The Mollie Franklin Hensley Story
Shad, Sarah, and their children, lived in the cabin he built on his portion of the land in Big Laurel, where they raised tobacco and farmed. Life was difficult after the Civil War, but due to hard work and diligence, at the time of his death in 1915, Shad had accumulated 600 acres of land.
Mollie was the second of eight children. On June 31, 1904, at the age of 19, she married Roscoe Hensley of Marshall, North Carolina. Roscoe attended Tusculum College, and upon graduation, he and Mollie operated a store and post office in Carmen, North Carolina. In 1912, the family moved to a farm in Caney Branch, Tennessee.
Then in 1920, the family moved to Tusculum, Tennessee, where Roscoe was a farmer, merchant, and a postmaster. He was described as “never slothful, but ever busy, always faithful to put his best energies into the task.” The Hensley’s were good neighbors and good parents with a stellar reputation in the Tusculum Community. They were often mentioned in the Greene County newspapers. Roscoe and Mollie reared six children: Emma, Stella, Kenneth, Arnold, Robert Maloy, and Mary Helen, all of whom graduated from Tusculum College. The family attended church services at Roscoe's beloved alma mater, Tusculum College in McCormick Hall, where Roscoe was an active steward. The Greeneville Sun described church as Roscoe's "greatest love which he was ever faithful to attend. He lived a life that was hid with God, brave, cheerful, quiet and uncomplaining."
If asked, Mollie would probably say there was nothing extraordinary about her life, but those of us who appreciate cultural history know that every life is important; every life has meaning; and every life contributes to the rich tapestry of the place we now call Appalachia.
Tapestry is apropos for Mollie, as she was an avid quilter. It is unknown whether Mollie learned to quilt from her own mother, or whether she learned on her own.
Molly left behind a story and a legacy of her love of quilting. Her story, for many years, was enclosed in a 16x9x5 suitcase or valise. This unassuming black box, made of cardboard, has a leather handle with stainless steel latches. The latches bear the engravings “Joe Dix, NYC” and “H. Fleisig, Inc. New York.” Looking at this box today, it would be easy to miss the historical significance. In the 1930s, cardboard was considered a modern material and lightweight. More people had automobiles and needed something much lighter for traveling than the cumbersome and heavy wooden trunks, or steel and leather suitcases. Mollie used this particular box to hold items precious to her. The box is filled with quilt and needlecraft patterns, transfer sheet patterns, tatted lace, and quilt block samples.
There are pieces of Mollie’s story in this box; clues to tasks that occupied her time. One must remember that during the time of the Great Depression, paper was a precious commodity, and every scrap was saved. Making use of available materials is a well-known trait of Appalachians. The numerous cardboard cutout patterns, often made from cereal boxes, newspaper, Sunday School leaflets, brown paper store bags and batting wrap, have multiple pin holes indicating repeated usage. Many pattern pieces are held together by straight pins, an indication to Jackie that Mollie was organized and used her time efficiently. While many of the pins are now rusted with age, the patterns have stood the test of time.
Other clues in the box are store brands and catalogs with popular merchandise of the day. One pattern is traced onto the back of paper with the advertisement “Roscoe Hensley & Co. General Merchandisers.” There are several envelopes from various places holding mail-order patterns. Women often shared patterns both in person, and through the mail. Mollie has patterns in envelopes addressed to other women.
While it is unknown what sort of quilting society, if any, Mollie participated in, it is well documented that quilting bees and parties were thriving in Greene County in the 1930s. The Greeneville Sun and East Tennessee News reported on quilting events and activities. Ladies Aid Societies, various clubs, local churches, and individuals all reported good attendance, good times, and successful outcomes. These events were usually accompanied by a meal, which could be a picnic, a covered dish supper, or “school girl lunches.” Shiloh has no record of quilting groups within the church. Perhaps Mollie chose to quilt on her own at home. Regardless, the contents of this box are proof that she definitely knew her way around a needle.
Even though her grandmother died when Jackie was only two, this little black box has brought a connection to the grandmother she never knew through the tradition of quilting. While Jackie’s mother, Mary Helen, treasured this precious heirloom left by her mother, and passed it on to her daughter, she was not able to share her mother’s love of quilting. This inheritance has been passed to Jackie. An avid quilter herself, this box closes the gap of the unknown for Jackie and Mollie.
Jackie began quilting later in life. With every stitch, she is connected to the grandmother she never knew. While her reason for quilting is probably different from her grandmother, more as an artistic expression than utility, the continuity of the traditional process is both comforting and rewarding.
Each and every precious quilt pattern, precisely cut out and stored in this box, provides a tangible connection between grandmother and granddaughter. The number of mottled pinholes in individual patterns, conveys to Jackie which patterns were her grandmother’s favorite. Mollie placed the straight pins, that have now rusted over time, into carefully measured and cut pattern pieces, never realizing that one day, this would be a precious heirloom and tangible connection to her granddaughter.