Quilts believed to play role in Underground Railroad
“The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel towards Canada.” So begins the cypher contained within at least 10 quilting patterns, possibly used as a code to guide slaves to freedom.
Relying on oral history and debated by historians, it is believed by some that quilts hung to air on fences could have been used to convey messages to those on the run.
The Mad and Noisy Quilt Group has found inspiration in a book by Eleanor Burns and Sue Bouchard called, The Underground Railroad Sampler. They have made it the theme of their annual dessert and tea, where they will be showing about 10 quilts made using patterns from the book, in addition to other projects.
Dorothy Gray has hand stitched a quilt containing all 10 of the squares bordering the big dipper and the North Star, the guiding light for navigation and the 10th square in the code.
She said the process was very meaningful and she found herself thinking about her own freedoms as she stitched.
“There is a lot of history in the area,” said Cheryl Robertson, owner of Creemore House Of Stitches and one of the event organizers.
The Underground Railroad brought many freedom seekers as far north as Clearview Township, Collingwood and Owen Sound.
When the Compromise of 1850 strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act allowing slaveholders to retrieve slaves in northern states and free territories, runaway slaves weren’t safe until they reached Canada.
The quilt squares are believed to contain messages that inculcate safe refuge, passage and
According to The Underground Railroad Sampler, “The monkey wrench quilt was the first quilt displayed as a signal for any slaves who planned to escape. The money wrench is a heavy metal tool used by a blacksmith. This quilt symbolized the time to collect tools they would need on their journey north to freedom.”
The Mad and Noisy Quilt Group’s 23rd dessert and tea is on Wednesday, May 1. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with underground railroad quilt story guest speaker will be Terry Mokriy.
The event is open to everyone and will be held at the Creemore Legion, 27 Wellington St. Admission costs $8 and includes sweets and tea served in china cups. There will also be a brown bag raffle of quilting projects. Tickets cost $2 for three.
