Middlef ieldPOST Volume 9 ~ Issue 5
Sept. 17, 2014
www.middlefieldpost.com
Neighborly News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Communities
Fair Rug Hookers
By Nancy Huth
O
ne of the lesser-known crafts at the Great Geauga County Fair is that of rug hooking. Beautiful, multicolored, wall hangings, tabletop runners, and seat covers hung on display. You would have thought only painters could produce such vibrant tones, but these were done by rug hookers. A number of ribbons were won this year by members of Beth Croup’s class at the Chardon Senior Center on Ravenwood Drive, which has been meeting once a week for 14 years. Participants, male and female, ages 60 to 88, share their friendship, knowledge and support. Four members won ribbons this year, including Rita Kenney, Dawn Miller and Dick Taylor. Beth says, “While rug hooking is our primary activity, among our group are expert knitters, quilters, rug braiders, cooks, gardeners, antique collectors, and book and travel devotees.” Gentleman rug hooker, Richard (Dick) Taylor (88) is the oldest pupil in Beth Croup’s class. When Beth gave a talk at the Geauga Senior Center 4 years ago, Dick realized he knew her family and joined her class. Rug hooking held an area of interest for him since he and his wife Roma had been involved in the antique business since 1977. Dick’s been attending her class for 4 years and has won a number of awards at the Geauga County Fair. In 2013, he earned three blue ribbons in the rug hooking division, which Dick playfully calls a “subculture”. There are 17 categories alone in this
division. This year he acquired one red and four white ribbons, in addition to the three ribbons he won in the antique display. Recently, Dick introduced his teacher Beth, whom he calls a dedicated and unselfish instructor, to five members of the Woodsong Condo Development’s Needlework Group where she gave a rug hooking demonstration. It looked so simple to push that punch-needle through the linen, but only practice would make perfect as the ladies quickly learned. Dick’s most recent piece is a small wall hanging for his 4-month-old great grandson, Henry. Rug hooking is one of those fading arts and it’s nice to see that a gentleman in our town has revived it so well. Speaking of his awards, Dick asserts, “You don’t rug hook to get a ribbon, but it’s like the icing on the cake.” Wool is generally the preferred material for a rug, but today’s fabrics are usually combinations of materials, often synthetic. If you have any wool clothing ready to discard, please don’t do it, donate it instead. The Geauga Senior Center can make use of it in its rug hooking class. Continued on page 2
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This group of award-winning rug hookers meets Monday mornings at the Chardon Senior Center. (above, far left) Rita Kenney of Burton entered three rugs in The Great Geauga County Fair and won two reds and a blue ribbon. Dawn Miller, (right of Rita) of South Russell entered two rugs and earned a blue and red ribbon. Beth Croup, class instructor, is seated to the right of Dawn. Dick Taylor (top, far right and bottom left) of Middlefield had five entries and took home four whites and a red ribbon.
‘Post’ Fair Middlefield Village Page 4
Cardinal Schools Pages 6-7
Berkshire Schools Page 13
Plain Country Section Inside