By Jim Richardson
Pauls Valley will be recognizing its 150th anniversary Sept. 28-30, and Main Street Pauls Valley has decided to join in on the festivities by hosting a special quilting event to help commemorate the city’s Sesquicentennial celebration.
There will be well over 150 different types of quilts on display in historic downtown Pauls Valley during that weekend and according to Main Street Pauls Valley Director Tanya Landers, the “Ses-Quilt-Centennial Show” is a perfect way to pay tribute to the heritage of Pauls Valley, as well as the great state of Oklahoma.
“Each quilt will have their story attached so the viewer will know the history of the quilt. We have the opportunity to see and learn about family histories of many of the local residents through this art form. Pride runs deep in Pauls Valley and Oklahoma and it’s those personal stories that make up the rich heritage we all share,” Landers explained.
“I just found out that we will also have a quilt that was made prior to statehood which will be on display at the Santa Fe Depot. The quilt owner said that this quilt was made by three ladies as they were coming to Indian Territory in the late 1800s,” she said.
“This will be one of the most, if not the most, significant pieces of artwork on display during the Ses-Quilt-Centennial Show. This is truly a privilege and a wonderful surprise! Who knows what else we may have to show as more quilts come in?”
Along with the pre-statehood quilt, there will be a large variety of other interesting quilts on display during the Ses-Quilt-Centennial Show, including one that carries a special significance for longtime Pauls Valley resident Lou Hall.
“I’ll be showing two different quilts during Pauls Valley’s sesquicentennial celebration. I have one that is a beautiful ‘Lone Star’ design that was made by a friend of mine who now lives in Patton, Missouri,” Hall noted.
“The other one is called a ‘Nine-Patch’ design and it is especially important to me because all the patches were made out of material from my late husband’s shirts,” Hall explained, as she began to tear up.
While the original idea behind the Ses-Quilt-Centennial was to display 150 quilts to coincide with Pauls Valley’s 150th anniversary, Landers said the response has been so overwhelming she has decided to include a much larger number of quilts in the show.
For more information on Pauls Valley’s 150th anniversary celebration or to enter a quilt in the upcoming show, contact the Pauls Valley Main Street office at 405-238-2555 or call the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce at 405-238-6491.
