Gaddy Loom

Our CCHS June Quarterly came with a Gaddy family surprise.  I had seen this loom at the Heritage Center but  had no idea it was a family heirloom.

Article from the Carroll County Arkansas Historical Society Quarterly, June 2018.
Gaddy/Collins/Wymore Loom

Provided by Mary Margaret Torok

 The large loom has turned out many old-time handwoven carpets and rugs in its more than 100 years of service.

 The Loom first belonged to Solon and Jane Gaddy who lived at Denver, Carroll County, Arkansas.  It was given to their daughter, Laura, who married Clarence Collins; they wove rugs and carpets on it to sell.

 Later the loom passed into the hands of Lorene Collins, a niece of Laura Collins.  Lorene recalls her job as a child was tearing cloth into strips, sewing them together into long strips, and then winding them into a ball.  This was known as making carpet rag balls, which were later used as material to weave a rug or carpet on the loom.

 Lorene Collins married Orel Wymore, and they set up the loom in their home. They made rugs for sale to the public.

 Later the loom was dismantled and stored in a building in Alpena by Tom Wymore, Lorene’s son.  Lorene (Collins) Wymore Hearns and her son Tom Wymore assigned it to the Heritage Center as a gift from Wymore Family of Alpena.

William Solon Gaddy & Martha Jane Carpenter Family Taken about 1906 Front and center, William Solan Gaddy, Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy Back row left to right: James Reno Crawford holding Buell, Dollie Gaddy Crawford , Otto Hardesty, Arvilla Gaddy Hardesty, Clarence Collins, Laura Gaddy Collins, George Gaddy, Anna Robertson Gaddy Metz, Ora Gaddy. Seated on Front Row: left to right- Virgie Gaddy, Ben Gaddy, Alva Collins, William Solon Gaddy, Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy, Edna Gaddy, and Huston Gaddy

 These are pictures of the quilt that Hazel Gaddy Powell said was made from fabric that Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy created on her loom.  I do not know what parts were made on the loom.    I am sure some of the fabric was not but parts of the quilt was made with the Gaddy Loom!  This quilt belonged to Houston and Irene Thomas Gaddy.  Irene Gaddy gave the quilt to Hazel Gaddy Powell who passed the quilt to Betty Powell (me).

 This shows the back of the quilt and that could be the part that was made on the loom.