Hopewell Honors Volunteer With Original Quilt

Hopewell Quilters from left, Becky Hughes, Elverson; Eve Biamonte, Coatesville; David Blackburn, Hopewell Furnace NHS Site Manager; Lee Norman, Oley; Beth Shugar, Reading. Quilt recipient, bottom right Ellen Boyer of Pottstown.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

A handmade quilt was presented to Pottstown resident Ellen Boyer at the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Visitor Center.  On Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The quilt was made by The Hopewell Quilters, a group of volunteers at Hopewell Furnace that demonstrate the art and craft of quilting to park visitors. Mrs. Boyer, a long time volunteer at Hopewell Furnace, has created historic costumes for events and activities at Hopewell Furnace for many years. 

Fabric used in the quilt was provided by Boyer and represented many years of her costume work at Hopewell. 

The quilt’s design, “Spools and Thimbles,” was purchased by Boyer and represents 305 hours of work to create it. 

“The quilt is a wonderful representation of how heritage, tradition, life ways, and volunteerism connect to the work we do at Hopewell Furnace NHS” said Site Manager David Blackburn.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American industrial landscape and community. Showcasing an iron plantation and its surrounding countryside, Hopewell Furnace was active from 1771 to 1883. 

The park’s facilities are currently open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. It will return to a five day a week operation, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, the week of Oct. 29. 

The Historic Site is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Hopewell Furnace is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off of Route 345. Admission to the park is free. 

For more information, download our app, stop by the park's visitor center, call 610-582-8773, or visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu.