Prescott House Museum Showcases 116 Quilts

A feast for the eye in colour and design -- 116 quilts are on display at Prescott House Museum until July 12.

Prescott House Museum is part of the Nova Scotia Museum family and both a provincial and national historic site. It is a fitting environment to display quilts, all made or owned by Nova Scotia families. The province is world renowned for its hand-made quilts.

Making quilts, once part of a daily routine, is now considered a traditional craft. Most quilts on display belong to families within a five mile radius of the museum. The patterns and fabrics provide insight into family and community history.

"The exhibit presents an evolution of quilts, from the 1800s to contemporary examples and everything in between," said Ken Clark, chief interpreter of Prescott House Museum. "Some quilts are original patterns, others traditional and a few are examples of traditional patterns with local variations, but all provide a glimpse into the lives of the quilters."

Some of Prescott House Museum's 13 rooms contain exhibits with themes, such as the Belcher Street quilts, which feature a pattern originated in Port Williams in 1922. This local pattern is still quilted for Belcher Street brides today.

The variety of quilts on display includes applique, cross-stich and crazy quilts made of elegant fabrics in random shapes, as well as more traditional patterns of Log Cabin, Texas Star, Schoolhouse, Fan and Apple Blossom. Some examples are entirely hand-made while others are pieced by machine and stitched by hand. The quilts also contain a variety of stuffings, including straw, lamb's wool and old blankets.

The Georgian house, circa 1812, is surrounded by gardens and provides an elegant setting for the quilt display. Visitors can sit at a quilting frame and try stitching.

Prescott House Museum is open daily until October 15. The museum is located outside Wolfville, at 1633 Starr's Point Road, Port Williams.

Note: The following is intended for use by broadcast media.

They are pieces of Nova Scotia history that are often kept

under wraps.

Hand-made quilts are a colourful look into the history of

communities and families. Until July 12th, the Prescott House

Museum is displaying some of the best examples of Nova Scotia's

quilting heritage.

Making quilts was once a daily routine, but is now

considered a traditional craft.

The Prescott House Museum, outside of Wolfville, is open

daily until October 15th.