Raffle quilt will raise money for hall

By Phyllis Lehrer
Staff Writer

Published on May 25, 2007

PELHAM - A quilt raffle is an appropriate fund-raiser for Community Hall. The quilt and the white clapboard building both represent tradition and warmth in this small New England town.

Community Hall, at the corner of Amherst and North Valley roads, was constructed in 1893 and was the site of dinners, rummage sales, graduations, reunions and church services.

The building had deteriorated over the years, but a dedicated Community Hall committee and volunteers have spent the past few years renovating it.

Now the building is in the final stages of its makeover and needs a boost of funds.

"All the structural issues have been done, the sills, roof and walls. We're now working on the interior and especially the kitchen," said Linda Hanscomb, member committee along with Richard Hall, Lorne Hatt, Diane Shepard, Emma Weaver and Elva Anderson.

She said about $15,000 needs to be raised.

Enter Jacqueline Keyes, who donated a quilt she made for a raffle now underway.

"I thought they could use it," said Keyes, who has made about 150 quilts that she has given to family and friends.

The queen-size quilt with a blue border uses a star pattern, with all the stars a different color.

Keyes said it took about a week to make. She machine-sewed the pieces and sent it out to be quilted.

"I have a lot of time and am not able physically to do everything. But I can sit and sew, and as my kids say, 'It keeps you out of trouble, ma," she said.

Keyes also has memories of the hall.

Raffle tickets can be obtained from committee members. Donations, made payable to the Community Hall Renovation Fund, can be sent to: Town Treasurer, 351 Amherst Road, Pelham, MA 01002. A winning raffle ticket will be drawn June 12.

Ticket holders need not be present.