ROCKINGHAM-To support conservation of two Stephen J. Belaski Revolutionary War-themed murals, the Rockingham Historic Preservation Commission has begun a fundraiser featuring a handmade lap quilt.
"Burgoyne Surrounded" was pieced by Karen Engdahl and quilted by Linda Diak. They have donated it to support the Commission's efforts to restore two important murals. The quilt pattern was widely popular on both sides of the Hudson River Valley in the 1790s and early 1800s to commemorate the surrender of British General John Burgoyne to American General Horatio Gates on Oct. 17, 1777, at the Battle of Saratoga.
"The Battle of Saratoga was one of the most decisive military victories of the American Revolution," wrote organizers in a news release, "effectively ending Burgoyne's campaign to control the Hudson River Valley and proved to the French that the American forces were capable of defeating the British Army. This historic victory led to France's formal alliance with the American colonies that turned the tide of the war."
The quilt is on display at the Rockingham Meeting House, open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Raffle tickets for the quilt are available for $5 each or three for $10, and may be purchased at the Meeting House or at Rockingham Town Hall.
All proceeds from the raffle will go toward the conservation of two Works Progress Administration–era murals by Bellows Falls native son and Vermont artist Belaski.
Belaski painted these murals in his studio on the third floor of Rockingham Town Hall in the early 1940s and were installed at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester. They were recently repatriated to Rockingham and are being restored for public exhibition.
One of the murals depicts Burgoyne's surrender, making the "Burgoyne Surrounded" quilt especially meaningful as the town prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the event on Oct. 17, 2027. The winning ticket will be drawn on the 248th anniversary of Burgoyne's surrender, Oct. 17, 2025, at the Rockingham Meeting House.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.