Brookfield Museum and Historical Society
An Extended Learning and Research Center
165 Whisconier Road, P.O. Box 5231, Brookfield, CT 06804
Phone: 203-740-8140
Pict 0147 – 2000–0013–001
Star of Bethlehem
This is one of 16 blocks that were pieced in Connecticut in the 1870s. An heirloom handed down through four generations, the owner had wanted them made into a quilt and given to her church as a gift. It was felt that the true beauty of these blocks could not be enhanced with the materials then available. The blocks were then sold at the 1974 Yankee Fair & Barn Sale of the Congregational Church of Brookfield, so they could be made into pillows or framed.
Each star has 8 points instead of 6. There are 216 diamond shaped pieces in each star. Though never used, a few of the diamonds have a bit of discoloration caused by old dye methods in which some of the chemicals used caused deterioration of the fabric.