Special Exhibit of Coolidge Textiles
by Patricia Cummings
photos by James Cummings
Here is your chance to see rare photos of an exhibit of textile artifacts related to President Calvin Coolidge and his family.
“Coolidge Country Quilts, Coverlets, and Sundry Cloth: The Homespun
Treasures of Plymouth Notch” is the name of a very special exhibit of
antique textiles that was on display for a short time, at
the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch,
Vermont. This Plymouth hamlet was the home of our thirtieth United States president, Calvin Coolidge, who served from 1923 to 1929. The exhibit of rarely seen textile treasures ended on
October 17, 2004.
The exhibition had never been seen by the public before, and when the exhibit ended, the items were packed away again, indefinitely. Not a huge collection, every single item is of historic significance, and is an example of the productive and intertwined lives of the people who lived in that small community during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
These quality needlework items were made to serve a useful purpose, in an era when frugality and self-reliance were the norm. In spite of having visited this place in the past, my heart beat a little faster as we drove up to the hillside hamlet, fields in sight, dotted with newly gathered large, round, bales of hay, prepared in old time style.
Upon entering the Visitor Center, one sees three items enclosed within a glass case. Taking center stage in the hall entry case is a gray silk taffeta wedding dress made in 1868 by Victoria Josephine Moor for her marriage to John Coolidge, Calvin’s father. The dress features hand sewn bead embellishments and hand sewn silk buttons and is a glimpse into the past when white wedding gowns were not the norm.
Pineapple Log Cabin Signature Quilt in Red and White
Graphic Signature Quilt
To the left of the dress is a Pineapple Log Cabin signature quilt made as a church fundraiser by town residents. The four hundred two signatures appear to have been written in cursive handwriting by one person, as was often the case in these kinds of quilts. This particular red and white quilt reflects common color choices of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century when Redwork Embroidery, and red and white, and blue and white quilts were so popular.
A little notebook which is displayed in a glass case lists the amount of money each person whose name appears on the quilt was required to give. William Jenney, site administrator, told us that the size of the space to which one’s name was added accounted for the variable amounts paid. On the page in view, the price ranged from ten cents to $5.00.
Star Quilt made by Victoria Coolidge, Calvin's mother
On the other side of the wedding dress, is an Eight Point Star quilt with brown star blocks and alternate white blocks which feature sunflowers, hearts, maple leaves, and vines in quilting stitches. The quilt is called “Victoria’s Quilt," measures 80” x 74.5, and for display purposes, is draped over a rack. Stitch quality is fifteen stitches per inch. This quilt was made by Calvin’s mother.
Cheerful Butterflies on Midge's Coverlet
Please click on the thumbnail photo to see a larger image.
The whole exhibit is housed within two rooms in the interior of the stone building which has a gift shop and ever changing displays. Upon walking into the first room, one sees “Midge’s Quilt,” named for quiltmaker Ruth "Midge" Aldrich, the daughter of Plymouth’s first cheese maker. The quilt is actually a two layer, tied, summer coverlet. The ninety-nine green, orange, pastel pink, blue, and black butterflies on a muslin background, in cotton prints typical of the late 1920s/1930s, are appliquéd on with black thread and buttonhole stitch. The details such as eyes and antennae are embroidered. The seams have been decorated with black featherstitch.
"Delectable Mountains" quilt
A quilt on the opposite side of the room, “Delectable Mountains,” was made by Midge’s mother. The quilt looks lovely hanging directly behind the piano. This yellow calico quilt has a white background and is quilted in diamond shapes. Notably the quilt was never used, never washed, and (the borders) never finished. The quilting lines, marked with a blue marker (chalk?), are still visible to the eye.
To the left of that quilt is a thirty block, multi-generational, Friendship Quilt started by Minnie Pinney in 1892 and finished in August 1979 by a granddaughter. Colors of the quilt include the typical indigo, red, and brown fabrics of the late nineteenth century, and some twentieth century fabrics. The muslin block centers include the signatures of members of prominent town families with surnames of Cilley, Aldrich, Blanchard, Moore, and Pinney. Included is John Coolidge, son of the president who had signed his name to a block in April 1965. (John passed away in the year 2000, at the age of 93).
Mittens
The display of “homespun treasures from the permanent collection” include two pairs of mittens and one pair of socks made for Calvin and his sister, Abbie. These were worked on the tiniest of knitting needles. The maker of these items is thought to be either Victoria Coolidge or Sarah Brewer Coolidge, (circa 1875).
Silk Patchwork (English Paper Pieced) by Abbie Coolidge, Calvin's sister
Abbie Coolidge's Needlework
In the same case is a piece of patchwork comprised of diamond shapes that appear to be silk, put together using the English method of piecing over paper templates. Abbie Coolidge may have started this project in 1890, but died at the age of fourteen, before it could be completed.
The Work of Other Family Members
A piece of wool cloth that is said to feel more like silk, was finely wrought by Sarah Brewer Coolidge (mid to late nineteenth century). This may have been used as a tablecloth.
A very special overshot woven coverlet, in red, beige, and blue, was woven by Amanda Melvina Coolidge, (1830-1922),who was the first cousin of Calvin’s grandfather. Overshot weaving is more simple than other types of weaving and can be done on a home loom.
Historic Room
The second exhibition room contains some interesting small objects including one that has been donated recently to the collection. In 1921, a visitor to the Coolidge Homestead purchased a (round) hooked chair pad that was made in 1929 by Aurora Pierce, the Coolidge’s long time housekeeper. At the time of the visit, the Plymouth Notch seller had told the visitor that this item was made in the same room in which Calvin Coolidge’s father, a notary public, had administered the oath of office of the presidency to him. His father had been alerted in the middle of the night that President Warren Harding had died unexpectedly.
