ABOUT OUR GUILD
OUR CURRENT TEAM - 2024
Elected Officers
President: Dottie O'Toole
Vice Presidents: Sue Kadel and Barbara Waldron
Evening Vice President: Carmen Winiarski
Treasurer: Susan Taylor-Dropp
Secretary: Laura Gough
Volunteer Officers / Committee Chairmen
Newsletter Editor: Cheryl Rink
Quilt Show: The Executive Committee
Yard Square Quilts: Susannah Kipp
Expo: Open
Sunshine: Carolyn Taylor
Website / Historian: Darlene Narango / Susannah Kipp
Basic / Beginner Teacher: Dottie O'Toole
Library: Carmen Winiarski
OUR NAME
Our name comes from the book "Pilgrims Progress" by John Bunyan that was written in 1678. In the book, when the hero begins to approach his goal, he sees an idyllic place called the Delectable Mountains. It is an analogy for a place of peace and security. It is further described as "....a country with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains..." which sounds exactly like Morgan County.
HISTORY
The Delectable Mountains Quilt Guild in Berkeley Springs, WV started 40 years ago on November 9, 1981 when Liz Burton called several people who had an interest in quilting.
Subsequently, an organizational meeting was held at Joanne Moulden's home. It was during that meeting that it was decided to form a chapter entitled Delectable Mountains Quilters. At this meeting the National Quilting Association philosophy was discussed. It was decided to meet in members' homes on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month between 1 - 3 pm. Suzanne Offutt was selected as the first chairperson.
On November 28, 1981, the Executive Committee of the National Quilter's Association presented Official Charter Chapter (#136) to Delectable Mountains Quilters. On December 7, 1981 Grace Grant and Irene Clark had made arrangements with the Seventh Day Adventist Church to become the regular meeting place. The first group project was a simple square; the group traced patterns onto fabric, cut and began piecing!
A major change was made on July 2016 with a request by Gail Chilcote to become affiliated with West Virginia Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS), a program that is under West Virginia University. The primary CEOS purpose is to strengthen families, to promote lifelong learning, leadership development and community involvement. In order to vote members must be in good financial standing and have signed the CEOS Member Code of conduct.The Morgan County Extension Office, as West Virginia University's representative, provides many services for DMQG of which we are thankfully appreciative. Included are insurance, some programs, fiduciary, and other administrative responsibilities.
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
1982 -A Blue Ribbon for the Best New Exhibit at the Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
1912 -Spotlight Guild - Our guild was honored to be designated the "Spotlight on the Guild" at the West Virginia Quilters Festival Show in Summerville, West Virginia, June 21-23, 2012.
2008-2009 Certificate of Appreciation:
For providing quilts for the children of fallen
soldiers during Operation Freedom:
1st Brigade, 26th Infantry Regiment and
3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division,
Fort Hood, Texas
OUR VERY FIRST QUILT SHOW
The Delectable Mountains Quilters brought together old and new quilts from Morgan County for public display at the Apple Butter Festival. The first quilt show was scheduled at Frances Asbury Church Hall, October 9 - 11, 1982. The quilts were displayed during the festival hours on Saturday and Sunday and continued on Monday. The show featured 62 traditional and contemporary examples of Morgan County's quilting heritage - all of them recruited and approved by chapter members.
The quilts ranged from familiar names like Lone Star, Grandmother's Flower Garden, Irish Chain, and Log Cabin to a contemporary piece entitled Asymmetry by Sandy Campbell. A special feature was a quilt by Joanne Moulden, "French Bouquet," which won Best of Show at the National Quilt Association show. Fourteen of the displays featured quilts dating back to the 1800s. The oldest quilt was a full-size appliqued "Rose of Sharon" dated Oct. 26, 1850 and made by E. J. Keller. The second oldest quilt was a full-size appliqued sampler made in early 1854 by the great-great grandmother of Lamita Ruppenthal Chewing, a native of Morgan County.
HOW YARD SQUARE QUILTS BEGAN
This all began in 2005. Jane Frenke had been visiting friends in upstate New York where businesses in a small town displayed yard square quilts, which were then auctioned to raise funds for a local cause. She saw the possibilities and brought the concept back to Berkeley Springs. At the time Marilyn Moser was our President. She also saw the possibilities of this being a great beginning of something big for our guild. So she ran with it! The first auction included 26 quilts. Since then, there have been 45 quilts or more per auction to raise over $10o,ooo for local charities over the past 20 years. The charities write letters asking to be chosen for the next auction. The guild members vote to choose a charity and then we are off and running. The quilts are displayed in various shops and businesses throughout the town from mid July until the auction. It will give you plenty of time to look at the quilts and decide which one you must take home with you. The auction is now held on the Saturday before Labor Day at 2:00 pm at Berkeley Springs State Park. It is a live auction and a lot of fun when there is a bidding war.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
At present our membership is 60 plus. Our dues are $20 per year.
NEWSLETTER
Our newsletter, covering meetings and other activities, is published and emailed monthly.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
DAY MEETINGS:
First and Third Wednesdays
11 am to 3 pm
NIGHT MEETINGS:
First and Third Mondays
5:30 pm to 8 pm
Location:
Night meetings are held at the Morgan
County Extension Office
Day meetings are held at the
American Legion (use side door)
527 N Washington St (Rt 522)
Berkeley Springs,
West Virginia 25411
Weekly: Every Thursday
10 am to 2 pm
Location:
179 Rock Ford Road
Great Cacapon, West Virginia 25422
Call - 814/889-1326
OUR LOGO
In keeping with our name, we use the traditional Delectable Mountains Block. This block has been used by quilters as far back as 1834, according to quilts we have found. It is versatile and appears in many different forms from basic to contemporary.
