(Originally published in Nov. 24, 2012 Oregonian newspaper SW Weekly, Cover story — Oregonian story link online
As West Linn heads towards its 100-year anniversary as an incorporated city, members of the West Linn Centennial Planning Committee are asking community members to help create a centennial quilt, which will be crafted from 100 quilt squares.
Completed 7 inch by 7 inch quilt squares are due December 1.
If you do not have a blank quilt square, they are still available the West Linn Chamber of Commerce office, Bullseye Coffee in the Willamette area of West Linn, the West Linn Public Library, the West Linn City Hall. 
“I’ve given out way more than 100 and a lot have been coming in, but we need more to come back,” said Alma Coston,
Alma Coston stands by the Centennial Quilt By Cornelia Becker Seigneur
Centennial Quilt Committee head. “Come get a blank quilt square or turn in the ones you have.”
The quilt will be sewn into an approximately 88 inch square quilt that will be displayed throughout the city during various functions in the coming celebratory centennial year. West Linn turns 100 in August of 2013.
“The quilt represents West Linn’s history,” said Linda Neace, co-chair of West Linn’s Centennial Committee. “We have some really cool quilt pieces that people have made.”
Quilt squares turned in so far include the Centennial Logo, a Lions Club logo, a West Linn 75th year patch, a police patch, a Parks & Recreation patch, a Willamette Neighborhood square, one for the West Linn Mill, one for a family farm, a West Linn Lutheran church turning 50 years quilt square, a barn, and one representing Maddax Woods, noted Coston.
“The oldest one is from a gentleman, representing the Draper family, who first lived here in 1889,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to tell their story, where they live, how long, and what they do. There are no limits.”
Coston, who has lived in West Linn for more than half a century, dreamed up the centennial quilt idea after being involved in crafting a “friendship quilt” designed to celebrate her pastor’s 10th year of service at New Life Church in West Linn.
“With a quilt, you are sharing memories and you are sharing yourself,” Coston said. “I also have one that my grandmother and her neighbors did for each other that is at least 80 years old. In those days, they called them friendship quilts and they were put together in quilting bees. A quilting bee was a traditional activity of 100 years ago.”
Once the individual squares are received, Coston and crew will begin sewing the quilt together both by machine and by hand, making it ready to be displayed at the January 17 Quilting Bee at New Life Church River Falls campus.
After the Quilting Bee, locations that the quilt will be displayed include City Hall, the library, the Adult Community Center and Bullseye Coffee, with raffle tickets being sold at each site.
“The winner of the raffle will get to keep the quilt,” said Coston, adding, “and the winner could also donate it back for a tax deduction so that it would be on permanent display possibly at the Library.”
For more information on locations of where to pick up quilt squares or anything related to the centennial quilt, contact Coston at 503-720-5688 or at billnalma@comcast.net.
— Cornelia Becker Seigneur: cornelia@corneliaseigneur.com
