The Webster Museum has been the recipient of many vintage quilts over the decades. Most have been catalogued, with invaluable information on when they were created and who did the sewing. We, as a small local museum, are fortunate to be the stewards of those textile treasures.
In the early 2000’s, the museum had many of the quilts appraised and our current quilt binders contain organized pages describing the history of many quilts and an estimated value 25 years ago.
The 2026 Quilt Exhibit will be seen in several rooms and exhibit cases in the museum as well as in the Webster Library case, to the right as you enter the library front door.
The Museum hopes you will pay a visit to marvel at the workwomanship, the colors and designs of many specially selected works of fabric art!
Quilts on Display
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"Fans" Crazy Quilt
ca. 1890
Definition: A type of crazy quilt that features fan-shaped motifs, often made from irregularly shaped pieces of fabric. This style combines the random patchwork of crazy quilting with the specific fan design, typically embellished with decorative stitching and various fabrics like silk and velvet.
- Crafter of this quilt is unknown.
- Made from silks, satins, ribbon, brocade, grosgrain, and cotton.
- An appliqué compass is placed on the quilt.
- Size is 71” x 85”.
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Flying Geese Quilt
ca. 1890
Definition: a classic patchwork unit of one large triangle (the "goose") with two smaller triangles (the "sky" or "wings") attached, creating a distinctive arrow or V-shape that mimics birds in flight. Triangles are often arranged in rows to form borders, star points, or dynamic patterns, symbolizing migration or freedom.
- Crafted from multi-colored and patterned cotton fabrics.
- Hand-pieced and hand-quilted.
- Filled with thin cotton batting.
- Quilt crafted by Cora O’Dell.
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Redwork Quilt
ca. late 1800s – early 1900s
Definition: a traditional style featuring simple, outline embroidery, typically using Turkey Red colorfast thread on a white or light background. It was most popular in the United States from roughly 1885 to 1925, emerging after the 1876 Centennial Exposition.
- Embroidered squares, pictures, names.
- Body is machine-stitched.
- Unknown crafter.
- Quilt is 72" x 60".
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Ribbon Quilt
ca. 1890
Definition: A type of quilt that features a design made up of strips or "ribbons" of fabric, often arranged in a pattern that creates a visually appealing effect.
- This ribbon quilt is assembled in a Rail Fence Pattern.
- Silk ribbon quilt top – not quilted, not finished.
- Owned by Amelia Sutter.
- Hand-sewn.
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Heritage Quilt
Webster Bicentennial Quilt - 1976
Definition: A classic album quilt, this pattern is a type of friendship quilt made by multiple individuals who each contribute a block to a larger collective piece. These quilts were often created as gifts to commemorate special occasions.
- This quilt was crafted by members of the Webster Quilt Guild to reflect early days in Webster.
- The large center square depicts a map of Webster. The smaller, surrounding squares depict Webster’s history.
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Crossroads Quilt
age unknown
Definition: Similar in appearance to a Nine Patch (a block that is made up of nine pieces), Crossroads center piece is made from two crossed strips instead of 5 separate pieces.
- Typically features a design that symbolizes the intersection of paths, often created using basic squares and rectangles arranged in a grid.
- This quilt is machine-stitched.
- Crafter of the quilt is unknown.
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Strip Crazy Quilt
1888
Definition: A patchwork crazy quilt made of long strips of random fabrics.
- Crafter of this quilt is unknown.
- Fabricated from satin, silk, and velvet.
- Features a 4.5” brown velvet border.
- Contains embroidery, painting, crosses, fruits, and velvet-stuffed flower bud accents.
- Quilt is 51.5” x 63”.
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Crazy Quilt
1900
Definition: A patchwork quilt made of irregular patches combined with little or no regard to pattern.
- Blocks are set in straight rows.
- Quilt is 65” x 99”.
- Crafter of this quilt is unknown.
- Fabricated from silk, velvet, taffeta, and ribbons, with chenille flower buds.
- Machine and hand-sewn, and contains embroidery.
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Rose of Sharon Quilt
age unknown, but popular 1840s – 1860s
Definition: classic American appliqué quilt pattern featuring stylized red or pink roses with green leaves and stems.
- This quilt was traditionally used as a wedding gift symbolizing love and marriage.
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Evening Star Quilt
ca. 1870
Definition: a traditional quilt block featuring a central square surrounded by points or "wings" made from half-square or quarter-square triangles, creating a star. The pattern symbolizes beauty, hope, and peace.
- This quilt is hand-pieced, hand-quilted, and hand-appliqued.
- The crafter of this quilt is unknown.
- Batting is cotton.
- Size is 83.5” x 72”.
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Courthouse Steps Quilt
ca. 1860
Definition: a variation of the Log Cabin block, this is a classic, beginner-friendly quilt pattern. It features fabric strips sewn in "steps" around a central square, creating a symmetrical, staircase-like design that resembles the entrance of an old courthouse.
- Size is 73” x 83.5”.
- Hand-pieced and hand-sewn.
- Batting is thin cotton.
- Donated to the museum by Frances Richman. Records with the quilt indicate it was crafted by “Mrs. Richman” – possibly Frances’ mother-in-law.
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Patchwork Cot Quilt
ca. 1880s
Definition: a cot quilt was used on a small bed or cot.
- During the Civil War, these small quilts were carried in the soldiers’ backpacks.
- Some of the fabrics in this quilt date to the early 1800s.
- Hand embroidered stitches.
