Standard-Examiner correspondent
Shirley Lee, of Pleasant View, Toots Brundage and Brenda Rector, both of Washington Terrace, handstitch a quilt at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Wednesday, May 25, 2016. They have a combined 180 years of quilting experience.
OGDEN — Ever wanted to try your hand at quilting, bread making, storytelling, rope making or hair curling?
The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum has you covered this summer. The museum is offering a variety of different classes to teach some of the skills from past eras that many people don’t know anymore. Plus, the museum has a treasure trove of items to look at and even research including more than 3,000 photographs related to the Ogden area.
Jean Branch, publicity chairwoman, said the museum wanted to provide programs the whole family would enjoy plus extra activities to acquaint the community with the facility — like the first-ever Queen Crowning on June 25.
A weekly quilting bee is already underway from 10 a.m. to noon every Wednesday at the Ogden museum, 2104 Lincoln Ave.
“It’s surprising how many people don’t know how to quilt, but want to learn,” said Sue Bybee, president of the museum.
Although the class has been going on for a month, newcomers can come any week and start beginning lessons with those who know the tricks of the trade. The quilt is left up during the week so museum docents can work on it when they aren’t busy, or visitors can drop in and work on it too.
PREVIEW
• WHAT: Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum
• WHEN: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday
• WHERE: 2104 Lincoln Ave., Ogden
• ADMISSION: Free
The quilting bees will run all summer but they aren’t the only thing on the agenda. In June, bread-making classes will start and pioneer stories will be told bi-weekly in the afternoons under a shade tree outside.
“We have worked really hard to come up with some things that people would like to do. We would love to teach young girls how to quilt or to do any of these things,” Bybee said.
As for the Queen Crowning, that event on June 25 is the naming of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers royalty for Ogden Pioneer Days. The queen and her attendants are announced in advance of Pioneer Days festivities throughout July.
Bybee said many people aren’t aware of all the history and pictures that are housed in the museum’s basement. The museum will hold some special “history search nights” to show folks how easy it is to search for family histories relating to the Ogden area and to find photos of ancestors.
“We have over 6,000 family histories of different people who came over the plains, with 3,000 old photos,” Bybee said.
The docents are experts on the historical items in the museum, which provide a glimpse into pioneer life and early Ogden history. On display is a top hat Brigham Young wore as well as other artifacts believed to be his like an old cane. Other interesting pioneer artifacts include an actual biscuit that came across the plains with a young girl who was saving it to feed those in need.
Also featured are a set of handmade clothes a young mother made for her children who died on the journey west and a handmade doll one young girl cherished during her pioneer trek. Visitors can also see furniture, quilts, intricate blessing dresses, an old organ that still plays music and a pioneer handcart.
The museum docents have stories to tell about almost every item on display.
Right now, the museum’s event schedule is only set through June, but Bybee said activities for July and August will be added to the website in the future. The June programs include:
• Quilting bees — 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays through June 29
• Story Day — June 8, 21, 22. Pioneer stories will be told outside at 2 p.m. Adult supervision is required.
• Bread making — June 14. Learn hands-on bread making at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees will learn about different types of bread and make and take home a loaf of yeast bread ready to rise and bake in their oven. Bring a half pint of cream to make butter to go with the bread.
• DUP History Search Night — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. June 16. Learn how to search family histories and find photos of ancestors. Call Sue Bybee at 801-391-1447 to register for this class.
• Queen Crowning — 5:30 p.m. June 25. Queen crowning with attendants named. Box dinners will be sold.
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