With commemorative quilts, address books, calendars, and a history of the area in the works, organizers already have been gearing up for Fort Frances’ centennial celebrations next year.
“The ‘Sew ’n Sews’ [club] are working on a centennial quilt,” noted museum curator Pam Hawley said last week.
Historic photos of Fort Frances will be screened onto sheets of material and then members of the local quilting group have volunteered to stitch up the individual panels to make the memorial quilt.
“We hope to have it finished for April 11—the inaugural council meeting and celebration,” Hawley remarked.
The idea for the centennial quilt project came after seeing other communities display their versions.
Right now, Hawley isn’t sure where the finished product will be displayed—either in the council chambers at the Civic Centre or some other public place.
Meanwhile, the quilting club doesn’t plan on stopping its involvement in the centennial with the commemorative quilt. Members also are considering holding a quilt show related to the celebrations.
As quilters prepare to stitch together the past, centennial organizers are putting the finishing touches on their address book.
The book, estimated to cost between $12 and $15, features a series of paintings by Vi Plumridge of buildings in the area. It currently is being printed but will be available at the Fort Frances Public Library once completed.
A calendar also is in the works, which organizers hope to have out by December.
“We’re hoping to highlight events in 2003,” Hawley said.
Any group holding an event in 2003 with a centennial theme is asked to contact Hawley at the Fort Frances Museum by October to have it listed in the calendar. The calendars then will be given out to the public.
“I just got an e-mail and Neil McQuarrie is busy writing the [centennial] book,” Hawley enthused.
McQuarrie, who recently penned a book about the 1952 Allan Cup-winning Fort Frances Canadians, is writing a history of the area from the original settlers and the aboriginal bands here to present day.
With books, quilts, and other events in the works, centennial celebrations are starting to take shape.
“Things are really coming together. We’ve had a great response from groups so far,” Hawley noted.
If anyone has an event they would like to put on in celebration of Fort Frances’ 100th birthday, or would like to volunteer to help out, contact Hawley at the Fort Frances Museum (274-7891).
