MOUNT JACKSON, VA — As part of its landmark 200th-anniversary celebration, the Town of Mount Jackson will host "Stitched & Seasoned: Celebrating Women’s Heritage" on Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This free community event, held within the Mount Jackson Town Hall, honors the female artisans, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who have shaped Shenandoah County’s history.
A cornerstone of the event is a special appearance by the Quilting Guild from Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Since 2007, this dedicated group of seven women has transformed Thursday mornings into a mission of mercy. To date, they have hand-stitched 737 quilts—plus 30 more this year alone—sending them to refugee camps in Ukraine, war-torn regions of Africa, and U.S. disaster sites from Florida to the Smokey Mountains. Their work serves as the centerpiece of this event, offering a beautiful example of how local hands can provide global comfort.
In the spirit of this guild, the Town is hosting a community "Share & Tell." Residents, quilters, and home cooks are encouraged to bring their own family quilts or heirloom cookbooks to display during the event. Extra tables will be on hand throughout the Town Hall for neighbors to showcase their treasures, pull up a chair, and swap stories. This is a social gathering designed for neighbors to connect over treasure keepsakes, shared memories and forge new plans for the town's future.
The celebration also highlights a milestone in the town’s leadership: Olivia Hilton, the first female Town Manager in Mount Jackson’s 200-year history, is spearheading this effort with the town’s Bicentennial Committee to bridge the town's past with its future.
“The strength of Mount Jackson has always been found in our collaborative spirit—the hands that quilt, the hearts that cook, and the vision of neighbors who built our Main Street together,” said Town Manager Olivia Hilton. “As we celebrate our Bicentennial, I am honored to help shine a light on a few of the incredible women who have worked alongside their families for two centuries to make our community thrive. We want this event to be a 'living room' for the community where we can admire these treasures and strengthen our bonds for the years to come.”
Event Highlights Include:
- Special Guests: Meet the Mt. Calvary Quilting Guild and view their latest works destined for international relief.
- Community Heritage Showcase: Bring your own family quilts and cookbooks! Tables will be provided for a "Share & Tell" where neighbors can share the history behind their heirlooms.
- The Mount Jackson Museum: Open for exploration! Learn about our Female Entrepreneurs who powered local industry—from the historic Casey Jones textile plants to the resilient shopkeepers of Main Street.
- Mount Jackson Community Library: Open for browsing with curated recommendations on inspiring women authors, a collection of cookbooks for checkout, and the Community Seed Library where guests can pick up free packets for spring planting.
- Digital Bicentennial Cookbook: Bring a family recipe to be scanned on-site for our upcoming digital community archive. For those unable to attend the event, recipes can be submitted online at https://forms.gle/8yBbxYBaCKUdZStG7.
- Traditional Cakewalk: Enjoy delicious cakes donated by local residents in a spirited, family-friendly atmosphere.
Can’t Attend? Share Your Flavors Online! The Bicentennial Committee wants to ensure every family’s culinary heritage is represented. If you cannot join us in person on March 14, we invite you to share your favorite family recipes through our The Mount Jackson Bicentennial Digital Cookbook Online Submission Form: https://forms.gle/8yBbxYBaCKUdZStG7.
Admission to the event, museum, and library is FREE to all. Come for the history, stay for the stories, and help stitch together Mount Jackson’s next chapter!
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About the Town of Mount Jackson: The Town of Mount Jackson, Virginia, is a vibrant and historic community nestled in Shenandoah County. Dedicated to fostering a high quality of life for its residents, the Town continually seeks innovative ways to enhance community engagement, transparency, and access to services.
Contact: To learn more about this and other Town of Mount Jackson initiatives, please contact the Town Office: Phone: 540-477-2121 / Email: info [at] mountjackson.com (info[at]mountjackson[dot]com) / Website: www.mountjackson.com