Belknap Mill Quilters Guild and Thompson Ames Historical Society refresh antique quilts

GILFORD — Members of the Belknap Mill Quilters Guild met with members of the Thompson Ames Historical Society at the society's historic Rowe House to refresh and refold their collection of antique quilts. Quilts are from the William and Avis Smart Family, the David and Dot Pangburn Family and the estate of Arthur Tilton.

Several quilts have been on display at the three historic houses managed by the society, and the remainder of the quilts have been stored in chests and bureaus. The quilts were unpacked and hung on the fence at the Rowe House, first revealing one side for an hour and then reversed to the other side. It was a pleasant sight, with work of past Gilford residents on display. A light breeze and the partly sunny day did the job of refreshing and removing the dust gently. Quilters, society members, and passersby discussed quilt design and makeup. After the period of airing out, the crew folded each of the quilts in a different way than they were originally folded to minimize the effect of creasing. They were then repacked in freshly washed sheets, and put back in storage, or on display.