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115 Year Old Quilt Returns to Wheat Ridge
On November 2nd 2008, The beautiful Crazy Quilt given to Rev. Robert H. Rhodes by the Ladies Aid Society of the Wheat Ridge Methodist Church as a going away gift.
Rev. Rhodes was born in Indiana, he was very proud of being a close friend of the author of Ben Hur. He moved to Colorado in 1873 ans settled on a small farm in the Wheat Ridge-Arvada Area. On January 11, 1874 he organized a class at Wheat Ridge with 13 members. This small congregation was the beginning of the Wheat Ridge Methodist Church. Besides being an ordained minister, Rev. Rhodes was an expert cabinet maker and helped to build many early churches in Colorado including the school house where Wheat Ridge Methodist Church met for the first ten years.
The Quilt made of beautiful silk, satin, fine cottons, and brocades of many colors, was made by ladies then sew together with the fancy stitches so well known in crazy quilts. Many of the patches are embroidered with the name of the lady who made the patch. Other patches list family names of members of the church. The gold center medallion consisting of a nine pointed
star, has a name embroidered on each point. Though some of the pieces in the quilt have deteriorated over the years. The quilt is in remarkably good condition and is listed by the Quilt Society as an Historic Quilt.
Doris Ibbison a long time member of the church worked closely with the great-great granddaughter of Rev. Rhodes, Darla Thomas, who inherited the quilt from her Aunt several years ago. After much discussion with family members they decided to gift the quilt back to the Church where they felt it would be at home. The church is mounting the quilt in a museum quality case and it will be on display in the commons of the Church.
Member of the family are shown in the attached photo with Doris Ibbison in the Blue Pants Suit. |
