Red Cross Signature Quilt
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Saskatoon
Red Cross Signature Quilt
More than 40,000 Saskatchewanians served in the First World War and many more supported the war effort from home. Community associations, Homemakers’ Clubs and others spent countless hours fundraising for war-time charities such as the Red Cross.
In 1916, members of the Ladies Aid of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Floral, SK, set to work making a signature quilt. Members stitched 20 large stars; each embroidered with the name of a member. Surrounding the stars were the embroidered names of area residents who paid 10 cents each to be included. The names are a who’s who of the Floral district including politicians, early settlers and even the grandparents of hockey great Gordie Howe.
When the quilt was complete, a raffle was held with the quilt as the grand prize. It was won by Anne MacLean, who had also paid to have her name stitched on the quilt. The Ladies Aid raised over $600 for the Red Cross, which Anne later noted, “was a goodly sum at the time.” The quilt was donated to the WDM in 1979.
Floral, SK., Red Cross Signature Quilt (WDM-1979-S-259).
