‘Day of Books & Quilts’ set for Saturday

The Stark County Courthouse in Toulon is one of several landmarks in a town with a wealth of history. On April 18, the Toulon Public Library will have a quilt day, which includes quilting, historical re-enactments, seminars, displays, and a book signing by quilter Jennifer Chiaverini. (Submitted photo)

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Tiny Toulon in Stark County is offering quilt and history lovers a reason to spend the day Saturday.

“A Day of Books & Quilts,” sponsored by the Toulon Public Library on Saturday, will feature displays, seminars, historical re-enactments and a presentation and book signing by Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the “Elm Creek Quilts” series.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the library. Advance registration is recommended, especially for the afternoon session, which has limited seating. Registrations also will be taken the day of the event for the morning sessions, and for the afternoon, as long as seats remain available.

All quilting workshops will be at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. “Painting Fabric and Beading” and “Quilts of Glory,” specifically about making quilts for soldiers, will be at Stark County Junior High School, 402 S. Franklin St. “Make It, Take It Hotpad” will be at First Congregational Church, 218 N. Henderson St. At Toulon United Methodist Church, 229 W. Main St., the benefits of a permanent identifying patch of embroidered information about a quilt will be explained.

Quilt displays will be found at First Baptist Church, 110 W. Jefferson St.; First Congregational Church; and Toulon United Methodist Church. The Bishop Hill Quilters will display their handiwork at the junior high school.

Re-enactors will portray Eliza Shallenberger, daughter of pioneer Dr. Thomas Hall (1805-1876), and Samuel Guild Wright (1809-c.1890), minister, at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Shallenberger will be in Hall’s office, next to the library, and Wright will be at First Congregational Church.

Hall’s daughter will talk about life in the Toulon area. Hall, who was from England, was in Toulon when Abraham Lincoln was in the area for a debate. He is thought to have pulled one of Lincoln’s teeth. His daughter wrote a history of the area, as well as a memoir.

Wright will talk of his work as an Underground Railroad conductor. An abolitionist, he was instrumental in starting congregational churches in the area. He also was one of the few conductors who kept journals about the railroad. Those journals are now at Knox College in Galesburg.

The Stark County Historical Home and Building, 18 W. Jefferson St., will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Here there will be a display and sale of handmade bows, arrowheads, and rendezvous-related arts, such as knives and beadwork. Traditionally, a rendezvous was a gathering of mountain men to exchange needed supplies.

In the afternoon session, Chiaverini, author of the “Elm Creek Quilts” series, will lead the 2 p.m. session at The Bistro on Main Street. Her book, “The Lost Quilter,” the story of a fugitive slave, provides the theme for the day’s events.

Throughout the day, The Bistro also will be the site of quilt appraisals. The public is welcome to bring quilts. The cost of a verbal appraisal will be $20; a written one will be $35. The appraisals are by appointment only. Call the library to set one up.

The American Legion will serve breakfast between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; and a Lions Club pork chop booth will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. across from the courthouse.

Maps and information will be handed out at the library during registration.

To attend

“A Day of Books & Quilts,” sponsored by the Toulon Public Library, costs $45 for both morning and afternoon sessions; the morning alone costs $15 and the afternoon session is $35.

Registration and payment can be made at www.toulonpld.org on the Web.

For more information or to register, go to the Web page www.toulonpld.org or call the library at 309-286-5791, or Lynne Roark at 309-286-6451.