Kalona, Iowa

June 17, 2022

Kalona is a small farming community about 15 miles south of Iowa City.  Kalona’s claim to fame is the Amish community in the surrounding area and it is well known for its quilts.

I’ve been to Kalona and its quilt stores before, but this visit was to learn more about the community and the quilts that have made it famous.

The local historical museum has a fabulous display of locally made quilts from the 1850s to present day.  A local quilt historian donated her collection to the historical society with the stipulation that they build a building with appropriate lighting and climate control to protect the quilts.  The community rose to the challenge and built a building to support the quilts and also added a community room for local use and to welcome the busloads of tourists that invade on a regular basis.  The community while prosperous it is no Shipshewana.

The museum also contains a collection of thread display cases.  Apparently, back in the day, a merchant could earn a thread case by selling a certain amount of thread.  The more thread you sold, the nicer the case you received.  A local merchant began collecting the display cases and amassed a rather large collection.  His family owned a general store for generations and the cases were on display in the store.  Six years ago the store caught on fire.  The local firemen created a human chain and were able to save all of the thread cases.  These were very interesting to see.  If you have old wooden spools of thread, look on the ends to see if they have an “ONT” printed on the end.  It means “our new thread” and was printed on the spools to indicate that the thread was from a new process designed to eliminate thick spots on the thread.  It was necessary to have consistent thread to use in the new treadle sewing machines.

Kalona has also imbedded colored tiles in their sidewalks that depict various quilt blocks.  This was done to generate business in their downtown area.  I think this has been a successful venture for them as there were several people photographing them on the day of my visit.