Coming this spring to the Kalona Historical Village is an outstanding set of exhibits, thanks to the generosity of Mike Zahs, local historian and friend of the Village.

The glass case near the English Gallery will feature a display titled “History in a Cloth Bag.” Mike Zahs was presenter for Humanities for Iowa for many years giving this program.

The use of cloth bags for flour, seeds, and food began during the Civil War when they displaced wooden barrels. During World War I they were famously used to ship food to Europeans as part of relief efforts led by Herbert Hoover.

The English Gallery will feature a unique display of feed sack quilts from Mike Zahs’ collection. The quilts showcase the creativity of many quilters, who made use of the fabric available in their homes. Many houses had nothing made of cloth that had not been a bag first. Scraps from clothing made from bags went into quilts.

Many of these quilts use very small pieces like the “Postage Stamp” quilt with over 1,000 half-inch squares. Most of the collection’s quilts were made in the 1930’s and 1940’s. About 1925 the cotton milling companies discovered that printed feed sacks were very popular with women.  The patterns included dish towels, children’s stuffed toys, and a variety of prints suitable for clothing.  Many children went to school in feed sack dresses and shirts.

The Kalona Historical Village is very excited to present these amazing quilts which will hang from April 1-Oct. 31. Make plans to see them and discover fabrics you may remember.