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Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Berkeley Springs is generally known as a spa and arts town, and right now quilts are the primary form of art on display. Quilt squares are hanging at the local art center, The Ice House, and at businesses throughout downtown.
During a recent bi-monthly meeting at a church hall, before the squares went on display, guild members showed off their creations during a ‘parade of quilts,’ holding each one up for all to see.
“They are 36 inches square and they are beautiful,” Karen Hayes, guild president, said. “We have 40 of them available this year and they will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to a charity that we all voted on.”
This is the tenth year the guild has sponsored the auction. In the past the proceeds have gone to organizations like the Morgan Arts Council, the Morgan County Public Library and the local Humane Society. This year’s recipient will be the Morgan County Observatory Foundation, which supports an observatory located next to Greenwood Elementary School.
“We have a wonderful telescope that was given to the county but we had to build the building to keep it in and the foundation also takes care of all the tours and opening it for tours and of course they’re always at night,” Hayes said. “With our money they’ll be able to have more star parties.”
Hayes said the quilt guild members design their own squares, although they are often tailored toward the charity that is chosen for the year.
“So you notice several of them have stars in them this year,” she said. “But otherwise it’s whatever they want to give. It’s their donation and they provide all the materials and everything and just give it to the auction for the charity.”
The quilt squares will be sold at auction on Sunday May 25, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the Ice House. Several of the squares are also being auctioned online which should increase participation.
“We will have more people involved that way because his online presence is 600,000 people,” member Jane Franke said. “So we selected the six quilt and the quilters said that they would like to be the online people as an experiment to try it out.”
In addition to the squares hanging in shop windows throughout Berkeley Springs, the guild is also curating a show at the Ice House called “Home is Where the Heart Is.” It includes nearly 60 full size quilts made by members, as well as smaller items like wall hangings, coasters, table runners and pot holders.
Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this West Virginia Morning, tourists from around the world visit Harpers Ferry each year to immerse themselves in U.S. history. But the number of visitors fell in 2020, as public health restrictions ramped up nationwide. Jack Walker visited the town to learn how things have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
This week's broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA. On this episode, host Kathy Mattea welcomes GRAMMY-winning Australian rock star Colin Hay, Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, legendary folk and country artist Ramblin' Jack Elliott, San Francisco rocker Chuck Prophet and his band The Make Out Quartet, and folk duo The Lucky Valentines.
Across the nation, there are more and more local news deserts; communities with no local newspaper, television or radio station to cover what’s going on. When a small town paper like The Welch News in McDowell County, WV, can’t compete and shuts down, losing those local eyes and ears can affect accountability. No one is there to watch over things. Local news also provides a sense of cohesion and identity for a community. What happens when it’s gone? This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.