Submitted by Dawne McLean, ACHS President & Images by Stephanie McLean, ACHS Volunteer
Fifty years ago, the spouses or close friends of the Society’s Directors embarked upon a fund-raising journey that we know today as the Albert County Historical Society Quilt Show and Sale. The first shows were held in the Courthouse and the quilts were draped over the benches. After a few years, the show was moved to the Peck Memorial Hall in Hillsborough, now a private home, across the street from the former Hillsborough Baptist Church. At that time, Quilt Show Week coincided with Hillsborough’s Homecoming Days. The night’s security system was having the committee member’s family, often the teenagers, sleeping in the building with the quilts. This continued after the show moved back to the Community Hall at the Museum until a security system was installed. The show has enjoyed a rich history in the Community Hall since the Museum restoration was completed in 2010.
Fifty years ago, the spouses or close friends of the Society’s Directors embarked upon a fund-raising journey that we know today as the Albert County Historical Society Quilt Show and Sale. The first shows were held in the Courthouse and the quilts were draped over the benches. After a few years, the show was moved to the Peck Memorial Hall in Hillsborough, now a private home, across the street from the former Hillsborough Baptist Church. At that time, Quilt Show Week coincided with Hillsborough’s Homecoming Days. The night’s security system was having the committee member’s family, often the teenagers, sleeping in the building with the quilts. This continued after the show moved back to the Community Hall at the Museum until a security system was installed. The show has enjoyed a rich history in the Community Hall since the Museum restoration was completed in 2010.
Cutting the Anniversary Cake from left: Marjorie Henwood, Dawne Kinnie, Donna Alward, Glenna Steeves Planning began in March 2026 to explore options to celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Quilt Show. On May 23, the “Barn Quilt Trail” was officially launched, the first in our region! Merrill Henwood painted a Barn Quilt to be installed on the Community Hall featuring the signature 50th Anniversary block. On June13, the Society hosted a “Golden Dessert Tea” and on June 18, a “Community Sew Day” was held in the Community Hall. Red and white quilt blocks decorated the stage of the Community Hall for ‘Canada Day’ and ‘R. B. Bennett Day’.
July 16- 18 was the featured “ACHS Quilt Show & Sale” event. Twenty-seven quilters from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia displayed their quilted works of art in the Community Hall. Over two hundred pieces ranging from table runners, wall hangings, crib quilts, and quilt tops to king size quilts, adorned the walls and racks of the Hall. In 1976, all of the quilts would have been hand quilted. Today, most of the quilts in the show are machine quilted.
This year’s show opened with a “Recognition Evening” on July. 15th. A tour of the show was open to the public, followed by presentations in the Courthouse. Greetings were delivered by Albert Riverview MLA, Sherry Wilson; Fundy Albert Mayor, Jim Campbell, and Riverview Councillor at Large, Cecile Cassista. Also in attendance were Fundy Albert Councillors, Loretta Elderkin, Deputy Mayor; Rebecca Davis and Darren Phillips. Jim Kinnie, current Quilt Show Committee Member and son of a past Committee Chair, was the Master of Ceremony and gave a brief history of the show. Linda Rose, Committee Member, presented the transition of quilting styles over the last 5 decades. Dawne McLean, ACHS President, presented Recognition Certificates to the 2026 Quilt Show Committee Members.
In the Court House during the 2026 Quilt Show, there were the following special Quilt Displays. The “New Brunswick Unity Quilt” was a collaboration of quilting groups from across New Brunswick, highlighting the unique styles in quilting and show casing the diverse areas of our province. The 2026 ACHS Quilt Committee created a 50th Anniversary Quilt Show block that is included in the NB Unity Quilt. The quilt was on loan to be displayed at the ACHS show and will be going to the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John for permanent display.
The “Albert County Museum 50th Anniversary Signature Quilt” was created with blocks that were signed in 2012, but also includes the ACHS 50th Quilt Show Anniversary block, which is a duplicate of our block in the Unity Quilt. The 50th Quilt Show Anniversary block features a sailboat in the museum’s logo colours of maroon and gold, made with the skills of the 1970s quilter – machine piecing, hand embroidery and hand quilting.
Jeanita Caron’s quilt, ‘Lake House’ received the Viewer’s Choice Award by a public vote during the Recognition Evening. This quilt was sold during the show to a couple from Australia!
The 50th Anniversary cake was officially cut by Dawne Kinnie and Donna Alward, supported by Marjorie Henwood and Glenna Steeves. These ladies served as Chairs of the Quilt Show.
