Algonac-Clay Historical Society teams up with Piece to Peace Quilters
By Barb Pert Templeton
Hearing the story of young Ezikiel as he and his family escape from slavery by traveling along the pathway of the Underground Railroad will be the highlight of an event coming up in Algonac this weekend.
The Algona-Clay Historical Society and Woman’s Life Chapter 883 will host an Underground Railroad Lunch Presentation on Saturday, May 24 with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. and lunch served at noon. Tickets are $25 each. The event will be held at St. Catherine’s Activity Center at 1103 Washington Street in Algonac.
The luncheon will be followed by a presentation of the Piece to Peace Quilters who, along with displaying an amazing array of Underground Railroad Quilts, will share the story of the Underground Railroad and how quilts were used as signals to help people along the railroad path. A 50/50 drawing and basket raffles will be included in the afternoon presentation.
Proceeds from the upcoming luncheon will go to the Algonac-Clay Historical Society.
Mary Adkins, co-chair of the Underground Railroad Event, said the historical society puts on a Spring Tea each year that includes a speaker or some entertainment. This year the Piece to Peace Quilters offered to put on a presentation and then Woman’s Life Chapter 883 offered to provide matching funds to those raised for the historical society during the event, according to Adkins.
“So, this is a win, win all around,” Adkins added. “And both men and women are invited to attend.”
The Piece to Peace Quilters will present a program with a story about a family trying to reach freedom written by group member, Pat VanDenBergh, a quilter and retired elementary teacher.
Adkins said the event will have organizers hosting raffles for several baskets with different themes. Attendees can purchase a strip of tickets and place them in cups in front of the individual baskets and the winning tickets will be pulled at the end of the event.
There will also be several high school students to help serve the luncheon which will include a chicken pasta salad, fruit, vegetables and a dessert.
“We have been lucky to have good polite students, both boys and girls who mix well with the seniors and they enjoy having them there,” Adkins said.
The plan is to have about 75 people in attendance but the event can easily accommodate 100 guests.
“As I mentioned, Women’s Life will match up to $500 for us as we are one of their charitable events this year,” Adkins said. “And the proceeds will benefit the Algonac/Clay Historical Society and be used to basically keep our doors open and for maintenance as we are all volunteers and to help preserve the history of Algonac and Clay Township.”
The Piece to Peace Quilters will be making one of the baskets to be raffled off and it will contain items for quilting. The group will also have at least eight quilts ready to raffle off at the Algonac Pickerel Tournament the first weekend in July.
Adkins said the head of the quilters is Jan Evans who is also our President of the Algonac Women’s Life. Chapter 883.
“We are excited and hoping for an interesting and enjoyable event,” Adkins said.
To purchase tickets to the event contact Paula Burgess with the Algonac-Clay Historical Society at (810)278-4466.
