Quilts that were made and used in everyday life often told stories of family history records, messages in earlier times and community history. These were usually made from scraps of cloth or old rags and clothes no longer usable, which told a history in itself.

Our quilts displayed here on the wall in the ‘Quilt Room’ were made by early generations of Powder Springs and passed down to the next generation.

There is a ‘string quilt’ which still has the paper on the back; an Old Crazy Quilt made with silk and velvet dated as made in 1853 by Mrs. Kittie Florence; a Domino Sugar Sack used to make a quilt dated as made in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s; another crazy quilt made in mid to late 1900’s by Sara Frances Miller and a quilt made from feed sacks with the name of Butner Bros Powder Springs in late 1800’s.

The Tapestry over the mantle is a vintage antique Belgium French Tapestry which belonged to Mrs. Bodie Scott Lindley. Her brother served in World War II in Belgium and brought this home at the end of the war.

There are several quilt tops that were started but not finished or made into quilts. One is still in the hoop used to sew the pieces together.

The handmade quilt on the footboard of the bed in the Quilt Room is from the 1800’s. Note the silk ribbon sown into the quilt from a Confederate Veterans Reunion, August 5, 1886 in Forsyth GA for J. F. Dunwoody, Quitman Guards, Co K, 1 st Reg, GA Vol. The quilt belonged to Elizabeth McDow Dunwoody and is on loan from Denson and Elsie McDow.

The Lois Bookout Lindley Estate donated a quilt made by Bob (Robert) Lindley’s mother, Elizabeth Strickland Lindley, made sometime in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. She was Lois’ mother-in-law. The quilt and other items from Lois’ Estate were donated by her great niece, Brenda Drake Kiser and are on display throughout the museum.

The last handmade quilt made by Estie Norris (1915-2014) was donated by Connie D. Williams in 2018. This quilt was raffled off in 2014. Connie won the quilt and felt she was ‘honored’ to have done so. The pattern is called the “Drunkard Path Quilt”.

Miss Estie was a long time member of the Seven Springs Historical Society and the Powder Springs Senior Citizen Center. She was known as the “Quilt Lady” for all the quilts she made and helped make during her lifetime. She made and donated over 20 quilts to the museum to be raffled off in December each year as a fund raiser. She was a hard worker, well respected and loved by many people. We honor her with a display on the mantle in the Quilt Room.

On display downstairs is a quilt made and handstitched by Inez Hendrick Jennings and Kate Henrick. The ‘Turtle Quilt’ was actually made from thread from the Coats and Clark Thread Mill in Clarkdale and donated by Linda Hendrick Brantley.

The other quilts displayed around the museum were donated from the Connie Vann Estate and included several handmade quilts and afghans.
– A full size handmade quilt, early 1900’s, with cloth in colors of orange, blue, red with blue puffs of yarn and a green yarn boarder on sections of cloth with a backing made from scrapes of material left or saved from other clothing, etc. Handmade quilt with circle made up of small octagon shaped material and larger circles with small ones inside them in various colors from blues to tans. Quilt made from kerchiefs (bandanas) on orange backing material.
– Several small lap afghan throws in pastels colors, full size multi colored with yellow scalloped borders and full size multi colored crocheted In star patterns with multi colors of fringe or yarn.

There is a quilted comforter on the bed upstairs that was hand made and donated by Chaniva Smith Fortson (1920-2005), who was 67 and a resident since 1962. She made the quilt in 1987 and 1988. Ms. Fortson hand stitched, embordered, the local landmarks of Powder Springs.

You may notice quilts painted on various buildings around town. This is part of the Southern Quilt Trail. These signs were sponsored by the City of Powder Springs and the Seven Springs Museum, painted and installed in late 2007 and early 2008. Most of these quilts and patterns are now referred to as “Traditional Folk Art Patterns and Quilts”.

The Southern Quilt Trail originated in Powder Springs. Powder Springs is considered the home of the Southern Quilt Trail. The Trail has since expanded into other parts of Cobb County, into surrounding cities and counties and around the state. For more information on the Southern Quilt Trail see the article on the museums website at www.sevenspringsmuseum.org.

There are several quilt books and notebooks on file in the Research Room at the museum. One is a notebook compiled of quilt patterns collected by the Women’s Club of Powder Springs. Others are ‘America’s Glorious Quilts’ and ‘Treasury of American Quilts’.

Stop by and visit the museum soon to see these wonderful quilts and the heritage they represent.