Putnams donate historic quilt to museum

By Karen Donato-Duff
Special to the Pioneer Times
    LITTLETON – Thanks to the family of the late Otis Putnam of Houlton the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton has a beautiful Eastern Star Quilt to display.
HISTORY HANGS BY A THREAD — This remarkable quilt has 35 stars embroidered with family names of the members who belonged to the Benevolent Order of the Eastern Star in 1937. This quilt, donated by the family of the late Otis Putnam of Houlton, will be on display at the Houlton Lodge of Elks during the annual Quilt Show to be held during the Houlton Potato Feast Days, August 22nd and 23rd.
    This remarkable quilt has 35 stars embroidered with family names of the members who belonged to the Benevolent Order of the Eastern Star in 1937. The volunteers at the museum are hoping that someone may have more information about this wonderful hand-made quilt. This quilt will be on display at the Houlton Lodge of Elks during the annual Quilt Show to be held during the Houlton Potato Feast Days, August 22nd and 23rd.
    The following names are embroidered on the stars: Row 1-Star 1: Helen R. Haskell, George A. Weed, John R. Weed, Alma R. Weed and Anna R. Ramsey; Star 2: Freeman F. Taylor, Barbara A. Taylor, Rachel T. Taylor, Russell F. Taylor and Betty A. Taylor; Star 3: Sara Trickey, Walter G. Trickey, Mary Ellen Palley, Henry T. Palley and Mildred H. Leach; Star 4: J. Etta Keaton, Donald Taggett, Ada K. Taggett, George F. Taggett and Lona Dee Taggett; and Star 5: Daisy M. Taylor, Arlean L. Taylor, Frederick K. Taylor, Nathaniel Tompkins and Holland Taylor.
    Row 2-Star 1: Emogene D. Russell, Mary P. Russell, Frankie F. Ward, J.Mae Russell and Willimetta Parsons; Star 2: Marion H. Berry, Patricia Berry, Richard H. Berry, Susan, Lucian H. Shean, P.M. and Olin L. Berry; Star 3: Goldie L. Stevens, Oscar A. Stevens, Gertrude O. Stevens, Patricia Stevens and Sadie E. Stevens; Star 4: J. Arnold Stewart, Philip A. Stewart, Hartley M. Stewart G.P., G. Mae Stewart and George W. Stewart; and Star 5: Geneva Kidder Strange, Lois Ann Shields, Frank E. Shields, Mabel M. Shields and Lucy M. Stephenson.
    Row 3-Star 1: Francis H. Peabody, Frank A. Peabody, George Francis Peabody, Annie M. Peabody and Mary E. Peabody; Star 2: Leonard E. Porter, Quentin R. Porter, Oscar G. Porter, Ina E. Porter and Byrna Mae Porter; Star 3: Joseph L. Packard, T. Putnam Packard, Priscilla Packard, Sarah Packard, Tom Packard, Annie E. Packard and Patricia Packard; Star 4: Margaret Hope Pennington, Francis M. Pennington, George D. Pennington, Constance Jane Pennington and Margaret H. Pennington, PM; and Star 5: Gladys G. Purdy, Eldon J. Purdy, Ralph H. Purdy, Ida B. Purdy and James R. Purdy.
    Row 4-Star 1: Lillian A. Jackson, Frank H. Jackson, M.D., David T. Jenkins, P.P., Annie B. Jenkins and Harriet J. Jenkins; Star 2: Bernard F. & Betty, Janice & Betsy, Bernice F. McGary, P.M., William H. McGary, P.P., Floyd & Phyliss; Star 3: Fidelity Chapter #32/OES 1937, Lois Barton, Earl L. Barton W.P., and Veta Barton W.M.; Star 4: Charles Newell, Mickey Newell, Jr., George E. Newell Jr., Annie E. Newell and Barbara Newell; and Star 5: Margaret Putnam Greaves, Frank Carpenter, Aaron Putnam, P.P., Cora M. Putnam, W.G.M. and Ruth Putnam Sleeper.
    Row 5-Star 1: Mabel H. Cates, Jeanette P. Cates, Francis Ann Cates, Harriett P. Cates and Harold I. Cates; Star 2: Florinda L. Currier, Harold D. Clough, Harry G. Clough, Vivian C. Clough and Phyllis Ann Clough; Star 3: Louise Barnes, Winnifred A. Chamberlin, Sophie A. Duplisea, Frank E. Duplisea and Garald C. Duplisea; Star 4: Marjorie A. Fairley, Millard A. Fairley, Jr., Frank C. Ford, Marjorie G. Ford, P.M. and Millard A.Fairley; and Star 5: Annie D. Pearce, Susan G. Pearce, Ira G. Hersey, P.P., Annie D. Hersey and Ira H. Pearce.
    Row 6-Star 1: Wilder D. Carr, Lorna Carr, Kilber E. Carr, James & Joanne Carr and Verna Carr; Star 2: M. Louise Cummings, P.M., Harriette A. Larmond, Daniel L. Cummings, Mary E. Cummings and S. Fred Cummings; Star 3: Eva Chapman, Edna Chapman, Clifton H. Chapman, Marion V. Craig, P.M. and John Chapman; Star 4: Louis L. Campbell, Richard Campbell, James P. Campbell, Annie Sharp Campbell and Anne Campbell; and Star 5: Marjorie Webb, Katherine M. Webb, Hugh Campbell, Kate Campbell and Linwood Campbell.
    Row 7-Star 1: William C. Armstrong, Mildred N. Armstrong, Alfred E. Astle P.P., Alma B. Astle and Eva Andrews; Star 2: Lela Adams, William G. Adams, Mahlon T. Adams, Velma B. Adams and Bobby & Marion Adams; Star 3: George B. Barnes, Annie M. Barnes, Charles P. Barnes. Anna Barnes and Margaret L. Barnes; Star 4: Louis P. Bither, A.P., Alice M. Bridges, Mariel A. Bither, Louis P. Bither, Jr. and Alma B. Bither; and Star 5: Elsa L. Bostrom, Vera E. Bostrom, Earl G. Bostrom, Dorothy Bostrom and Charles N. Murray.
    The initials WM means Worthy Matron; WP, Worthy Patron; PWM, Past Worthy Matron; PWP, Past Worthy Patron; GWM, Grand Worthy Matron; GWP, Grand Worthy Patron; PM, Past Matron; and PP, Past Patron.
    Please help us correct any misspellings, as some of the embroidery was difficult to read. If you have any information about this beautiful quilt please contact Karen Donato-Duff at 538-9007, or send any written information to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum 304 Campbell Road, Littleton, Maine 04730.