The early meetings attracted members from Grand Forks, Crookston, Valley City, Wahpeton and other RRV towns. We were all starved for conversation with other quilters–there weren’t so many of us in those days, only a few books and one or two magazines on the subject. Show and Tell featured plenty of antique quilts. In fact, our early quilt shows had a category for antique quilts.
The first Indian Summer Quilt Show was held that fall, at the request of West Acres shopping center. It took all of us to patrol the show wearing white gloves, reminding people not to touch the quilts.
poster for the very first quilt show
Looking Back While Moving Ahead
a series of articles written by Marcia Retzer to celebrate the 30th anniversary of QGND
January, 2010Our roots go back to August, 1979 at Pioneer Days at Bonanzaville in West Fargo. A woman named Helen Anton had a quilt display, and collected names of those interested in forming a group. In November Helen, Char Smith and Kim Baird met at Kim’s to discuss plans. They decided to begin after the holidays, in January of 1980.
The first meeting was held on January 12, 1980 on the 4th floor of Block 6, the deLendrecies building, 620 Main Avenue, Fargo. One hundred women attended, from as far away as Crookston, Grand Forks and Wahpeton. Monthly meetings continued to be held at Block 6 on the third Saturday. Eventually, meetings moved to the lower level Community Room at West Acres. Later, QGND met in the chapel at Bethany Homes until that room underwent renovation. Meetings were held at Lutheran Church of the Cross in West Fargo before moving to our current home at the Skills and Technology Training Center.
With so many people showing interest, early on the need for formal organization was recognized. Char Smith became the first president, and Helen Anton began putting out a monthly newsletter. Helen also did the paperwork to become a nonprofit corporation in ND. Fundraising was mainly a white elephant sale held at each meeting.
Helen Anton grew up in Hawley, MN. She was a horsewoman for many years, but gave up riding due to arthritis. Helen sewed clothes and embroidered and made a few quilts, but it wasn’t until she took quilting lessons from Cheryl Olson that she really became a quilter. She was also interested in the history of quilts, and amassed a sizable library on the subject.
Char Smith grew up in Minneapolis, studied English Literature and broadcasting, and worked in radio stations.
In 1975 she opened Fargo’s first store for quilters, The Patchworks. Although the business remained open only 2-1/2 years, Char was the true pioneer of quilting in Fargo, teaching it through adult education.
Kim Baird began quilting when she moved to Fargo in June of 1978. By 1979, she was teaching others to quilt, and that fall she joined Nancy Hass and Linda Danielson to open Country Arts Collective, in Block 6. The shop had primitive pine furniture, rugs, accessories, weavings by Linda, and a few bolts of fabric. Classes were offered. Over the years, the business was sold, moved to 604 Main, and eventually became Quilters Quarters, owned by Kim and Barb Bunnell, then solely by Barb.
Char Smith
* * * * * * * * *
February, 2010Mary Ann Waxler kindly shared with me copies of the early newsletters published by the Guild. While reading through the first issues, I was struck by the President’s Message in June, 1980. It followed the May meeting where the first officers were elected and ‘Quilters’ Guild of North Dakota’ was chosen as the name of the organization.
President Char Smith wrote these words:
“The Quilters’ Guild of North Dakota! This is a dream come true . . .and you, dear members, made it happen. Quilters are very special people. We can work alone – -but what a joy to at last share our thoughts and ideas with others.”
It struck me that this is what the Guild is all about. In a nutshell, it is about fellowship. It is about the chance to come together, to learn from one another, to share with one another. It was at the February 1980 meeting, only the second one of the early members, that:‘Show and Tell’ was “presented. . . with an amazing number of beautiful quilts (both old and new), pillows, patterns, and various other works. This was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present. It was unanimously decided to repeat this at all of our meetings”. Not only show and tell (which remains a regular part of our monthly meetings) but from the inception of the Guild it has been a vehicle for advertising and sponsoring lasses and workshops, notifying members of shows and opportunities in other towns and states, sharing information about tools and techniques, books and patterns. In the early newsletters, one quickly detects a thirst for knowledge and for expanding skills and learning new ones; for benefiting from others’ expertise and experiences.
Note this March 1980 newsletter blurb: “When anyone travels to quilt shows, museums, unusual shops,
or visits quilters in other parts of the country, could you take time to write it up for us? We’d all enjoy sharing your experiences”.
