Quilt, Art
Object number2020.1.1
Date1922
OriginBlairsville, PA
MediumFabric
Credit LineGift of H. Woodruff Turner
DescriptionRectangular light brown patterned fabric and white fabric quilt. Quilt has brown patterned fabric border framing fifty-six (56) quilt squares arranged in eight rows of seven squares each. Patterned brown fabric border surrounding each square. Each quilt square has brown patterned "X" at center surrounded by white blocks forming a square with sawtooth edge; white fields have handwritten names in ink. Reverse is white fabric. Quilting overall front and back.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 80 x 71.375 x 0.125 in. (203.2 x 181.3 x 0.3 cm)InscriptionsFront of quilt's white fields have handwritten names in ink; see 2020.1 object file for list of names.
Historical NotesThis signature quilt from the First Presbyterian Church of Blairsville, Pennsylvania was made for their centennial celebration in 1922. Donor H. Woodruff Turner's great grandparents James Turner and Nancy L. Turner came to Blairsville in the 1830s/1840s and were merchants and farmers in the canal community. The donor's paternal grandparents William and Auguste Turner and aunt Margaret Turner took part in the centennial celebration. The donor also attended the church as a boy. The First Presbyterian Church was officially organized on September 11, 1822, by the Reverend Francis Herron of Pittsburgh. It was located 1.5 miles northeast of Blairsville and was called the West Union Church. On October 11, 1822, this newly organized church, in connection with Salem church, presented a call to Redstone Presbyters for the pastoral services of Mr. Thomas Davis. On November 13, 1822, he was ordained and installed as minister over the two congregations. As Blairsville grew, Rev. Davis became aware of the need for a worship service in Blairsville where he began conducting an evening service on the Sundays he preached at West Union in the morning. In 1828, steps were taken to build a Presbyterian Meeting House in Blairsville and Rev. Davis purchased the West Union building and moved it to Blairsville. It was replaced by a brick edifice in 1831, and the following year, at the request of the congregation, the name was changed to the First Presbyterian Church of Blairsville. When his health began to fail, Rev. Davis secured the help of a young seminarian, George Hill. In 1840, Mr. Hill was called as co‐pastor with Rev. Davis. He was ordained and installed as co‐pastor on December 14, 1841. In 1848, following the death of Rev. Davis, Rev. Hill resigned the charge of Salem Church to give full‐time service the Blairsville Church. In 1850, The Rev. Dr. Hill established the Female Seminary which was then chartered as the Blairsville College for Women in 1893. He established the Women’s Missionary Society in 1847, and in 1880 he began the task of building a new church, which was dedicated in 1882.
Related institution
First Presbyterian Church
Related person
James Turner
Related person
Nancy L. Turner
Related person
William Turner
Related person
Auguste Turner
Related person
Margaret Turner
Related person
H. Woodruff Turner
Terms
On View
Not on view
1949
c. 1875
Amy DeLancey Selders