The rose of sharon quilt pattern is one of the older patterns in the United States. It was popular in the 1860s and 1870s and had a revival in the 1920s and 1930s. Quilts of this pattern were traditionally used as wedding gifts or made for the hope chest. There are many variations on this pattern with the roses, buds and leaves appearing in differing arrangements. The rose of sharon background is always white and has a color scheme of red, pink, green and sometimes a dash of yellow. This quilt is composed of nine hand appliqued blocks. The center block has a single large blooming rose, surrounded by smaller red blossoms. The remaining blocks have three large buds and small red blossoms. The quilter surrounded the blocks with a delicately rippling green vine.
The name of the quilt block is open for interpretation. Many quilt historians believe that the pattern’s name derives from the Bible verse Song of Solomon 2:1, “I am the Rose of Sharon, a rose of the valley.” Yet, new examinations of Biblical text suggests that the word rose has been misinterpreted and is more correctly translated as crocus or tulip, both of which grow on the Plains of Sharon.
Pearl Germaine Parsons (1874-1927) made this quilt. She married Evert E. Parsons in 1896. He owned E. A. Parsons Hardware Store in Redfield. According to the donor, this quilt most likely came with the family when they moved to South Dakota from New York State.