Stella May's Quilt

Stella May’s Quilt

Marie Hall: This quilt was made by my Auntie Caloosa Vestella May Yeoman, usually called Stella. She was born and raised until a teenager in Ohio. She came to Colorado in the 1870s. She married Willette Charles Timberlake from Mississippi in 1879. They lived in Aspen and Leadville during the 1880s and 1890s. While Timberlake worked for various mining companies doing office work. He died in 1890 and was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery. From 1880 to 1900, Stella collected the materials for the quilt. She set it together and did the decorative stitching from 1901 to 1911. You will see her name on the quilt as Stella May, as she married John I. May in 1895. Johnny May was a fireman on the railroad. Her sister Abbie also lived in Aspen, a part of that time. Abbie was married to a professional gambler who took great pride in his wife’s clothes. They were made especially for her by the then popular dress maker of that day. Some of the rich silks and velvets in this quilt were from Abbie’s dresses. John Barrere, Abbie’s husband, bought beautiful clothes and jewels for her when his luck at cards was good, but when he struck a losing streak, he sold Abbie’s dresses and jewels to get a stake to allow him to get back into the card games. Abbie was married to him only eight years, as he died from the effects of a gunshot wound he received in a quarrel over cards. The painted velvets on the quilt were done by Stella, her mother-in-law Mrs. Timberlake, and her sister Abbie. The black velvet circle with the words Charles Timberlake from mama was a pillow top Stella made for her younger son, Charles. In that period of time, little boys wore dresses. The velvet pocket with the blue hankie in it was from Earl’s dress. Stella’s older son. The two ribbons, which read “Excellence in spelling” were awards Earl earned in school. The black velvet cross is from Stella’s mother’s, my grandmother’s dress. Her name was Amy Hill Yeoman. The silk piece with Louis is from Stella’s younger sister, my mother’s dress. Louis Yeoman Woodruff. The steel gray silk with the name Nan was from the wedding dress of Stella’s friend Nan Crystal. The block with Lucy embroidered on it was from Stella’s aunt, Lucy Hill, who lived in Ohio. The silk with Willie on it was Willie Gooch’s tie. Who Willie was? I have no idea. All men wore hats in that day and were considered an important item of dress and were quite expensive. Many men marked their hats by having their initials embroidered on ribbon and sewn into their hat bands. There are two of these ribbons on the quilt, one with WCT, Will Timberlake, and JIM, Johnny May. While working on her quilt, Stella’s six-year-old neighbor friend asked if she could have her name on it too. She ran home and brought the material and fringe which makes up the fan. It bears her name, Edna Pace, 1888. In that period of time, programs, sports events and important dates were printed on ribbon and worn as badges. On the left side of the quilt there is a dance program at the opera house. The dances are listed: the waltz, Quadrilles, Lancers, Schottische, and so forth. There was no regular fire department at that time, so men volunteered for that duty. Once a year, a tournament of teams was held. On the right side of the quilt, you will see a ribbon of pink. Pete Sanger’s volunteer team, which won the tournament that year. The names of his team are listed. The ribbon near the bottom states that Grand Junction is having Peach Day. It was customary at that time for cities or areas having a particular product to celebrate when the product was at its peak. Grand Junction served peaches and cream free of charge to all who came. Loveland had corn roast and Watermelon Day. Longmont Pumpkin Pie Day and Glenwood Springs Strawberry Day. There are ribbons from Ohio and Mississippi as Stella made visits back to her home state and to Mississippi to her mother-in-law, Mrs. Timberlake. Stella’s two boys, Charles and Earl, her only children to reach adulthood. Both died in their 20s. As I am her namesake, she gave the quilt to me. I displayed the quilt in Washington at the Kittitas County Fair, and was awarded a blue ribbon for the best old-time quilt. I have given the quilt to the Aspen Historical Museum so that many people can enjoy it and its history. I am Stella Marie Woodruff Hall of Seattle, Washington, her namesake. She gave the quilt to me. I have displayed this quilt in Washington at County Fair and won a blue ribbon for the best old-time quilt. I have
given the quilt to the Aspen Historical Society so that many people may enjoy it and its history. This is given by Stella Marie Woodruff Hall, Seattle, Washington.