the questers Feature Project

Featured Project

THE QUESTERS.........

The Phelps House Drapery Project of:

Antiquers #284

City of Hills #1329

Orchard City #1206

Sho-Quo-Quon #322

Steamboat Ladies #1214

In 2006 the five Burlington Quester chapters were awarded an International grant of $5,000 to replace fabrics, lace and window shade treatments in the parlors of the Victorian Phelps House.

Each chapter undertook an ambitious community fundraiser. A card party, opportunity baskets, garage sale, luncheon and Victorian Tea, were projects that contributed the remaining $7000 toward the completion of the $12,000 project.

Located in the National Historic District of Burlington, Iowa, this Victorian house museum is a rarity. It is completely furnished with the antique furniture, oriental rugs, china, glassware and countless other personal and decorative items used by three generations of the Garrett and Phelps families. Charles H. Phelps, the last remaining member of the family, sold the house to the Des Moines County Historical Society in 1973 and donated all of the beautiful contents.

The building was refurbished and redecorated. New window treatments in the front and back parlors included using draperies of rayon, fabric covered wooden valances, and modern hardware.


The parlor as it was decorated in 2004

The five Burlington Quester chapters joined efforts in 2004 to fund authentic replacements for the faded and shredding rayon draperies. Determining the replacement fabric and window treatments took some sleuthing. However, family photo albums found in the library contained pictures dated 1889 that gave clues to patterns and styles of draperies.

The old photos gave a glimpse of the Victorian lifestyle as well as a peek at the fabric used for draperies. Other old photos showed wooden rods with rings and draperies with fabric valances.


1889	1973

Amazingly the original wooden rods, rings, and brackets were found stored in an upstairs closet. Care was taken to preserve the original varnish and all were refurbished for reuse for the five parlor windows. Even the extra long pole was found that would span the extra wide back parlor window.

One wooden bracket was a ‘mystery’ because the back was cut into a curve instead of being flat. It finally found its original place as the center drapery-pole support at that extra wide back parlor window. It had been modified to fit the curvatures of the 6” wide native walnut trim.

In order to restore the 1889 look to the parlors it was determined to use the Victorian style of over-draperies, lace curtains, and roller window shades. A decision was also made to use only materials available in the 1880’s (cotton, linen, wool, silk), but use the current technology of UV shades to protect the investment in new fabrics.

Cotton was chosen for both the draperies and the lace. Finding the proper pattern and colors in cotton drapery fabric proved daunting, but the finished effect has been worth all the time invested in research because the new draperies look ‘at home’ to everyone who visits.

Project completed in 2007

Phelps House museum continues to welcome and delight visitors. The new/old look in the parlors is perfect for meetings, teas, luncheons, Christmas parties, special exhibits, and even an occasional wedding. Tour groups are always welcome, as well as the week-end visitors during open hours.


Great effort by the five chapters made this $12,000 project possible. A liaison Committee of representatives from each chapter devoted many hours discussing decisions, coordinating efforts, and even climbing ladders taking down the ‘old’ and putting up the ‘new’.

Project submitted by:

Barbara A. Bonnett Dale Ford

Liaison Chairperson Liaison Member

Sho-Quo-Quon #322 Antiquers #284

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