Fire destroyed the home Lula Ritter and her grandchildren, Harold and Marie Westbrook in November of 1938.  Lula was the widow of John “Pink” Ritter and a aunt of Tex Ritter. Following the best tradition of personal help, friends and neighbors pitched in to aid the homeless family. They brought clothing, house wares and other items to help the family recover. One local merchant donated a new set of cookware. I still have three of the skillets.

Neighbors and relatives made two ‘friendship quilts.” Each woman made a 12’ x 12’ patchwork square, embroidering her name across the block. Many incorporated scraps cut from old tobacco sacks.

One quilt top (which was never completed with a backing) survives and contained the following names:

Mrs. F. Sharp

Laudie Graves

Lela Koonce

Ethel Ritter

Alien Marshall

Nells Graves

Carrie Ritter

Ade Collins

Beatrice Langford

Mrs. J.D. (or S.) Ritter, Carthage ,  March 7, 1939

Alice Collins

Ruby Ritter

Gladys Ritter

Cecil Langford

Lillian Grafton

Madie Bell Marfield (?)

Lois Collins

The other quilt was used by Marie and her family for many years and eventually wore out. Some of the names from that quilt included:

Bettie Adams

Hattie Ball

Ola Ball

Mrs. R.C. Beauchamp

Lena Beasley   Nov. 16, 1938

Clara Brannon

Mrs. L.W. Boatman

Irene Campbell

Nannie Daniel

Eva Downing

Lemma Dry

Jewel Heaton

Mrs. C.C. Sharpe

Verna Smith

Reba Stone

Gertie Sullivan

If anyone is interested in receiving any of the blocks from the second quilt, please contact Ron Partin. The condition of the individual blocks varies. About half are in pretty good shape, suitable for framing.

Ron Partin

60 Beaumont Dr.

Hendersonville, NC 28739

rpartin@bgnet.bgsu.edu

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