Quilt Brings Comfort To Kurn Hattin
February 1, 2012 | Westminster, Vermont – ‘Quilts are like friends, and a great source of comfort’, someone once said. And it is so true in the community where Kurn Hattin Homes resides. Four local residents, three of them master quilters and one a master designer came together to create a hand crafted masterpiece to bring comfort to children in crisis at Kurn Hattin.
Linda Fawcett, Ann Kebbell, Julie Patrick, and Kathryn Traugott donated their time and talents in making a very special quilt for the children at Lewis Cottage. Lewis Cottage was dedicated in 2009, and named in honor of Trustee Emerita, Janet “Sis” M. Lewis to provide a temporary place of respite for children in crisis. Lewis Cottage looks out at the Kurn Hattin farm and horizon beyond. The quilt with all its patchwork and design, depicts the very essence of what students, alumni and staff hold dear about the farm and surroundings – the big red barn, the silos, the horses, the Connecticut River, the sugar house, acres of green grass and fields, the view of the mountains in New Hampshire and the diversity of the children playing and studying. Beauty, peace and solace – the essentials in times of need.
All the women agreed that they were more than happy to do this for Kurn Hattin. “My grandmother supported Kurn Hattin,” Linda said. Ann remembered, “We used to buy eggs here.” Kathyrn added that she was very grateful to be living in a community where everyone is accepted. They hope the quilt is part of what helps the children regain balance at a time when they may have temporarily lost perspective. Hand embroidered at the bottom of the quilt by Julie Patrick, daughter-in-law of Natalie Patrick who taught at Kurn Hattin for 42 years, is the inscription: Lewis Cottage benefactors: Mrs. Richard B. Lewis and family; Barbara Ezrow, Class of 1963; In Memory of Evelyn Wilbur, The Turrell Fund. This masterpiece will be hung in The Mayo Memorial Center for all to enjoy before going to its special place of permanence at Lewis Cottage.
Pictured (l-r) holding up the Lewis Cottage Farm Quilt are Kathryn Traugott, Ann Kebbell (looking at the quilt); and Linda Fawcett. Missing from photo is Julie Patrick.
Kurn Hattin Homes is a year-round, charitable home and school for in-need and at-risk boys and girls, ages 6-15, from throughout the northeast.