The year was 1939. World War II was still in the future. The Great Depression was over. The new King whose brother had recently abdicated the British throne was touring the Commonwealth with his wife and two daughters. In thirteen years, Princess Elizabeth would become Queen Elizabeth and would reign for over 70 years.
Meanwhile in Kinmount Ontario Canada, two church groups were in fundraising mode and decided to design, construct and sell raffle tickets on a signature quilt to commemorate the Royal Visit. Tickets were sold for 10 cents each or 3 for 25 cents to friends and neighbours of Kinmount in 1939. Therefore this quilt represents a snapshot of the village at that time. There are 284 names on the quilt. It was pieced and quilted at parishoners’ homes.
Signature quilts were not a new concept. They were popular in the 1800s in North America and also in England. They would be made usually for community groups, service groups and clubs.
Names as they appear on quilt:
F.H. Barndollar Mrs. G. Barr Mr. G. Barr Ralph Barr Baby Barr Mr. O. Barr Mrs. O. Barr Jean Barr Doris Barr Mr. Robt Barr Jack Beverley Mrs. H. Boldt Mr. H. Boldt Garfield Boldt Mrs. G. Boldt John Bright Andrew Bright Miss M. Bright Mr. Brook Dan Brown Miss Buck R.N. Joe Burns Mrs. R. Burns Mrs. Camp Miss K. Carswell Mrs. M. Caskey Miss Chalmers Miss Clark Douglas Clemo Shirley Clemo Mrs. W. Coben Mr. Cope Annie Cope Rose Cope Mrs. G. Craig Mrs. A. Craig Mr. Craig Mrs. A. Crego Mr. S. Crego Mrs. S. Crego Mrs. Crego Mrs. T. Cunningham Mrs. W. Cuthbert Helyn Cuthbert Corrie Cuthbert Mr. F. Dettman Mrs. F. Dettman Miss M. Dettman Mrs. F. Dettman Miss Deyell May Doherty M. Douglas Mrs. J. Duncan E. Eagers W. Eddie J. Eddie E. Edwards Evrett Ferren Miss E. Ferren Mr. Geo Ferren Mr. Jack Ferren Mrs. Jack Ferren Miss Fiske R.N. George R. Frid Mrs. George Frid Mrs. C. Frid Mr. L. Frid Miss M. Frid Jean Gardiner Garnet Gardiner Mrs. Gardiner Wm. Gardiner Bernice Gardiner Mrs. H. Gardiner Kenneth Gardiner Wm. Gardiner Sr. Mr. Pete Gatchell Ellie Gauntlett Leta M. Gauntlett Grace Gauntlett Mrs. E. Gilmour Ivy Gilmour Mrs. Goldstein Graham? Graham Mrs. B. Graham Mrs. J. Graham Jean Graham R.A. Graham Annie Greer Mrs. H. Hadley B. Hall Mr. G. Halliday Mrs. Hannah Mr. Hannah Mrs. Hannah Vera Hartin Gladys Hartin Ethel Hartin Mrs. Hawthorn Mr. Herlihey Mrs. Herlihey Mrs. D. Higgins Doug Hopkins Mr. A. Hopkins Jimmy Howden Frank Howe Ida Howe T.G. Howe Joan Hughes Mrs. Hughes Goldie Hughes Lawrence Hughes Mrs. B. Hunter Mr. B. Hunter Pauleen Hunter Mrs. A. Jackson Mrs. P. Jackson Mr. P. Jackson Miss B. Jackson C. Jackson Muriel Jones Mrs. James Jones James G. Jones Ray Jones Chas Jones Mr. L. Keefer Mrs. L. Keefer George Keefer Mrs. G. Kellar Miss M. Kellar Mrs. M. Kellett Joy Knettel E. Knettel Lola Lehigh Mrs. Lewis Mr. Lewis Mrs. Lohmes Margaret Long Donald Long Mrs. Fred Long Mr. Madill Mrs. Madill Billy Mark Miss J. Maus Mrs. A. McColl J. McColl Mr. McConnell Doris McConnell Joyce McConnell Harold McDougal B. McDougal B. McDougal H. McDougall Mrs. McDowell Mr. McEachern Miss McElivain Mr. McEvan Jean McEwan Ross McEwan Mr. Jas McGann Mrs. Jean McGann Ted McGrath Mrs. F. McGuire Hazel McIntyre Wanda McKinley Mrs. J. McKinley Ruth McKinley Mrs. Rob McKinley Audrey McKinley Mrs. Dave McNamara Mrs. Jas Mintz Douglas Mintz Merreta Mintz Mr. Moran J. Nicol Mr. Nixon Mr. Northy Mrs. Northy Art Obrock G. Packer Miss Park Madill Beauty Parlour Margaret Pasquina Rosie Pasquina Mrs. Peacock B. Phillips R. Phillips Maizie Phillips Mr. J. H. Phillips Mrs. J. H. Phillips R. L. Phillips Mr. Pollard Mrs. Pollard M. Pringle Mr. Wm Purdy Mrs. Wm. Purdy Mrs. B. Robert Mr. Roberts Mrs. Roberts Mrs. A. Robertson Mrs. E. Robertson Dorothy Robertson Noel Rorby Mrs. Wm. Ross Miss Rumney Jean Sanderson Mrs. J. Sanderson Mrs. J. Scott Chas Shaw Joe Shaw Mrs. W. Shaw Mr. W. Shaw Mr. Sherbert M. Simpson Reta Spencer Mr. John Spencer Mrs. John Spencer Mrs. M. Staples Pearl Star K. R. Steinburgh Mrs. O. Switzer Mr. O. Switzer Mrs. Sid Switzer Clinton Switzer Hiram Switzer Doreen Switzer Mr. Ira Switzer Delia Switzer E. Tamlyn Mr. F. Thompson Mrs. Thompson Mr. T. Train Mary Train L. Train Mr. A. Train Mrs. F. Train John C. Train Mrs. John Train Nancy M. Train Mrs. Q. Train J.H. Train Mrs. J.H. Train Mrs. T. Train Mr. T. Train Audrey Train Amos Train Al Trede Mr. Tuck Jack Turner Betty Umphrey Mr. Roy Umphrey Mrs. Roy Umphrey Sheila Vanderburgh Wilma Vanderburgh Jean Vanderburgh Mrs. I. Walker Mrs. B. Walker Velma Wallace Eva Wallace Geraldine Wallace Mr. H. Wallace Mrs. H. Wallace Mr. Walling Ruth Webb Billie Webb Thelma Webb Mrs. J. Webb Mr. J. Webb Mr. B. White Clara White Margery White R. White Violet White Mrs. M. Wilson Mrs. J. Wilson Miss L. Wilson Mr. P. Wilson Mr. C. Wilson Mrs. J. Wilson Mr. G. Wood Mrs. G. Wood Brock Wood Doreen Wood B.W. Yale