Lauren Anderson, Postmaster of South Dennis and I (both quilters)
decided to create one for the Cape but took it one step further. We
wanted to get the entire postal community involved in its creation.
Thus the contributors range from Postmasters, postal staff and
members of the community.
The requirements were basic: 6-1/2 inch square (6" finished)
depicting something that is unique to each town. The name of the
town and the zip code had to be included.
The squares for Martha's Vineyard were done by a quilting quild from
the Island. The Nantucket squares were the result of a Home Ec
class assignment (the best ones were chosen).
Each square has a great story behind its design and creation.
Lauren herself created over a third of the squares. She and Noreen
Couture (Brewster, MA) translated into squares ideas that non sewing
Postmasters wanted. As the squares came in they also thought of
themes we wanted represented and used them for zip codes that were
not submitted. Ex: Biking, golfing, ice cream, boating....
Lauren assembled the quilt using the light/dark, light/dark
placement land the black borders...which worked well.
She and Noreen designed the outside borders...and did the hand
quilting. The top is quilted with images of the two bridges that
lead to the Cape as well as maps of Cape Cod and the Islands. The
corners are sea shells, waves are along the sides and the bottom is
quilted with fish. The first three digits in any zip code denote the
processing plant that "works" the mail for that area. All zip codes
for the Cape start with either 025 or 026....Thus the 025 and 026 on
each side of the CAPE COD. The quilt made it's debut at the
Bayberry Quilter Show in Harwich, MA. last August. The local paper
had featured the quilt in the Sunday edition before the show. They
were told that attendance to the show was doubled because of
everyone wanting to see the quilt.
It was shown at the Agricultural Fair on Martha's Vineyard last
summer and Marston's Mills Town Fair here on the Cape in the fall.
The month of January it hung in the Spellman Museum of Stamps and
Postal History in Weston, MA. as part of an exhibition of quilts and
stamps. The quilt continues to tour on the Cape as it goes from Post
Office to Post Office. Our original plan was to hang it in the
conference room at the Cape Cod Processing and Distribution Center.
However, after getting it appraised we have been told it is
priceless. There is a folk art museum on the Cape in Sandwich.
Because They want to keep it here on the Cape there is a possibility
that it will be exhibited there.
Contact Noreen
for more information or to request display of the quilt.
