The Walton Historical Society (WHS) announces a new exhibit is being planned for the Eells House during the summer of 2025.
“Handmade in Walton – The Legacy of the Home Bureau” will present items made by members of the Home Bureau. The Home Bureau was a community organization developed to promote all interests in home and community life. Ladies of the community met monthly in members’ homes to socialize and learn many different crafts and useful skills, taught by one of their own.
These crafts included knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, rug hooking (latch hook), leatherwork, aluminum trays – etching and fluting edges, stencil painting, tole painting, flower arranging, home decoration from natural materials (seeds, acorns, branches, etc.), safety pin dolls, chair caning, smocking, huck toweling (counted cross stitch), glove making, basket weaving, embroidery and cross-stitch, and rug braiding.
Some of the skills taught were darning and mending, canning and preservation of foods, outdoor cooking and grilling, making and altering of clothing.
You may remember a family member - a mother, grandmother, or aunt - that participated in the Home Bureau and made these craft items. If you remember crafts and skill not mentioned above, let us know. If you have any of these items and are willing to loan them to the Walton Historical Society, exhibit organizers would be pleased to include them - items do not have to be something made by Home Bureau members. We are also looking for artisans and crafters willing to provide demonstrations at the Eells House, 9 Townsend Street, Walton. Call 607-865-5895 and leave a message, or email waltonhistoricalsociety@outlook.com