- Donated by the VanAlstyne family.
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Dresden Plate Quilt
ca.1920 – 1930
Definition: A Dresden Plate quilt features a distinctive circular block made from pointed fabric "blades" or "petals" (usually 20) arranged around a central circle, resembling a plate or a sunflower.
- Sized for a double bed.
- It is hand-pieced and hand-sewn, and filled with thin cotton batting.
- Hand embroidered stitches.
- This quilt was made by Florence O’Dell for her sister, Anna Middleton
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Log Cabin Quilt
ca. mid - late 1800s
Definition: a North American pieced quilt with narrow strips of fabric surrounding a central square to form the block.
- Usually, the block is bisected diagonally, with one half using lighter strip colors and the other half using darker strip colors.
- Traditionally, the rectangles represent logs in a log cabin, while the central square represents the hearth.
- This quilt was likely crafted by someone in the White/Pierpont family of Central New York.
- On loan from Deb White Oakley.
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Album Panel Quilt
1850
Definition: A patchwork style, album quilts flourished in the 1840s and 1850s in the eastern U.S. For this version, individual similar blocks are sewn together to form the final quilt top.
- Quilt is 86.5” x 73”.
- Made by Minerva Green Woodhull.
- The writing on the quilt was done by her father-in-law, Byron Woodhull (1796-1870).
- Byron Woodhull was the first supervisor of the Town of Webster.
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Interlocking Daisy Quilt
Signature Quilt - ca.1930 – 1940
Definition: Designed with daisy-shaped blocks arranged in a pattern that creates a continuous, interlocking effect.
- A signature quilt features multiple names, or messages inscribed on individual fabric blocks.
- Crafted from cotton fabric with a thick, possibly wool, batting.
- Size is 71” x 88”.
- This quilt was signed by the teachers at Webster High School in the flower petals.
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Rail fence Quilt
unknown age
Definition: a traditional patchwork quilt, created from blocks that are made up of strips arranged in a repeating pattern to create a zigzag or staircase-like effect, resembling a split-rail fence.
- Hand-tied with embroidery floss.
- Made with dark colors and green backing.
- Crafter of this quilt is unknown.
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Crazy Quilt Coverlet
ca. 1860
Definition: A patchwork quilt made of irregular patches combined with little or no regard to pattern.
- The quilt has a red and green lace edge.
- Belonged to Julia Dayton Schermerhorn (1831-1905). Donated by Beatrice Dayton.
- Some of the flax used in this coverlet was grown on the Bonsteel farm on Hard Road.
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Doll Quilt
ca. 1910 - 1915
Definition: A doll quilt can be made in any pattern, but is a very small size.
- Doll quilts have a rich history, primarily from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, often made by young girls as they learned to sew.
- On loan from Winanne Messing.
- This small quilt was likely made by Winanne’s grandmother, Lillian Hepworth Lloyd, for her daughter, Winanne’s mother.
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Doll Quilt
ca. 1910 - 1915
Definition: A doll quilt can be made in any pattern, but is a very small size.
- Doll quilts have a rich history, primarily from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, often made by young girls as they learned to sew.
- On loan from Winanne Messing.
- This small quilt was likely made by Winanne’s grandmother, Lillian Hepworth Lloyd, for her daughter, Winanne’s mother.
KNIGHTER-RANTRY
n. The practice of wandering in quest of adventures; the manners of wandering knights.
Randomly generated oft-forgotten words from Webster's 1828 dictionary.
Visit our Random Portmanteau page!
The Webster Walkabout Adventure Lab
The Webster Walkabout Adventure Lab will take you on a walking tour of some of the historical locations in the Village of Webster. This adventure is kid-friendly and handicap-accessible. Please stay on sidewalks throughout your journey.
You will be guided on a walking tour of the Village of Webster, NY, visiting five sites of historic significance to the founding of the Village of Webster. Your walking tour will take you on a 1.5 mile walk and will take about an hour to complete.
In order to play the Adventure Lab, you need a smart phone, with the Adventure Lab mobile app installed. The app works with both iOS (iPhones) and Android phones. You must have a free account on geocaching.com and you must also have a data plan and cell service. The Adventure Lab mobile app is a multi-media, interactive app.
To open this adventure in the Adventure Lab mobile app, use the following URL: labs.geocaching.com/goto/WEBSTER
Once you complete the Adventure Lab, you will be given a code to unlock a special bonus puzzle geocache located at the Webster Museum, located at 18 Lapham Park, Webster, NY.
To find out more about geocaching, go to www.geocaching.com
Hot Dogs
With three cities (Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse) seemingly equally spaced across north-western New York state, its not surprising that they share many similarities yet maintain many of their own unique characteristics. Each city has its own Triple-A baseball team and each city has its own home grown hot dog manufacturer.
Our look at the hot dogs served in the baseball parks of the International League.
...and Hamburgers
OK, we may be a little biased, but there can't be too many cities with a tastier relationship with the hamburger than Rochester. Imagine heading out for a hamburger and only having the choice of McDonald's, Burger King or if you're lucky Wendy's. Here in Webster, we have Bill Gray's, Charlie's and when the bridge is open, Don's Original. Each restaurant with its own story and connection to the Webster community. Take a look at our little timeline of Rochester Hamburger history.
World War Two
We honor the all too numerous Webster residents who lost their lives fighting for our country during World War Two.
WEBSTER MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
18 Lapham Park Webster, New York 14580 585.265.3308
