Sweet Rose Nine Patch, S. Spring & Main Streets

#227 Sweet Rose Nine Patch

Quilter Molly Jane Collins Oelkers

Sponsor Walhalla City Council

Molly Jane Collins Oelkers, who was born in 1882, created this lovely quilt. Composed of simple squares of pink, blue, and rose printed satin, it is charming in its simplicity. The rose print adds an air of innocence, and the small size of this quilt suggests it might have been meant for a child.

She was the wife of Richard Dietrich “Rich” Oelkers II, who preceded her in death by twenty years in 1945.Rich and Molly Oelker had six children, three sons and three daughters. Many of their descendants continue to call Walhalla home, including the Fussell, Phillips, and Underwood families, who gratefully possess many of the old recipes and the knitted and crocheted handiwork of Molly Jane Collins Oelkers.

This project was commissioned by the Walhalla City Council in 2017 in conjunction with Walhalla Partners for Progress and the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail to honor the founding families of Walhalla. The story of each quilt is placed on the back side of each quilt providing an opportunity to learn about the founding families while strolling along Main Street. Complete story can be found on our website, search for quilt #227.