Civil War Fundraiser from Newlin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

"Liberty

1862"

https://mycchc.catalogaccess.com/objects/13873

Museum cataloging notes: "According to old card, 'Made by women of Newlin Township in 1864 and chanced off at Fair for sick in field hospitals in Civil War. Said to have brought $200.00 Quilt was presented to the late Hugh E. Steele, then owner of the Laurel Iron works, in whose home the quilting had been done by wives of the mill operators.' "

West Chester Record, June 4, 1864

The Great Central Fair was held in Philadelphia's Logan Square in June, 1864

The applique---a standard wreath design

I've been digitizing patterns for traditional applique.

Here's one that's close to the Chester County wreath.

Anna (Hannah) Baldwin Rakestraw Steele (1819-1895) must have hosted the quilting parties for the wives of her husband's employees....

some of whom lived in the workers' housing near the iron mill

on the West Branch of Brandywine Creek.

Mortonville, home of the Laurel Iron Works

The Steeles were members of the local Doe Run Presbyterian Church

Read a post about a visit to the Great Central Fair here:
https://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-day-at-philadelphias-great-central.html