The Quilt of Shame June 3, 1925

The Quilt of Shame

June 3, 1925

They talked about her before she got there that March afternoon. The women had been making a quilt together to raise money for the Aid Society, and maybe today they could finish the squares. But with Flossie not there yet, the stern women voiced their worries. Flossie was too modern. Everyone had noticed at church last Sunday that her skirt was three inches above her ankle, not acceptable at all in 1925 in their devotion to their beloved conservative church ways. The wild young women in town were starting to shorten their dresses, but this just wouldn't do for a UB church lady.

The most horrible war in the history of the world was finally over, and even though several of their young men did not come back after the war, something else had changed.  A premium was now set for young eligible men. But does a lady have to wear a short skirt to get a husband? No.

They frowned and pursed their lips in unison. Everyone but Nettie. Nettie kept her head down and averted the elder's eyes, fumbling as she threaded the needle. She'd just hemmed her best skirt up four inches, and planned to wear it to the camp gathering tomorrow. Her stomach was suddenly turning stress flips. The stern women continued their Flossie critique. Even if Flossie's cousins were the Wright brothers, who cared about those flying machines? Yes, yes, the Wright brothers father was a leading elder with UB, a minister and well regarded, we know Flossie is from good Brethren, but she's not - OH! She just came in! Change the subject! "Good afternoon, Flossie. Is it still raining? You can put your horse in the barn."

Months later, the quilt was finished. Iron-willed Mrs. Heistand proudly unfolded it for all the ladies while they were having a tent revival meeting on Flag Day, May 30, 1925. As the quilt opened, each lady started to smile as each held a part of the edge to finally see it complete. But – but, oh, my God, what was this? An error!!! With the exception of Mrs. Heistand, everyone else froze, their eyes got huge, and they instantly stopped breathing for a long, long moment. A glaring, inexcusable mistake was right in front of them. The “Flossie Wilcox” square was upside down.  Or maybe it wasn’t a mistake. Could the concern about Flossie’s bold fashion hemline be the reason her quilting square was put in upside down? Stitched in, no way to change it.

The final assembly had been left to the elder and most experienced quilter, Mrs. Olive L. Heistand, did she do this on purpose or was her mind going? She was the only one still smiling, she either didn’t see the error or was proud of it. No one knew what to say, what to do. The pink and off-white cotton quilt, otherwise truly beautiful, was absolutely ruined. Their winter of work on it was wasted. How could it be used as a fundraiser for their missionary work in Africa now? Who would buy such a flawed quilt? The center square left no doubt about it’s origin.  Clearly and boldly embroidered in red, “U.B. Aid Society” and the line underneath, in matching cursive script, “June 3. 1925” put the Aid Society ladies squarely responsible. They were devastated by the error. Olive slowly came to understand the horrified reaction to her assembly work, but said nothing of why that square was placed that way. A slight shrug was all she offered. No blame ever darkened her doorstep.

As a group, they made an unhappy decision. Cora Skinner, Flossie Wilcox, Mrs. Olive L. Heistand, Mabel Miller, Laura Bright, Della Best, Nettie Akers, Kate Ramsey, Julia B. Story, Emma Rhude, Flora Bruner, Margaret Koger, Floria Joachim, Mary Boicourt, Marie Koger, Pearl Baird, Anna Speer, Fillis Lore, and Elnora Waggner all took a vow to hide the quilt and never talk about it again.

 It was never seen again by any of them, to their deaths. But it did emerge from a closet in 2014, in pristine condition, and still a mystery. Flossie’s spirit came out of that closet, too!

Stay tuned for more about each lady!

Karen Chadwick – Flossie’s spirit!