The Sweetness and Light Cabin. courtesy photo
Cabins & Quilts Weekend
June 2005
by Susan W. Showalter
Spring is here and it is again time for the Annual Log Cabin and Country Home Tour, sponsored by the Brown County Chapter of Psi Iota Xi Sorority, and the Quilt Show, sponsored by the Brown County Historical Society. Both will be held the weekend of June 3 to 5, 2005.
Amy Oliver is head of publicity for the local philanthropic sorority that will use the proceeds from the tour to support speech and hearing, art, music and literature projects.
“We have changed our hours to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” said Amy. “But for the first time this year we will be offering ‘partial tickets.’ One can now buy a ticket for as many of the homes as they wish to visit for $3 per home. If someone does not have time to take the whole tour they can still visit a home or two.”
The tour is now 32 years old. Initially the Brown County Democrat newspaper sponsored the tour. The following year the event was taken over by the Psi Iota Xi Sorority. The sorority now has 32 female members and the tour has grown to 1,000–2,000 guests who come each year from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky.
This year adults tickets are $15, tickets for children under 12 years of age are $7, and children under 2 years of age are free,” said Amy. “Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 597-5341 or by visiting the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-753-3255) or the Brown County Chamber of Commerce (812-988-6647) in Nashville.”
The tour headquarters is in Nashville at the Gazebo on the Village Green, one block west of the courthouse stoplight. Tickets may be purchased on days of the tour at the Gazebo.
Both new and old homes are featured this year. Each home has unique architecture, handmade items, family heirlooms and antiques.
The following five homes are included on the tour. The Phoenix Lodge, a modern log cabin rebuilt after a fire, is filled with hardwoods and Brown County stone. Angel’s Acres is a thematically decorated cabin made of round white pine logs. The Helmsburg Hilltinn homestay is an eclectically decorated log cabin built by the owner who collects photography and is an award winning cartoonist. The Home at Stonehead, a major Brown County landmark listed on the historic home registry, was built in 1891 then renovated in 2002. The log Sweetness and Light Cabin was moved from Brown County State Park in 1938.
For more information visit the website at <www.logcabintour.com> or email <logcabintour@hotmail.com>.
The Brown County Historical Society Quilt Show will be held the same week from June 2 until June 5 at the historical society building located at 1934 State Route 135 North, one mile north of downtown Nashville.
A Quilt Show Gala will be held on Thursday, June 2 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. featuring speaker Kaye England. Attendees can preview the show and enjoy refreshments. Tickets for this event are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and there is no charge for children 12 or younger.
The Quilt Show with over 100 antique and contemporary quilts will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4 and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday June 5. Indiana native plants will be displayed. Hand dying, spinning and weaving will be demonstrated and Ady’s Fabric and Notions of Morgantown will be offering quilt patterns, books and notions.
A hand-quilted, hand-embroidered queen-size quilt will be raffled. Chances are $1 each or six for $5 and will be available at the show. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing on Sunday June 5 at 3 p.m.
Homemade pies will be available at the Lunch Café. Folk musicians will perform during the show.
Items for the show must submitted on May 31 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Brown County Historical Society Building. A fee of $2 will be charged per item and ribbons will be awarded for those quilts judged. Prizes will be awarded. For entry forms or for more information send SASE to Ruth Whiteside, 2980 Smith Road, Nashville, Indiana 47448 or call 812-988-7426.