  In-kind donations are also gratefully accepted. “Lincoln: The Musical” is funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts  Cultural Council.

The next Quabbin Civil War Day of Remembrance steering committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12 at 7:00 pm at the Prescott Church Museum at the Swift River Valley Historical Society in North New Salem, Massachusetts.  All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be served. For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser, the Civil War activities coordinator and director of “Lincoln: The Musical” at Telephone (978) 544-1872, Email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com, or visit http://quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com/