6-16-26 Quilt BOONE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Boone County is showcasing a bicentennial quilt created between 1975 and 1976 at its courthouse, offering a unique reflection on the 200th anniversary of U.S. independence. The histor ically significant textile will be lowered for special public viewing June 24. Joanne Treva Iddings initiated the project in September 1975, gathering representatives from the county’s 12 townships to begin work. Iddings aimed to enable local residents to participate in the nation’s 200th birthday celebration. Approximately 2,500 individuals contributed to the quilt, dedicating more than 40,000 hours to its creation. It was completed by April 1976. The quilt measures 10 by 12 feet and weighs approximately 50 pounds. It features a needlepoint medallion at its center that alone required almost 500 hours to complete. It provides a tangible connection to the community’s past, encapsulating the stories and heritage of residents from that era. Jane Hammock, president of the Boone County Historical Society, noted that quilting “is kind of a lost art” but suggested its popularity is returning as more quilt shops open. The reverse side of the quilt contains 1,026 individual rectangles, each “sold” for $1 to allow families or organizations to inscribe their names or symbols. Only five of these rectangles were not returned, so a sampler committee created replacements. Hammock shared details of her family’s rectangle, which includes an ear of corn, a hog’s face, a Purdue University emblem and an Rx symbol, reflecting her family’s farming background and her pharmacy education. She explained that the quilt was designed to capture the essence of Boone County during the bicentennial era. “As they said when they made the quilt, they wanted it to reflect Boone County in that era,” she said. “So if you look at the back on each individual rectangle, it talks about the families and what they did.” The quilt was rehung in the Boone County Courthouse in April with assistance from Max Mendenhall, the courthouse maintenance head. The Boone County commissioners granted permission for the rehanging earlier that month. Hammock said the quilt is “too spectacular” to alter or add to, emphasizing the historical society’s intent to “leave it the way it is and hang it up and enjoy it.” The bicentennial quilt will be temporarily lowered for close public viewing June 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing visitors to examine individual rectangles and signatures. Otherwise, the quilt remains on display at the Boone County Courthouse, which is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about the quilt here. ...read more read less