Quilt, Art
Quilt, Art
Quilt, Art

Quilt, Art

Object number2018.36.1
Date1949
OriginFairchance, PA
MediumFabric
Credit LineGift of Betsy Van Sickle
DescriptionRectangular white and purple fabric quilt. Front has purple edging, white border, purple inset border, and white central background. Center section has twenty stepped purple diamonds with embroidered black text at center of each; diamond blocks are arranged in five rows of four each; one name per diamond block except for the top two center diamonds which have the sewing group name and date and the church name and location. Reverse is white fabric. Quilting overall front and back. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 86 x 75.75 x 0.125 in. (218.4 x 192.4 x 0.3 cm)
InscriptionsFront has embroidered black text at the center of each diamond block, starting from the top row, viewer's left to right:
First row: "Mrs. Henigin / The Sewing Circle / Dec. 21, 1949 / S.S. Cyril & Methodius / Fairchance, Pa. / Mrs. Russo";
Second row: "Mrs. Pleban / Fr. Andrew, / Asst. / Fr. Hardy, / Pastor / Steve Husar, / Sexton";
Third row: "Mrs. Angel / Mrs. Czekanski / Mrs. Krosni / Mrs. Kaval";
Fourth row: "Mrs. Dragon / Mrs. Kefralko / Mrs. Berardi / Mrs. Knafky "; and
Fifth row: "Mrs. Shamrock / Mrs. Takoch / Mrs. Rally / Mrs. Susa".
Historical NotesA signature quilt made by the congregation of Saints Cyril and Methodius Roman Catholic Church, a Slovak parish in Fairchance, Pennsylvania. The quilt has a date of December 2, 1949, and says “The Sewing Circle”. Donor Betsy Van Sickle's uncle Father Andrew Bjalobok (1918-1988) owned the quilt and it is possibly a parting gift to him from the congregation sewing group; he left in 1950. Bjalobok, a Mckees Rocks native, attended Central Catholic High School and then Saint Vincent College and Seminary before his 1944 ordination. His first post was at Saints Cyril and Methodius in Fairchance where he served as assistant pastor. He moved from there to Saints Mary and Anna Church in Marianna, Pennsylvania in 1950 and then to Saint Peter in the Northside of Pittsburgh in 1956. After that he was at Saint John’s in Monaca, Pennsylvania and Saint Michael in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. In 1962, he became the pastor at Saints Cyril and Methodius in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. It seems that he stayed in this position until his death in 1988 at the age of 71. He was active in social causes and advocated for veterans, the unemployed, and the youth of his community. According to his obituary he was the first Catholic priest to open a session of Congress.
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