Centennial Friendship Quilt

75 years ago, in the grip of the Great Depression, the ladies of St. John’s Women’s Society (see photo) announced their intent to create a quilt to commemorate our centennial - generously offering their time and talent in the midst of difficult finacial times. The officers of the 1933 Women’s Society were: Mrs. John Holl / President, Mrs. Hartmann Seeger / Vice-President, Mrs. Eugene Seitz / First Secretary, Mrs. George Savage / First Treasurer, Mrs. Karl A. Ehrich, Sr. / Second Secretary, and Mrs. Henry Altman / Second Treasurer.

  •  Follow this link to see a table of quilt blocks photos.
  •  Follow this link to see a table of quilt block sponsors.
  •  Follow this link to see a table of names on the quilt.

The following is the thread of activity reported in the St. John’s Messenger, Women’s Society column:

April 1931: “Our women are going to make a Centennial Friendship Quilt. We hope every member of our Church will have their name on this quilt. You may also have any of your friends name on the same.”

November 1931: “We are working hard on our ‘Friendship Quilt’. Proceeds go to our Centennial Fund. We would like everybody to have their name on it. So please get busy and see one of our ladies who have a quilt block if you wish your name on our big quilt.”

May & August 1932: “Would all members still holding Centennial Friendship Quilt Blocks, please get busy to fill and bring them in as soon as possible, as our time is getting short and we do not want to fall down on this job.”

October 1932: “Please do not forget to bring in your Centennial Quilt Blocks to our October meeting. Even if you have them only partly filled, bring them in, so we know where we stand. Our time is getting very short on this work.”

November 1932: “In our last Messenger, we made an appeal to all members holding quilt blocks, to bring them in. But we got no response. Won’t you please get busy on them? We must know how we stand on this matter.”

December 1932 : “Just a reminder: – Please work hard on your ‘Quilt Blocks’ and bring them in as soon as possible, so that we know where we are at.”

January 1933: “Please bring in your Quilt Blocks as soon as possible, so we know where we stand on this matter. Our time is getting very short to work on same.”

March 1933: “‘Last call’ to bring in your Centennial Quilt Blocks, whether you have them filled or not. Please bring or send them in at the April Meeting.”

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There is no further reference to the Centennial Friendship Quilt but in the March 1934 issue of the St. John’s Messenger, the church reported its annual budget and listed under “Centennial Fund” a contribution of $100 from the Ladies Aid Society – likely with a significant amount of this money coming from the Centennial Friendship Quilt!

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The Quilt Returns

This quilt recently came home to our congregation and can be seen below. Joan (Schau) D'Arrigo, infant daughter of Howard (Pete) and Helen Schau, won the quilt in a raffle in 1933. Joan's uncles, Ralph and George Schau were also members of St. John. Joan, now 75, is moving and sent her daughter to the Church office to return the quilt. Thanks for the memories, Joan!

Click on the thumbnail images for higher resolution.

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Quilt Blocks

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
2	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
3	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
4	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
5	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
6	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
7	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate
8	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate	Rotate

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Sponsors

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Mrs. Louis Lang Rotate	Betty Wimber Walter Rotate	Amelia Risch, Anna Kuhn Rotate	Mr. Adam Duerr, Mrs. Adam Duerr Rotate	Joseph Fassl Rotate	Florence Kelschaubach, Elmer Kelschaubach, Betty Kelschaubach Rotate
2	Mrs. G. Mohr, Ed Kohl, Orson Mohr Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Oberscheimer Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. G. Seeger Rotate	Mrs. George Copperberg Rotate	John & Louise Fuerst Rotate	Bernice C. Koch Rotate
3	Norman C. Berns Rotate	Olive Chapter O.E.S. Rotate	William E. Kreiner, Jr., F. A. Mendlein, MD, William E. Kreiner Rotate	Women's Auxilliary St. John's Orphan Home Mrs. Charles Herman President Rotate	In Loving Memory Mr. J. W. Hosl Jr. Rotate	Elizabeth Schwartz Rotate
4	J. P. Bruck, Katherine Holtmann, Louise Ackermann, Mrs. Jarhaus Rotate	St. John Sunday School Rotate	Martha Sewing Circle Rotate	St. John's Mission Society Rotate	Officers of St. John's Ladies Society Rotate	Troop #77 Girl Scouts of America Rotate
5	St. John Choir Rotate	Rev. Hoeppner Bible Class Rotate	Womans Bible Class Rotate	Church Council Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. Carl Ellinger Silver Anniversary of St. John Cemetery Rotate	The Light Brigade Rotate
6	Albert Krauss & Anna Krauss Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. Christian Flierl Rotate	Mayor Charles E. Roesch Rotate	Parish Worker Appreciation Ida M. Miller Rotate	Pastors of St. John Rotate	Mrs. H. Altman Rotate
7	Mr. & Mrs. Carl Barthman Rotate	Mother Engelhart Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. A. Thiele Rotate	Julius Tude, Christine Tude, Viginia D. Holl, Ralph Bird, Alfred J. Holl, Frank Eisenhardt, Marie Holl Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. Edward Henseler Rotate	Mary S. Nagel Rotate
8	Marilyn Gilbert Rotate	Doris J. Schuster Rotate	Louisa Maidenbreuer, Mrs. J. P. Knorr, Mrs. W. P. Seifke, Mrs. E. Mohr, Mrs. W. E. Blake, Mrs. K. Goehrig Rotate	St. John's Light Brigade # 918 Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. George Gearmann & Family Rotate	Mr. & Mrs. A. Schmid, Rev. W. M. Zuehlke Rotate