Library Seeks to Save Historic Treasure

Efforts are under way to save the historic quilt that was created as part of the 1979 centennial celebration of the Village of La Grange. The La Grange Public Library, Salt Creek Quilters Guild and the La Grange Area Historical Society will begin fundraising in February to raise the funds needed to restore, clean and properly rehang the quilt. Quarters for the Quilt funds will be collected at the Library starting in February 2, 2012.

In 1979, local women created the Centennial Quilt featuring 22 historic homes, public buildings and churches. The quilt was originally displayed in the atrium of the La Grange Public Library from 1979 until 2005 when it was removed prior to the demolition of the old library building. Since the new building opened in 2007, the Library staff has received regular inquires about the whereabouts of the historic quilt.

Soon after current Library Director Jeannie Dilger-Hill was hired, she looked into the cost of bringing back the quilt for permanent display. Library Board Trustee Becky Spratford remembered, “When she presented the $3,000 estimate [the Board was] quite shocked by the cost.  The Board decided that while we wanted to get the quilt back up in the Library, we could not in good conscious use that much tax payer money meant to operate the Library in order to repair the quilt – especially in these tough economic times.”

The Library will have a large container set up at the Patron Services desk where you can drop in your spare change for Quarters for the Quilt.  They have partnered with the La Grange Area Historical Society and the Salt Creek Quilters to spread the word.  Quilting squares donated by the Salt Creek Quilters Guild will be used to chart the fundraising progress. The Library will post one square for every $250 they collect.  Patrons will see a 12-square quilt working toward completion as the Library gets closer to its $3000 goal.

The Library is also seeking information about those with a personal connection to the quilt. If you have a story to share about the quilt, please contact Nicole Zimmermann, Marketing and PR Coordinator for the La Grange Public Library at zimmermann@lagrangelibrary.org or call
708.352.0576.