Home For The Holidays Magazine

Page 39 2022 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News November 23, 2022 The earliest date on the tablecloth goes back to 1959 and those signatures belong to Ethel and Kathleen Bellovich, who incidentally wrote their address on it, too. According to the embroidery, they lived at “338 S. Colin, Compton, Calif.” and the dates on the tablecloth are listed near their names as “59” and “62” and “98” alluding to the years they visited Imogene at her home on Washington Street in Mount Pulaski. Of course, throughout the years as the Imogene’s family grew, so did the signatures, along with the dates listed. “My sister, Sue, signed it in 1979 and then we must’ve got it out for Christmas in 1998 because she signed it again, adding her married name,” said Leonard. His sister Angie did the same, adding her married name to the tablecloth at one point, along with her family that grew through the years. Dates like 2016 and 2019 can be found on the tablecloth and include the signatures of the Wakeman, Oreskovich and Leonard cousins. He added that basically over the last few years they’ve just gotten the tablecloth out to add new people, like for example when his youngest child, Jameson, was old enough to write his name. Leonard noted that while it’s primarily full of immediate family members’ signatures, he thinks there might be a few names who were just special dinner guests of his grandma. And he noted some of the signatures are extended family members as well. “Penny Pharis’ dad was Leonard Hatfield, and he signed the tablecloth,” said Leonard. “Leonard Hatfield was my dad’s first cousin. Penny’s grandparents have also signed it. Penny’s grandmother and my grandfather were brother and sister. So, there are different parts of the family that have signed it. There are just connections from different parts of the family like that.” Leonard’s in-laws have also signed the tablecloth. “As we pass it down hopefully it’s something we can keep going and add additional members.” Leonard also emphasized how the tablecloth is not perfect and that makes it even more special. “My grandmother did quilting and other stuff so she knew how to sew, but she was not a professional embroiderer by any means. It’s kind of cool that it’s just done by hand too because it adds to it. The names are just put on Continued —