On February 12 at the Living History Center at Union Baptist Church, the Pleasant Hill Quilting Club stimulated student and adult interest in how slaves used the Underground Railroad and secret quilt codes to escape to freedom during the mid-19th Century. With a custom made quilt, period dress, narration and song, the seven accomplished ladies captivated school children from Jefferson and Queen City with a timely under told story from the past.
Left: Group Leader Flo Stevenson points to the Jacob’s ladder code on the customized quilt.
Right: Group Picture
As each Club member stepped forward to reveal data related to the next “code”, Ms. Flo Stevenson pointed to the unique design and a song was sung expanding the learning. At the close of the presentation, Ms. Stevenson took questions from the audience. From the quality of questions and comments, it was evident that students and adults alike were engaged, interested, and had learned something new.
Left: Group members in period dress sing to accompany the narration for each coded symbol discussed.
Right: Group Leader Flo Stevenson points to the Jacob’s ladder code on the customized quilt
Collins Academy and Union Baptist Church wishes to thank the Pleasant Hill Quilting Club for kicking off programming at The Living History Center. “This is the type program we have in mind. Since Pleasant Hill goes back to 1843 with its congregation, we may be working with these ladies on our common history if either of the Center’s current funding proposals are awarded,” said Gary Endsley of Collins Academy.
A short video of this program produced by Mike Gannon is available at https://youtu.be/gBZX5L1e3xw .