Grace Coolidge Enjoyed Crochet and More!
The needlework talents of our former first lady, Grace Coolidge, can be seen in the delicate filet crochet patriotic square that she may have created as a prototype before working on a large bedcovering that is still displayed in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House.
Wishing to begin a tradition of leaving a memento in the White House which would serve as a “definite and visible link connecting past to present,” Grace had designed the bedcovering. At the time the coverlet was made, The New York Herald Tribune ran a photo of Grace on its cover with a banner headline: “A Coverlet for the Ages” by Mrs. Calvin Coolidge.
This square on display in the current exhibit features a Liberty Bell in the center. The borders surrounding this include the dates 1776-1926 at the bottom, the word “President” on the left side, "Liberty Bell" at the top, and “C. Coolidge” on the right side.
One of Grace's acquaintances made a copy of the entire coverlet for Grace to keep as a memento. That, too, is in the permanent collection of Coolidge-related textiles, but not included in this exhibit.
Grace loved to sew and to do needlepoint embroidery and she made a beautiful floral motif insert for a wooden stool that is also in the collection.
Wonderful Opportunity to See These Historic Artifacts
The focus of this article has been the wonderful textiles at the President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site. The exhibit itself will return to permanent storage in October, and will not see the light of day for a very long time. This appears to have been a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them, up close and personal. Of course, there are notable textiles and items in the exhibit that have had to go unmentioned, due to lack of space, but also because it seemed important to save some things for you to discover on your own.
Gift Shop Has Lots of Goodies
The gift shop has books, postcards, jewelry, a few quilts, and other items of interest. The Old Country Store that had been started by Calvin’s father sells souvenir type items, candy, cold drinks, and postcards and is very fun to browse in. On the hot day we visited, we could not resist buying some bottles of Moxie and some delicious chocolates. We lingered for a few moments on the front porch of the store, sitting on the woven seat rocking chairs.
From there, we could view a newly built barn. The Wilder Horse Barn had fallen down due to disrepair before the State of Vermont acquired and began preserving the home town of Calvin Coolidge. Currently, the barn houses some very old, horse-drawn carriages. To the left of the porch is a restaurant, and to the right is the former “Tea Room” where folks would gather (which is now the Site’s administrative office). Down the hill is the Visitor Center.
The road from the store tilts upward. The Coolidge Homestead, just beyond
the restaurant, is the same building in which Calvin grew up. The interior
décor has been maintained all these years. The joy of this building is being
able to see
Calvin’s “Tumbling Blocks” quilt top that he made when he was ten.
The quilt has been displayed there since 1882. Another bedroom has a similar
quilt in the same pattern and colors made by his sister, Abbie. Their mother
is reported to have instructed them in patchwork as she lay dying. By the
time Calvin was twelve, his mother was no longer here.
A wood bin still exists in the center of the house. Calvin would get up at 4 a.m. every morning to make sure the stoves were stoked. The laundry room with its makeshift ironing surface and “sad” irons nearby, remind us of a time when all family members were required to work hard, and to make do.
The Greek Revival church across the street is an aesthetic experience unto itself with its gorgeous, totally wood, oak interior. We were invited to sit in the same pew in which the president’s family had sat every Sunday. We watched a fifteen minute video which described Calvin’s life, his experiences in a one-room schoolhouse, and his academic excellence which led him to become a practicing Attorney-At-Law, and ultimately, culminated with his serving in public office.
Room Where the Future President, Calvin Coolidge, Was Born
There is much more that could be said about the Coolidge family and the buildings that make up this little village that they called home. Books about their lives are available in the gift shop.
On September 17 and 18, 2004, members of the group, Fiber Arts Vermont, based in Ludlow and Chester, Vermont, invited the public to join them in hand quilting a reproduction of Calvin’s quilt (top). He never finished his work into an actual quilt, although it does grace the surface of a bed in the Homestead. That reproduction quilt was raffled on July 4, 2005, on the 133rd anniversary of the birth of President Coolidge. All proceeds were turned over to the historic site for the care and maintenance of their textile collection.
This is the result of an effort to reproduce a quilt top originally made by Calvin Coolidge. This is the creation of the Fiber Arts group of Vermont, as noted above.
Vermont Worth the Trip!
Vermont, as a travel destination, is well worth the trip. Along the route to the Coolidge site, you will pass through Quechee, Vermont, with its large complex for antiques vending, and there are numerous other antiques dealers along the way, so be prepared!
Of course, not far from Plymouth Notch is the Vermont Country Store in Weston ("just down the road a piece,” as those of us who are Yankees might say). Whatever you do, enjoy the Green Hills of Vermont. Like us, you will want to return again soon to this special little hamlet that time forgot, nestled in the green hills of Vermont.
Thank You!
Many thanks to the staff of the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site for their warm welcome and hospitality. A special thank you to Bill Jenney for granting us permission to take photos and for providing information about the exhibit. Thank you also to John Wheeler for his friendly welcome and information and thanks to all of the other museum staff, who made our visit very special.
Copyright 2004-2007, Patricia L. Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. All rights reserved.
The book, Redwork Embroidery and Needlework Traditions in Europe and America (Concord, NH: Quilter's Muse Publications, 2006) contains information about a Redwork splasher that is located in the collection of the President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site.
Comments? Questions? Contact: pat@quiltersmuse.com