SANDPOINT — Intrigued by a discovery of a bag filled with squares for an unfinished quilt, Mary Jo Ambrosiani couldn't help but purchase it.

She had grown up sewing and was an accomplished seamstress and had always been intrigued by quilting.

"It was kind of like being in the right place at the right time," she said. "I just liked going into the alternative high school's thrift store because there were some interesting things in there, and then to find that bag and to have that opportunity to be a part of our church's quilting group so I could bring it here and find out how to finish it or not."

But life got busy and the bag sat forgotten in the back of a closet — until she came across them last fall and knew it was time to complete the quilt.

When she pulled the squares from the long-neglected bag, Ambrosiani was surprised to see the names of 14 or so women carefully embroidered in the center of the brightly colored squares — some green, some red, some yellow and others a mixture of colors and fabrics.

As she thought about it, she also realized it was a chance to honor the women, to finish the project they'd clearly worked so hard on, hand-stitching the squares one by one, proudly embroidering their names as each square was completed, before it was put aside.

"Once I started talking to people about who are these ladies? Does anybody know them?" Ambrosiani said. "It became like a quest to see who were these ladies and how did they fit in to our community?"

She feels that God led her to the bag, knowing that when the time was right, she would complete the work and bring the quilt full circle.

"I feel honored to have had the opportunity to put this together and to be able to share it with the people I've come into contact with while working on it," Ambrosiani said. "It's just an honor to have put something like this together and know that there's some history there."

While an accomplished seamstress, quilting has been a new learning experience — and one inspired by the quilt found many years ago in the now-closed thrift store. She's found mentors and inspiration among fellow members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church's Altar Society.

"They're very patient with me and helped me along the way," she added.

Ambrosiani felt inspired to tackle the quilt project after helping with the society's annual quilt raffle in which the members plan, craft and sew a quilt to raise money for the society.

When she rediscovered the quilt in a closet, Ambrosiani brought the pieces to share with fellow members of St. Joseph's Altar Society. They, like her, were excited by the discovery and the chance to finish the project, freely offering advice and support throughout the journey.

"They were just amazed ... and as we pulled out each one of the blocks and saw the ladies' names, they were just as curious as I was, wondering who these ladies were. Were they locals? Did someone bring the quilt pieces here from somewhere else?"

She turned to friend Carol Camp, who compiles a history column for the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum. Camp researched the museum's archives and was able to discover that the women were members of the Colburn 4-H Club.

According to Camp's research, the club was started in 1931 by Mrs. Ralph Hicks with six members — Ellen Arnold, Frank Brown, Mrs. Holtz, Mrs. Marcus Zastrow, Mrs. John Nelson and Hicks. During the years, club members took part in community projects, worked on Red Cross projects and also baked cookies for the USO each month.

Research shared with Ambrosiani noted the club celebrated its 30th anniversary in September 1961, with 75 members having been a part of the Colburn 4-H Club.

"I think it was a group of ladies that, like our altar society, got together back in the 1940s and decided to quilt to pass the time," Ambrosiani said.

Among the Colburn 4-H Club members who contributed quilt squares:

Mary Rosemeyer Oliver, the wife of Charles Oliver, lived in the Colburn area and was mother to fellow 4-H Club members Ruth Green and Vernice Stradley and mother-in-law to member Ruth C. Oliver.

Ruth Oliver Green, married to Robert Green, lived in the Colburn area.

Vernice Oliver Stradley, married to Glen Stradley, and like others in her family, lived in the Colburn area.

Ruth C. Olson Oliver was married to Russell Oliver and was the daughter-in-law of fellow club member Mary Oliver.

Caroline Elli was married to Albert Ali and is cited in several newspaper articles from the 1940s that mention the club's social activities.

Emma Robbins Chicks was a founder and charter member of the Colburn 4-H Club. Married to Ralph R. Chicks, she lived in the Colburn area until moving to Sandpoint.

Esther Rosemeyer Montgomery was the wife of Irvin Montgomery and lived in the Colburn area until moving to Oregon in the mid-1940s.

Cecelia Greenfield McConnell was married to Charles McConnell and was an active member of the club.

Ellen Arnold was a charter member of the club and lived in the Samuels area.

Vera Moore Hustead was married to Dan Hustead.

Lawana Hawkins Olson was married to Bill Olson and lived in the Colburn area until moving to Sagle.

Selma Grindeland Mathieson was married to John Mathieson.

Mildred Davis lived in the Colburn area but by 1961 was living in Seattle.

Ethel Thomas Doyle lived in the Colburn area after her marriage to Thomas Doyle. The couple lived in the community until moving to Montana in 1947.

Ambrosiani estimates she's spent about 50 hours completing the quilt, much longer than she'd anticipated, in part because the squares vary slightly in size. She had to square up the squares, carefully adjusting the sashing — the strips of fabric used to frame and separate the various blocks — to achieve squares that were the same size. She then laid the quilt squares out and, with members of the Altar Society, figured out a layout that helped each square to shine.

Ambrosiani plans to enter the quilt in the upcoming Bonner County Fair, set for Aug. 12-16, so that it can be on display where others can see it and celebrate its completion after more than 70 years of waiting.

"After that, if I could find some place to display it, I wouldn't mind doing that," she said.

Ambrosiani hopes that family members of the women are still around so she can learn more about the women, their lives and why they formed the club.

"I would want people, should some relative contact me, that their mother, sister, grandmother hasn't been forgotten," she added. "Because here's this quilt and the pieces weren't thrown away, they weren't just discarded and nobody thought anything about them. I think that's one of my dreams, that this is a way of keeping the memory of somebody alive, whether you know them or not, they were important to somebody and that's the joy I got out of putting this together."

    The name of Ruth C. Oliver can be seen embroidered on a quilt square.
  

    Mary Jo Ambrosiani works on her next quilting project after completing a 70-year-old quilt left forgotten by members of the Colburn 3-H Club.