Beekman House Reopens July 13th!

1873 Cornelius C. Beekman House
470 E. California Street, Jacksonville, Oregon

Victorian Hobbies & Quilts: Beekman House Reopens with a Jacksonville History Day

Crazy quilt pillows made by Julia Beekman and a Victorian crazy quilt that once belonged to Ginger Rogers will be two featured items when the Jacksonville Museum Quilters and the City of Jacksonville celebrate the official reopening of the 1873 Cornelius C. Beekman House on Saturday, July 13.

This popular Jacksonville attraction, home to Jacksonville’s most prominent pioneer family and still completely furnished with family artifacts, has been closed to the public since January while undergoing extensive repairs. The House now boasts a new roof and restored entry porch thanks to funding provided by the Jacksonville Heritage Society.

The July 13th special event marking the House’s reopening includes a ribbon cutting by Jacksonville Mayor Paul Becker at 12:00noon followed by Victorian-themed house tours from noon to 4:00pm. Costumed docents will talk about Victorian hobbies and the Beekmans’ personal collections and crafts. The Quilters will host an “airing of the quilts,” hanging quilts from the House balcony, in the House and Carriage House, on clotheslines, and along the picket fences.

Crazy quilt pillows made by Julia Beekman

“Even after the Industrial Revolution and the introduction of the sewing machine, quilting remained a popular pastime for women,” Carolyn Kingsnorth, one of the event coordinators, explains. “At quilting parties—bees they were called—women could socialize without being considered idle. There are several utilitarian quilts that Julia Beekman made—she was an excellent seamstress—and her crazy quilt pillows are gorgeous!”

Crazy quilts are a combination of silk and velvet patchwork embellished with fancy stitching—a way for women to express their aesthetic sense and whimsy while having an attractive and useful product to show for it.

“In the 1890s, people became obsessed with crazy quilts,” Kingsnorth elaborates. “Some women even masqueraded as dry goods dealers to get silk sample books from textile manufacturers so they could add to their store of patches. Others raided the jacket linings of their fathers and brothers. Crazy quilts were part quilt, part scavenger hunt, and for many the search for scraps was as much a part of the fun as the construction of the quilt.”

Victorian crazy quilt that once belonged to Ginger Rogers

The Victorian crazy quilt that belonged to Ginger Rogers was given to her when she was a young actress. “Her mother gave it to the Rogue Art Gallery,” says Nell Mathern, the Jacksonville Museum Quilters guild member organizing the quilt displays. “Robbie Collins (the individual credited with preserving Jacksonville and establishing the National Historic Landmark District) bought it and gave it to the Quilters.

“Whoever made it really liked horses,” she laughs. “There’s a lot of horse stuff on it including an 1892 ribbon from some horse race along with other horse and race details. And it has loads of fancy stitches.”

Horse race detail on Ginger Rogers crazy quilt

Also on display will be a ‘shadow box’—another Victorian hobby—that tells a little bit of history from when crazy quilts were so popular. “It mentions Rebecca Lodge,” Mathern comments,” and it may be a reference to the Jacksonville Independent Order of Odd Fellows.”

At 2:00pm Mathern will be doing a ‘bed turning’ that showcases quilts with interesting histories. Significant quilts from the Jacksonville guild’s collection will be stacked on a bed, and Mathern will talk about each quilt before turning it down and sharing a story about the next one. “I always like to have a surprise at the end, and I have a doozy of surprise this time!” she assures.

Mathern will also display her feed sack collection from the days when feed sacks were made out of cotton prints. “We have a feed sack quilt and a little girl’s dress made out of a feed sack—they both have chickens on them and they’re just darling,” she enthuses. “And we’ll have a handmade ladies feed sack dress which I’ve worn several times when we’ve toured in our Model A Ford. You needed four feed sacks to make a ladies house dress—six if you wanted to make a matching dress for your daughter.”

Mathern will also be showing hand-quilting techniques, and Joedy Kimmel will be demonstrating appliqué. Kimmel is the guild member who organizes the Jacksonville Museum Quilters’ annual Opportunity Quilt.

Opportunity Quilt by Jacksonville Museum Quilters

The 2013 Opportunity Quilt, named the ‘Jacksonville Album’, uses patterns created by Virginia Robertson. “It’s what’s called a ‘Baltimore quilt’,” Mathern explains, “and it’s hand appliquéd and quilted. The design dates back to 1864 and the Civil War. Baltimore, Maryland ladies were famous for making these quilts. Each of our guild members made one of the blocks then we all hand quilted it. We’ll be selling raffle tickets on the quilt—$1 each, 6 for $5, or 30 for $20. The drawing will be the following week on July 20.”

“Victorian Hobbies” is the first of three events planned for the Beekman House this summer. The House will again be open from 12noon to 4:00pm on Saturday, August 10 and Saturday, September 14.

“August tours will focus on Victorian Music and Literature and the September theme will be Travel in the Victorian Age,” says Kingsnorth. “We’re coordinating with the second Saturday tours offered by the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery to make it a ‘Jacksonville History Day’. Visitors can learn about Jacksonville Scandals, Early Business Leaders, and Mysteries and Myths during the 10:00am cemetery tours, have lunch at one of Jacksonville’s great restaurants, and then learn more about life in the Victorian era at the Beekman House.”

Beekman House volunteer coordinator Stephanie Butler weighs in. “At the Beekman House, we’re offering everyone the enriching experience of understanding the family and the pioneer experience. The Beekmans helped establish the foundation of the communities we live in today. They were leaders, advocates and engaged citizens, and we are excited about sharing their legacy along with the stories of their lives and times.”

The C.C. Beekman House is located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville. Parking is available on-site. Victorian Hobby tours are $4 for adults, $2 for seniors and students; lawn activities are free. For additional information, call 541-899-1231, ext. 312, or e-mail events@jacksonvilleor.us.

Posted July 8, 2013