Coverlet enthusiast kicks off season’s programs at Cobblestone Museum
Membership Dinner, Historic Masonry Workshop also planned for May
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society has announced the first of its special events for the 2024 season.
The first will be an educational program May 3 by coverlet enthusiast Marty Schlabach on the Cobblestone Museum’s Orleans County 19th century coverlet collection. A guided tour of the coverlet collection is including in the evening, which begins at 6 p.m.
Marty Schlabach
Cobblestone director Doug Farley explained that coverlets are woven bedcovers, which were popular in the 19th century when most American homes had spinning wheels and looms. A wide array of cloth was woven by the women of the family for household use, including geometric patterned coverlets.
There were also professional weavers who wove specialty textiles and earned some or all of their living practicing their trade. Figured and fancy coverlets were one of the specialty items and required special equipment usually only found in the professional weave shops.
Following an introduction to coverlets, the coverlet weavers of Orleans County will be highlighted in the evening’s presentation.
Marty Schlabach came to appreciate coverlets through his wife, Mary Jean Wesler, who has been interested in and collected textiles for many years, with a particular interest in quilts. Sometime more than 10 years ago, while pawing through a pile of textiles at a local estate sale, Mary Jean came across two whole late 18th century cloth quilts and one geometric patterned coverlet. It was this that started their interest in exploration and collection of coverlets.
As a retired Cornell University librarian, Marty particularly enjoys the historical research associated with learning about coverlets and their weavers.
A free-will donation will be accepted at this presentation, and reservations are strongly encouraged by calling (585) 589-9013.
File photo by Tom Rivers: On May 8, the Cobblestone Society will host its annual Membership Dinner at the Carlton Recreation Hall. Here, Randy Bower lends his talent as auctioneer at one of the events.
The second event in May is the annual membership fundraising dinner at Carlton Recreation Hall. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6:15 p.m. A buffet catered by Zambistro’s will include chicken piccata and Italian meatballs.
Farley said this is the Cobblestone Society and Museum’s 64th year of service to the community, but there is still much important work to continue.
“With your help and generosity, the Cobblestone Museum will be able to maintain our 10 historic buildings and provide educational programming for generations to come,” he said.
Tickets for this year’s membership dinner are $67 per person or $124 per couple. Each package includes a full year’s membership to the Cobblestone Society and Museum (good through April 30, 2025).
The Carlton Recreation Hall is located at 1853 Oak Orchard Rd., Albion (in Carlton).
The third event announced by the Cobblestone Society is a hands-on Historic Masonry Workshop on May 18 presented by Brian Daddis Heritage Masonry at the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center, listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places.
The full day workshop will focus on maintaining a historic masonry structure. Topics include the importance of using lime mortar when reconditioning historic masonry structures, with a hands-on demonstration involving repointing a stone foundation, repointing brick, extracting and replacing bricks and composite patching of bricks.
Cost for the full day working, which includes lunch, is $90 for Cobblestone Society members and $100 for all others.
