After the initial setup of the exhibit, more quilts were added from the Warren County Historical Society’s textile collection. The Lacy School quilt was generously donated by Olivia E. Sechriest. It was made in 1989 which is the last year the school was open. The quilt is autographed by the librarian, principal, and custodian, as well as many of the students and teachers who embroidered their names as a remembrance.

“The Lacy School quilt is a very special addition to the textile collection,” said Michelle Gray, Warren County Historical Society managing director. “We are also displaying the Historical Society’s Yankee Bush quilts per the request of guild member Sue Keister. The Yankee Bush quilts collectively have the names and addresses of 55 residents, circa 1909.

Ellen Paquette recently donated several family items, and among the artifacts were two quilts that are now on display. The quilts were made by Ella J. Owen(s) Siggins, gifted to her granddaughter, Margaret Elizabeth Gibson Putnam, and then gifted to her granddaughter, Ellen Putnam Paquette. Both quilts are pre-1900, beautiful examples of the ‘Touching Star’ and ‘Courthouse Steps’ patterns, and documented in the 1996 Northwest Pennsylvania Quilt Documentation Project, locally advocated by Ellen’s mother, Mary Dalrymple Putnam.”

Located next to the Warren County Courthouse in Warren, the Historical Society is full of antique treasures, paintings, and information on the people and places of the county in its formative years.

Pictured is the large group of quilters from the local guild that attended the opening ceremony of the exhibit.

The “Celebrating America with Patriotic Quilts” includes more than 100 quilts and will be on display at the Warren County Historical Society, 210 Fourth Ave., Warren, through March 27. Hours are from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit warrenhistory.org.

Pictured is the Ellen Paquette quilts, created pre-1900 by her great-great-grandmother

The Yankee Bush autograph quilt, created circa 1909.

The Lacy School autograph quilt, created in 1989.