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By Sarah Novak / [email protected]
LUZERNE– In 1976, 12-year-old Jeffrey Haller was the lucky recipient of a beautiful hand sewn quilt that he won during a United States bicentennial celebration held at the Northwoods Sportsmen’s Club in Luzerne. 50 years later, Haller has traveled the world with his quilt and brought it back to his cottage in Lewiston for his family to curl up with on cold northern Michigan nights.
The Northwoods Sportsmen’s Club no longer stands but it once was a popular local gathering place during the 70’s. Several local ladies hand crafted a gorgeous quilt that went up for raffle for our country’s anniversary celebration. Haller’s grandmother was a member of the club and purchased him a raffle ticket that ultimately led him to winning a red, white, and blue quilt with several “spirit of ‘76” swirl stars sewn in. His beloved quilt traveled with him for 40 years throughout the States, Europe, and Mexico during his career in the automotive industry. He has truly cherished it and the nostalgic memories it brings of summers spent at his grandmother’s cabin.
Haller is now retired and lives in Plymouth, but he and his wife Holly purchased a cabin in Lewiston where the quilt now resides. Everyone in his family from his kids, grandparents, and dogs have used it.
“This quilt has stood the test of time, and it might have a few tattered corners but it’s been well loved throughout the past 50 years,” Haller said. He is truly proud of the fine craftmanship that was put into this quilt by the local ladies of Big Creek Township.
In honor of the United States sesquicentennial anniversary, Haller wanted to share this story with the community in hopes to find anyone that attended the bicentennial celebration or might have known some of the ladies that participated in creating the quilt. If you are interested in contacting Haller email him at [email protected].
