October 19, 1935

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

An article about the grand prize winner at the Quilt Show

Winner of News Quilt Show
Mrs. R. E. Lauer is the grand champion of the 1935 Detroit News Quilt Club Show now being held in the Naval Armory. Mrs. Lauer won the $100 first prize with her double Irish daisy chain quilt now hanging in the place of honor at the show, which closes Sunday night. This is only the second quilt she has made.
Housewife Takes Honors with Her Second Effort

The double Irish daisy chain quilt that hangs in the place of honor at The Detroit News Quilt Club Show in the Naval Armory is not the work of an expert. You have that information straight from the maker, Mrs. R. E. Lauer, soft voiced, dark haired Highland Park housewife who declares the quilt is the second one she has made in her life. That is why she gave a little gasp of astonishment when she learned she was the winner of the $100 award for the grand champion quilt.

Sitting in her home at 210 Tuxedo avenue, Highland Park, Mrs. Lauer tried to realize she had captured an honor sought by thousands of women who have entered quilts in the 1935 show.

I never really hoped to win an award, she said. After all this quilt is only my second. Ten years ago when I married I made one. It was a Wheel of Fortune pattern. Then about five years ago I saw this double Irish daisy chain pattern in The News. I started the quilt but it took quilt some time to get it finished. I was satisfied I had done a good job, yet I never hoped for a grand prize.

Mrs. Lauer is the wife of a metallurgist and is the mother of two sons, Robert, 9 years old and John, 7. The children were nearly as excited as their mother when informed of the selection of the Lauer quilt as the winner.

My husband is hunting up north and I'm willing to bet I'll have a bigger surprise for him than any he can bring home to us, his wide stated happily. And as for Robert- he's so excited he can hardly talk. You see I started this quilt for his bed.
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Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.