GREEN COVE SPRINGS - With the United States on the heels of its 250th birthday, the Clay County Clerk and Comptroller's Office is helping to stitch together the pieces of a rich history. Literally.

Through the end of July, the Clay County Courthouse will be the host of a special quilt exhibit featuring patriotic works made to commemorate the semi quincentennial. The presentation is part of Art in the Courthouse — a community outreach program created in partnership with local artists, schools and civic groups, as a way for work from notable groups to be displayed and enjoyed.

Spanning more than 50 years, most of the pieces were specially crafted by the First Coast Quilters Guild. The walls of the corridor are plastered with red, white and blue engraved wraps with stars, eagles and flags, both big and small. A highlight of the exhibit is the Quilt of Valor, featuring a reproduction of a famous painting depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It will soon be presented to a military service member.

Another highlight is a duvet crafted in honor of the bicentennial. Each square was independently stitched by the women from the Village Improvement Association's junior club in 1976. While working and raising families, the women said they met during the evenings in the current archives room at 17 N. Palmetto Ave.

Ten of the 21 who helped make the quilt were present during a special gathering at the exhibit on May 22: Jeanie Godbold, Andrea Geiger, Sandra Ivey, Dolly Conner, Bess Silcox-Brack, Joan Gaugler, Linda Westall, Sharon Stevens-Nellis, Andrea Christie and Jean Bazley. 

"We've all talked about getting together for a long time when we'd see each other. So, when this happened, I thought 'Oh, what a great time,'" Stevens-Nellis said.

"These are such great memories for us."

The women of the VIA were not the only ones partaking in quilting during the 1970s. In fact, the bicentennial played a big role in reviving interest in quilting, as thousands of patriotic quilts were created as community projects in churches, schools and civic groups.It thrived and laid the foundation for an artistic and cultural movement.

The VIA's quilt had been hanging at the Clay County Historical Society Museum for the last 50 years. It will go back there when the exhibit concludes. In addition to the quilt, Stevens-Nellis made a special dress as part of the bicentennial collection. While it was sent to Philadelphia to represent the club, the Historical Society is currently on the hunt for the artifact.

The quilts are located on the fourth floor of the Clay County Courthouse at 825 N. Orange Ave. It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.