Thursday morning, July 16 at 10am, the doors of the show opened! Including the Recognition Evening, Quilt Show volunteers welcomed over 350 guests! From the 227 registered quilted articles, 93 will be loved in their new homes. International guests attended the show from Australia, Brazil, England and Thailand. Visitors were welcomed from 5 American states and 8 Canadian provinces. The 2026 Quilt Show and Sale was very successful!
The Albert County Historical Society expresses grateful thanks to the NB Dept of Tourism, Heritage and Culture for the support received from the Commemorations and Celebrations Program to organize the events, activities, and projects for the commemorative Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the ACHS Quilt Show and Sale.
The 50th celebration will continue at the Children’s Festival August 14-18 and the final event will be a Community Ice Cream Social, August 27, 2:00- 4:00. Bring a quilt to share its story, a favourite quilting notion or a pattern to swap on the “Freebie Table”. Enjoy an ice cream sundae! Raffle tickets will be available for a variety of baskets.
Thank you to the community for your interest and support of this important fundraiser! It takes “a community to raise a quilt show.” If you are interested in joining the Quilt Show organizing committee, volunteering at the Quilt Show or registering a quilt to sell at the next Quilt Show, please contact Janet Clouston at 506-734-2003
This year’s show opened with a “Recognition Evening” on July. 15th. A tour of the show was open to the public, followed by presentations in the Courthouse. Greetings were delivered by Albert Riverview MLA, Sherry Wilson; Fundy Albert Mayor, Jim Campbell, and Riverview Councillor at Large, Cecile Cassista. Also in attendance were Fundy Albert Councillors, Loretta Elderkin, Deputy Mayor; Rebecca Davis and Darren Phillips. Jim Kinnie, current Quilt Show Committee Member and son of a past Committee Chair, was the Master of Ceremony and gave a brief history of the show. Linda Rose, Committee Member, presented the transition of quilting styles over the last 5 decades. Dawne McLean, ACHS President, presented Recognition Certificates to the 2026 Quilt Show Committee Members.
In the Court House during the 2026 Quilt Show, there were the following special Quilt Displays. The “New Brunswick Unity Quilt” was a collaboration of quilting groups from across New Brunswick, highlighting the unique styles in quilting and show casing the diverse areas of our province. The 2026 ACHS Quilt Committee created a 50th Anniversary Quilt Show block that is included in the NB Unity Quilt. The quilt was on loan to be displayed at the ACHS show and will be going to the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John for permanent display.
The “Albert County Museum 50th Anniversary Signature Quilt” was created with blocks that were signed in 2012, but also includes the ACHS 50th Quilt Show Anniversary block, which is a duplicate of our block in the Unity Quilt. The 50th Quilt Show Anniversary block features a sailboat in the museum’s logo colours of maroon and gold, made with the skills of the 1970s quilter – machine piecing, hand embroidery and hand quilting.
Jeanita Caron’s quilt, ‘Lake House’ received the Viewer’s Choice Award by a public vote during the Recognition Evening. This quilt was sold during the show to a couple from Australia!
The 50th Anniversary cake was officially cut by Dawne Kinnie and Donna Alward, supported by Marjorie Henwood and Glenna Steeves. These ladies served as Chairs of the Quilt Show.
Thursday morning, July 16 at 10am, the doors of the show opened! Including the Recognition Evening, Quilt Show volunteers welcomed over 350 guests! From the 227 registered quilted articles, 93 will be loved in their new homes. International guests attended the show from Australia, Brazil, England and Thailand. Visitors were welcomed from 5 American states and 8 Canadian provinces. The 2026 Quilt Show and Sale was very successful!
The Albert County Historical Society expresses grateful thanks to the NB Dept of Tourism, Heritage and Culture for the support received from the Commemorations and Celebrations Program to organize the events, activities, and projects for the commemorative Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the ACHS Quilt Show and Sale.
The 50th celebration will continue at the Children’s Festival August 14-18 and the final event will be a Community Ice Cream Social, August 27, 2:00- 4:00. Bring a quilt to share its story, a favourite quilting notion or a pattern to swap on the “Freebie Table”. Enjoy an ice cream sundae! Raffle tickets will be available for a variety of baskets.
Thank you to the community for your interest and support of this important fundraiser! It takes “a community to raise a quilt show.” If you are interested in joining the Quilt Show organizing committee, volunteering at the Quilt Show or registering a quilt to sell at the next Quilt Show, please contact Janet Clouston at 506-734-2003
 "The Unity Quilt", Sandra Clouston & Linda Rose |  The Viewer’s Choice Quilt – "Lake House" made by Jeanita Caron, Dieppe |
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