Our History

It all began back in 1980 when a small group of enthusiastic & visionary women got together around a kitchen table to start what is now known as the Huntington Quilters. We are to proud to say that several of the Charter Members continue to be actively involved in the current Guild. They are: Paula Madison, Jo Bodkin, Carol Colby, Lucille Corbett and Carol Nolan.

The earliest written piece of documentation dates back to 1980 with a pattern for a Jam Jar Ornament.

The Guild originally met at the Knights of Columbus on Wall Street in Huntington, NY. Dues were $10 per year, but on meeting night, each member had to pay $1 at the door to “heat” the hall.

1981:

• Charter for the Huntington Quilters is created.

1982:

• The Quilt Club, as it was referred to then, had 42 paid members. (The heat money would fluctuate with attendance.)
• The Guild was still in need of a logo.
• One of the members volunteered her husband as “Cruise Director” to plan trips for the club.

1983:

• Dues were up to $12 plus the $1 per person each month for the heat.
• In addition to the usual officers, the Club back then, also had the positions of Circulation and Education Chairpersons.

1984:

• The first written record of the Guild being referred to as The Huntington Quilters appears.
• Our current “Purpose Statement” is put into writing.
• The “Honeybee” logo now appears in print. Click here to download Honeybee block pattern.
• Raffle Quilt raises $32.19.

1985:

• Members must now contribute $1.50 per month at the door for heat in the Knights of Columbus Hall.
• The Guild is thinking of thinking of looking for an alternate place to meet.
• Smokers were asked to sit near the door.
• HQ holds an Open House for a Mini Quilt Show at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

1986:

•  The meetings are officially held on “The first Tuesday of the Month” at Finley Jr. High on Greenlawn Road. The Guild will meet from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• There were 10 quilt shops on Long Island.
• The Guild goes to “The Great American Quilt Festival” in celebration of the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. The cost is $8.50. Admission to the show is $6.00!
• The formalities of the Raffle Quilt start to take shape. The formation of a committee, along with a chairperson to organize this is suggested.
• A room is available for members who want to meet during the day on a weekly basis. It would be at the Huntington Community School on Woodhull Ave. Members could meet every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (The Weds. group officially comes into being.)

1988:

• There are: 12 Charter members of the Guild, 9 Experienced, 12 Beginners, and 27 “In-Betweens”
• Dues are still $10.
• There were 8 stores that gave the HQ members a 10% discount. Only two (2) of those stores are still in existence and only one (Sentimental Stitches) still gives our members a 10% discount!
• By October, the Guild has 62 members.

1989:

•  Huntington Quilters relocate to the Oldfield Middle School. Members had to bring their own folding chairs that first meeting.
• At the Sept. 12 meeting, the Huntington Quilters Banner makes its debut showing to the Guild. (This same Banner now proudly graces our website.)
• The Newsletter took on a new “look”.
• Muslin stenciled with the Honeybee logo is handed out for name tags.
• Discussion of a bank account for the Guild is brought up.

1990:

• The term of Officers is officially changed to serve from September through June instead of Jan. through Dec.
• There are now 67 members.
• The Treasurer may serve a 3-year term instead of a 2-year one.

1991:

• With the 91 paid members, the Guild must close any further people from joining due to space limitations and fire code laws.

1992:

• The Newsletter is now published every other month instead of monthly.

1993:

• The Guild must leave the Oldfield Middle School and find another location to hold their meetings.
• The Guild meets at the Long Acre School in East Northport.
• In November, the Guild meets at the Huntington Public Library on Main Street.
• Paula Nadelstern speaks to the Hungtington Quilters.

1994:

• Huntington Quilters find a permanent home at the Centerport United Methodist Church.
• The Wednesday Group continues to meet at the Long Acre School.

1995:

• Quilt Camp is held at the Huntington Beach Comm. Assoc. Casino in Centerport. The first of a yearly tradition is born.

1996:

• The By-Laws are amended.

1997:

• Huntington Quilters donate a quilt as a fundraiser for Channel 21 to support their airing of quilting programs.
• By March, the membership count reaches 97.
• Little/Big Sisters Program is introduced in the hopes of making new members feel welcome and more at ease.
• Member Vendor night is launched.

1999:

• Another day time weekly group is formed. The Third Thursday Quilters begin to meet at the E. Northport Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This primarily for the purpose of making pro-bono quilts.

2000:

• A motion is made to put the Huntington Quilters on-line.

2001:

• The membership votes to belong and support the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA.
• Dues are officially raised to $20 per year.

2002:

• The idea of holding a Quilt Show at the Centerport Methodist Church is raised.

2003:

• Membership has reached 114 members.
• The first time a written record appears mentioning a Weds. group meeting at the East Northport Library from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Open to anyone, not just members of HQ. Bring your own project and a bag lunch.

2006:

• The Raffle Quilt netted approximately $2,400. Quite a big difference from the $32.19 in 1985!

2009:

• In September, the official website of the Huntington Quilters has its premier showing at the Guild Meeting.  Our official email address (info@huntingtonquilters) is also established.

• We continue to meet at the Centerport Methodist Church where we first met in 1993. Our membership hovers around 100, give or take. We still have our annual “Quilt Camp” every March, right around National Quilt Day. As in the early stages of the Club, the Guild continues to thrive due to its enthusiastic members and the generous giving of their time and energy. The Huntington Quilters could not succeed without its loyal and supportive members.

2010:

• In April, we started a new tradition – a weekend Quilt Retreat (2.5 days of laughter-filled, guilt-free quilting – HEAVEN!).

2011:

• The guild began the 2011/2012 season with 113 members
• In February, the guild hosted Anita Grossman Solomon as guest speaker for both trunk show and Arrowhead block workshop
• In May, the guild will be hosting Eugenia Barnes, certified quilt appraiser for a talk and opportunity to have quilts appraised for insurance purposes.

How very far we have come since those women met around a kitchen table when the minutes were hand written (or typed on a typewriter) and the members had to pay $1 at the door for the “heat”. Thank you!