ATHENS – A quilt created by Athens students in celebration of America’s 200 th birthday and subsequently found
in a Tennessee antique store is on display near Downtown Athens as part of the local America 250 celebrations.
Roy Patton, owner of Hendrick’s-Patton-RANCL, said his second-grade class at Julian Newman Elementary
made the quilt for the country’s bicentennial. He made a block with the Statue of Liberty and stitched his name
in the corner. Each student created an image and stitched their names, and one block had “Julian Newman
Elementary April 1976.”
Patton said several years ago, a family member found the quilt while antique shopping in Tennessee and saw
Patton’s name.
“She asked if I wanted it, and I immediately said, ‘Yes!’” he said.
How the quilt wound up in Tennessee is unknown, but Patton is proud it is back in Athens. It currently is on loan
to Athens Arts League for exhibition in honor of the country’s semiquincentennial.
“I’ve been waiting 50 years for you to ask me,” Patton joked, after an AAL Board member asked about
displaying the quilt.
It is on display at AAL’s headquarters known as The Scout House at 313 Washington Street East. Those who
want to see the quilt can drop by during the morning art classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or
during set public hours:
Friday, June 12, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, June 22, from 9-11 a.m.
Friday, June 26, from 2-4 p.m.
Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We appreciate Roy honoring us with the opportunity to share this quilt with the public,” said Athens Arts League
President Jennifer Hilton Sampieri. “The quilt is a wonderful piece of art that honors America’s 200 th as well as
our local history. I’m sure there are many in town who will recognize some of the names on the quilt blocks.”
A few pieces of artwork created by local students for the Athens-America250AL Committee’s “My American
Inspiration Art Contest” are also on display at Scout House. The students chose a person from American history
who inspires them and created artwork to highlight that person.
Other pieces from the contest are on display at Athens City Hall, 200 Hobbs St. West, and Athens-Limestone
Tourism, 100 N. Beaty St. Both locations are open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4:30 p.m.
The student’s art pieces will also be on display July 4 during Red, White and Boom at the Sportplex. That event
starts at 4 p.m. Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce President Pammie Jimmar said the winners of the
student art contest will be recognized at 4:30 p.m. during the festival.
The winners will receive cash prizes and an Athens-America250 AL certificate from Athens Arts League.
Sampieri said the artwork showcases students’ perceptions of American figures and how they can inspire all
generations. For example, for a piece that highlights Annie Oakley, the student wrote on her registration form
that Oakley’s sharpshooting skills “were absolutely amazing.” She added, “She made her career in a field
dominated by men, which would have taken strength, resilience and guts.”
Scout House, City Hall and Tourism also have on display pieces of Americana-themed art created by clients at
the Mental Health Center. The clients learn how to express their emotions through art and have created pieces
that symbolize America, such as the letters USA, a patriotic balloon animal and a glass of lemonade.
To stay updated on local 250 th events, follow Athens-Limestone’s Celebration of America’s 250 th on Facebook.
