Our commenter, Jennifer, contributed the fact that Mahala Evans Kelly, whose name appears on the quilt and in a photo in an earlier post, was the grandmother of Edith (Kelly) Fetherston, who, with husband, John, created Packwood House. Edith's mother's married name, Mrs. J. C. Kelly, is also on the quilt.
What brought all these people's names together on this quilt? They represent different faiths, as nearly as I can tell (Himmelreich, for instance, is a name on the quilt and the name of the library building attached to the Presbyterian Church here in town; I have been assured that other named people were Lutherans). Was it perhaps a Centennial Quilt? Lewisburg was incorporated in 1812. The quilt has been dated around 1900. 1912 is not too great a stretch... The names of people who lived in neighboring towns, including two labeled as being from Williamsport ("Mrs. H. Barr, Wmsport" and "Mrs. M. Irven, Wmsport") are on the quilt, but I can imagine celebrating a nearby town's centennial. When I was 17 (1967) and living in Westborough, Massachusetts, the town celebrated its 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial--great word!). I got to ride on a float (I was Worthy Advisor of the local Rainbow Assembly at the time, and got a TERRIBLE sunburn that day), and I'm SURE there were many people viewing the parade and other festivities who weren't residents of the town. Anyway, the *reason* for this quilt remains a mystery. Does anyone out there KNOW?