LITTLETON, Maine — In the 1930s a group of ladies in Littleton were members of a club named the Willing Workers.
The Willing Workers Club included in front: Norm Lilley with Junior Tingley. From left: Ada Eleiott, Rosella Fitzpatrick, Bertha Murphy, Amber Shaw, Mary Tingley, Eliza Shaw, Flora Elliott, behind Eliza, Mildred Kiley, Minnie McCordic and Sadie Briggs. In back: Ruth McCordick, Becki Horseman and Grace McCordick.
(Contributed photo/Karen Donato)
This group changed yearly as ladies joined or left the group. Their focus was to take on a project at each member’s home, according to the need. It might be cleaning, wall papering, cooking, gardening, canning, or quilting.
The members each had an apron designed to show a pot of flowers on each side. The blossom of the flower which was appliqued on had the embroidered name of a member on it. One of the aprons displayed at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum was found in later years under the sink of member, Ruth McCordic who lived on the Foster Road in Littleton.
The ladies would be picked up by a male resident in the community by horse and wagon in the spring, summer and fall and by horse and sleigh in the winter. That gentleman would spend the day with the ladies bringing in wood for the fire, a pail of water or turning the quilt frame for the quilters. He would then deliver the ladies home in the afternoon around three o’clock when he could also pick up some of their children from one of the neighborhood schools.
Earlier this summer Judi Goodwin Bohall, my cousin who lives in western Massachusetts, delivered a full-size quilt that was made by the Willing Workers. It featured quilt squares with each member’s name embroidered on it. The quilt was included in some of Violet Eleiott Goodwin’s belongings.
The Willing Workers Club each made an apron with their names embroidered on the circle of the flower. This apron is on display at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton.
(Contributed photo/Karen Donato)
It is unknown when this quilt left Littleton, but my Aunt Violet, who was Bohall’s mother, was born in the early 1920s and spent time in Washington, D.C., Arkport, New York and finally Prescott, Arizona. After her death in the 1990s, the quilt made its way to Springfield and now back to Littleton. Our grandmother, Ada Shaw Eleiott was one of those members whose name is stitched into the quilt.
Other names included on the apron and quilt are: Rosella Fitzpatrick, Bertha Murphy, Amber Shaw, Mary Tingley, Eliza Shaw, Flora Elliott, Mildred Kiley, Minnie McCordic, Blanche Logan, Sadie Briggs, Becki Horseman, Grace McCordic, Josephine Crawford, Lizzie Marks, Delia McCormick, Hazel Elliott, Martha Elliott and Mary Smith. Norman Lilley was one of the men who transported the ladies around the community.
The quilt and the apron are on display at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton. Tours of the museum are provided every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1-4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.
