On May 17, 2013, Kay (Powell) Lebruska and her cousin, Deanna (Nicholson) O’Donnell, both former residents of Max, visited the community and donated to the Max Community Club a vintage “Community Quilt” from the 1930’s – 1940’s; a black velvet dress suit from the same era that had been owned and worn by Mrs. Ocie E. Bartlett (another former Max resident); and also an old photo from about 1929 that features the “Max Ladies Aid Group.” The quilt is a large quilt (approximately 80”x90”), and is now on display in the Max Community Center. The photo and the black velvet dress will be displayed later in the “Little Church” museum.
Kay and Deanna also visited the “Little Church” museum, and told many stories about the church building and their remembrances of it. Deanna was especially pleased to see the 1889 Estey Parlor organ which is on display there. She remembered it as once belonging to her grandmother Nicholson. Both the organ and the old piano have vintage original hymnals displayed on them. When Kay looked inside of one of them, she was surprised to find her and Deanna’s great aunt’s name printed inside the cover.
Kay also wrote up a brief story about how the old community quilt came into her possession. She framed it, and it now hangs next to the quilt. The story, as she wrote it is reprinted here:
Kay also wrote up a brief story about how the old community quilt came into her possession. She framed it, and it now hangs next to the quilt. The story, as she wrote it is reprinted here:
The Story of the Quilt
(by Kay Powell Lebruska)
(by Kay Powell Lebruska)
Camy Rea of Broomfield, Colorado, attended an estate auction in Denver in 2012, and bid on a box of quilts.
She was going to donate them to a homeless shelter, but found 2 quilts that were old and probably made in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s. Each quilt square was made of embroidered needlework and personalized. Camy decided to do a research on them.
One square had “Mrs. Ocie Bartlett, Max, NE” embroidered on it.
Camy searched for the Bartlett’s from Max and located Paul A. Bartlett, son of Ocie Bartlett, from Lincoln, NE. Camy graciously mailed the quilt to my Uncle Paul Bartlett. His daughter, Susan Bartlett Kuwitzky from Omaha, NE, now has this quilt.
The second quilt was mailed to me, Kay Powell Lebruska, Class of 1959 MHS. Since it has many Max family names on it, I am donating it to the Max community.
The quilt board was designed and made by Dwight Hatch, Class of 1961 MHS, who lives in Ogallala, NE.
She was going to donate them to a homeless shelter, but found 2 quilts that were old and probably made in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s. Each quilt square was made of embroidered needlework and personalized. Camy decided to do a research on them.
One square had “Mrs. Ocie Bartlett, Max, NE” embroidered on it.
Camy searched for the Bartlett’s from Max and located Paul A. Bartlett, son of Ocie Bartlett, from Lincoln, NE. Camy graciously mailed the quilt to my Uncle Paul Bartlett. His daughter, Susan Bartlett Kuwitzky from Omaha, NE, now has this quilt.
The second quilt was mailed to me, Kay Powell Lebruska, Class of 1959 MHS. Since it has many Max family names on it, I am donating it to the Max community.
The quilt board was designed and made by Dwight Hatch, Class of 1961 MHS, who lives in Ogallala, NE.