35-block bicentennial quilt from 1976 back on display in County Courthouse

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2025 at 11:02 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A very large quilt made by local quilters in 1976 has been put in a new frame and is on display in the Orleans County Courthouse.

County Buildings and Grounds employees made the frame about a month ago for the quilt. The large 35-block quilt has been in storage in the courthouse for more than 20 years. It was taken down as part of a renovation and addition to the courthouse that was completed in 2003.

The quilt was made to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States in 1976. The quilt was done in an appliqué style where one or more pieces of fabric are attached to a larger background fabric to create pictures or patterns.

It is back on display for the Orleans County bicentennial this year.

The center block highlights the train depot in Medina that has been used as a senior citizens center for more than 50 years.

These blocks shows the former Christmas Park in Albion at lower left, the county courthouse, a trolley, and in the top row: the former Swan Library, the county seal (which erroneously listed the county’s founding as 1826 instead of 1825), and the Civil War monument at Mount Albion Cemetery.

These blocks highlight the sloopers who traveled from Norway to Kendall, harness racing at the County Fair, the DAR House in Albion, swans in Lyndonville, and Swan Library in Albion.