A quilt with Underground Railroad ties
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As a result of this interest, Ledford created an Underground Railroad sampler quilt for the Senior Center in honor of Black History Month back in February.
She became interested in the idea after reading a book about how those who were part of the Underground Railroad would hang out quilts to let slaves know the home was a ‘safe house,’ or if there were food and supplies available, or just to show them the way to their next stop on the way to freedom.
‘I read a book called ‘Hidden in Plain View’ by Jacqueline Tobin,’ Ledford said. ‘Which is the story of how Ozella McDaniels Williams, a descendant of escaped slaves, told the author stories of these coded quilts that were passed down through the generations of her family.’
Later on, Ledford discovered a companion book, ‘Underground Railroad Sampler,’ by Eleanor Burns, which included a series of the block designs used in the quilts.
‘When I saw that book I knew I had to make this quilt,’ Ledford said. ‘And also because I wanted to help Cheryl out with the Black History Month program at the center.’
Senior Center director Cheryl W. Mingle, also a history buff, had been attending seminars on black history in Nashville.
‘I came by one day and she was very excited,’ Ledford said. ‘She had heard about this quilt.’
Mingle asked if Ledford would be interested in making one for the Senior Center if the center provided the materials. Ledford agreed, but eventually decided to purchase the materials herself, piece the quilt and let the quilters at the Senior Center do the quilting.
‘I knew when the quilt was made I’d never be able to give it up,’ Ledford said. ‘I knew I’d want to keep it. So as it ended up, I pieced it, they quilted it, and I hemmed it. I’m going to let them display it through the Bicentennial, and then I’ll take it down, take it home with me and keep it until Black History Month next year and they can display it again.’
Ledford says she loves the craft of quilting for a number of reasons.
‘It keeps me busy,’ she said. ‘That’s one of the things that I enjoy the most about it. Since I’ve retired, It’s pretty much become my life. I go to the quilting shows, I read about it. I’m part of a quilting circle here.’
Another thing she likes is the almost infinite variety of designs available with quilting.
‘I don’t like making the same quilts over and over,’ Ledford said. ‘If it’s not a challenge, I’m not interested in it. I’m 70-years-old and I’m running out of time,’ Ledford said with a grin. ‘I want to do something new.’
Ledford is also fascinated with the historic aspect of quilting, how important the craft has been over the years, both for its functionality and artistic merit. That’s why she was so interested in the story of ‘Hidden in Plain View.’
‘I probably would have been involved in that had I been there,’ Ledford said. ‘Because it really bothers me when I see people being mistreated. I have so much respect for those people. If you read the book you will see the sacrifices those people made. They kept safe houses, they would feed and clothe them, because, you know, their clothes would wear out, their shoes would wear out. Those people helping them would provide those things so they could move on.’
As Ledford said, the quilt will be on display through the Bicentennial Celebration, so those interested can visit the Senior Center and view it. One of the blocks lists an explanation of what the various blocks in the sampler quilt meant for those in the Underground Railroad.
In addition, both books, ‘Hidden in Plain View’ by Jacqueline Tobin, and ‘Underground Railroad Sampler,’ by Eleanor Burns, are available via the Internet at Amazon.com.