We are on our way to finishing the history of the Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt and todays Quilt block is the Drunkard's Path. This block is the nineth pattern in the secret code.
Escaping slaves were to move in a staggering fashion to allude any following slave hunters. They were even to double back occasionally on their tracks to confuse slave catchers who were pursuing them.
The Underground Railroad got its name from such a pursuit. A Kentucky slave known as Tice was escaping to freedom. He made it to the shore of the Ohio River, near the home of John Rankin's safe house. The slave holder was tracking right behind him! There was no boat tied up for Tice's escape, so he jumped right into the icy water.
Fortunately, Tice heard a whippoorwill calling him to safety. Tice looked up and saw a yellow light, the lantern in the window of John Rankin's home. Tice vanished right before the slave holder's eyes. When the slave holder went home empty handed, he told everyone an Underground Railroad came by and picked him up!
*excerpts taken from the book Quilt In A Day Underground Railroad Sampler by Eleanor Burns and Sue Bouchard
I have never been pursued by someone and can only imagine the way Tice must have felt when he arrived at the banks of the Ohio River to find no boat waiting for him. How brave of John Rankin to open his home to escaping slaves as well as to the danger of being caught helping slaves to freedom.
What a wonderful history our country has hidden in the blocks of a Quilt!
Two more blocks and our Quilt will be complete! Join me next Friday as we continue our history lesson.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kim
Friday, June 1, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Memorial Day Celebrated
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Birds In The Air Quilt Block
Our Underground Railroad Quilt Block series continues with the Birds In The Air block. This block is symbolic of flight or migration. During the Underground Railroad in the 1840's and 1850's, a clever quilter could indicate a direction for fugitives to travel through the choice of fabric and placement of blocks. The blocks in one area of this quilt would be made with light fabric pointing North.
A Birds In The Air directional quilt was originally designed by Deborah Coates, wife of Quaker Lindley Coates, of Lancaster County, PA. They were abolitionists and ran Safe House #5 on the Underground Railroad.
A Birds In The Air directional quilt was originally designed by Deborah Coates, wife of Quaker Lindley Coates, of Lancaster County, PA. They were abolitionists and ran Safe House #5 on the Underground Railroad.
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Million Dollar Question
Have awakened to a beautiful, sunshine-filled Monday morning here in my little rural Maine town!
How to spend this beautiful, sunshine-filled Monday is the million dollar question. There is never an end to my "to-do list" and todays list is no different. One would think that balancing daily household chores and crafting would simply be a matter of setting a schedule and sticking to it - I wish!
How to spend this beautiful, sunshine-filled Monday is the million dollar question. There is never an end to my "to-do list" and todays list is no different. One would think that balancing daily household chores and crafting would simply be a matter of setting a schedule and sticking to it - I wish!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Underground Railroad Quilt Block #11
Flying Geese is the next Block in the Underground Railroad Quilt. It is the eighth Quilt in the Williams family code.
With the appearance of this Quilt, slaves learned to take their direction, timing, and behavior from migrating Geese.
With the appearance of this Quilt, slaves learned to take their direction, timing, and behavior from migrating Geese.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
To Have and To Hold
Did you miss me yesterday? I apologize! This week is "Bridal Shower" week here at kimberleeannkreations and I am feeling rather behind the "eight ball":)
My beautiful niece has arrived home from her fourth year of college to marry a young Marine who has loved her since she was six years old.
My beautiful niece has arrived home from her fourth year of college to marry a young Marine who has loved her since she was six years old.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Underground Railroad Quilt Block #10
We continue our Underground Railroad Quilt history with Block #10, the Bow Tie.
The Bow Tie Quilt was the seventh Quilt displayed on the fence to teach slaves how to escape to freedom. It was a directive for them to dress in a formal manner.
When slaves first escaped, they wore distinguishable garments that eventually became tattered and torn along their journey. Free blacks would often meet them in a safe place, such as a church, and give them fresh clothing. In "satin bow ties", runaways wouldn't stand out among the city folks. Slaves could walk through town undetected to ships waiting to take them across the Great Lakes to Canada and freedom.
The Bow Tie Quilt was the seventh Quilt displayed on the fence to teach slaves how to escape to freedom. It was a directive for them to dress in a formal manner.
When slaves first escaped, they wore distinguishable garments that eventually became tattered and torn along their journey. Free blacks would often meet them in a safe place, such as a church, and give them fresh clothing. In "satin bow ties", runaways wouldn't stand out among the city folks. Slaves could walk through town undetected to ships waiting to take them across the Great Lakes to Canada and freedom.
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