Yes, we can learn so much from each other. I think this idea struck such a chord with me because I recently
attended a quilting seminar where at the lunch break several people at my table asked those of us who were Guild members what was the advantage for joining. Without hesitation I replied that the biggest benefit I could think of was the number of people I have had the chance to meet and to learn from. Thirty years later, Char Smith’s words still ring true. . . . . quilters ARE very special people and it is a pure joy and a privilege to share with and learn from one another.
Esther Olson shares an antique quilt at an early Show and Tell
charter members: *known to be deceased
Ames, Beverly
Anderson, Mrs. Art
Anton, Helen*
Baab, Rose Marie
Baird, Kim R. L.
Baker, Evelyn
Ballew, Judy
Bender, Bertha
Berg, Gail
Berg, Thea
Best, Jenny*
Bogart, Vicky Jo
Chase, Sharon
Coleman, Wilma
DeBoer, Clarice
Devlin, Marie
Dill, Ellen
Eidem, Gen
Erickson, Lydia
Erickstad, Mrs. Curtis
Evernham,Cora*
Feichert, Alvina
Fick, Ada*
Floan, Nancy
Fowler, Dorothy*
Fredrickson, Clark*
Friley, Mary Lou
Fulford, Delia
Gebhard, Anna*
Geske, Ella
Gibb, Jane
Gilbertson, Alma
Gill, Esther
Gwynn, Ginny
Hartke, Karen
Hartl, Delores
Higginbotham, Sandra
Highness, Charlotte
Hilborn, Evelyn*
Hlebichuk, Ann
Hofsommer, Phyllis
Holoien, Merry
Honek, Lou Ann
Jacobson, Verone
Johnson, Diana
Johnson, Jean
Jones, Caroline
Kessler, Barbara
Klosterman, Phyllis
Knecht F. Lorraine
Knoll, Mrs Wilbur
Kranz, Sandra
Kreuter, Delores*
Kuehl, Edde
Kurtyka, Margaret
Kyllo, Dorrie
Lechner, Jerry
Lee, Doreen
Lindaas, Florence
Lingbeck, JoAnn
Lovaas, Sandy
Lynch, Isis
Manzey, Nancy
Marren, Kathy
Martin, Carol
Martin, Catherine
Maxfield, Christyann
McIntyre, Ione
Meyer, Eunice
Miller, Marietta
Mitchell, Jeanne
Moen, Gail
Molstad, Arlene
Morken, Ethel
Morris, Charlotte*
Mosher, Elvina
Mosher, Judy
Nagle, Mary Ann
Naslund, Ruby
Nelson, Mrs. Harry
Nettum, Cora*
Nichols, Mary Ann
Nygard, Dorothy
O’Gorman, Mairead
Offutt, Kathy
Olson, Alice*
Olson, Cheryl
Olson, Esther
Olson, Loretta
Omland, Muriel
Opheim, Alice
Ormseth, Debra
Ostenvik, Pearl
Owen, Kim
Pagel, Ida
Perrington, Dorothea*
Peterson, Judy
Piepkorn, Olga*
Plath, Norma*
Reith, Lorna*
Revland, Edna
Richter, Norma*
Roberts, Verdie
Robertson, Fannie
Roman, Laurel
Rosenfeldt, Ardis
Roth, Mildred*
Runholt, Bergit
Rylander, Evelyn
Salazar, Betty
Sampson, Muriel*
Sand, Phyllis
Sanders, Sheila
Sartell, Diane
Satrom, Darlene
Schaubert, Jane
Scheel, Delores
Scheer, Diane
Schmit, Mary*
Schumacher, Cecilie
Schumacher, Char
Schumacher, Lorena
Shermoen, Dorothy
Skaar, Elizabeth
Smith, Charlotte*
Smith, Cheryll
Smith, Dorothy
Smith, Karen
Smith, Raenay*
Stewart, Granis
Stewart, Mary Jane
Stiller, Anita
Straley(Pavek), Monica
Strubel, Pearl
Struta, Denyse
Strutz, Dorothy
Sway, Lillian
Sweeney, Jeane
Tarnasky, Adeline
Tiedeman, Dorothy
Tollefsrud, Sonja
Tschida, Bernice
Uhlman, Betty Lou
Van Walter, Del
Watson, Hjerdis*
Waxler, Mary Ann
Welder, Kathy
Wiegen, Shirley
Wilkens, Leona
Will, Agnes
Wills, Lucille
Winge, Jane
Wold, Carol
Wolff, Lea*
Wolff, Reinholt*
Wong, Zella Lee
Worthington, Margaret
Zarrett, Mary Ann
Ziegenhagen, Polly
