The Fort Laurens Rugcrafters was formed on July 11, 1987 as a way to develop and promote interest and educational activities of traditional rug hooking. Our founding members were Edwina Fisher, Mary Myers, Elizabeth Sue Powell, Pauline Ford and Gretta Frey. The first meetings were held at the home of Edwina Fisher, who resided in Bolivar, Ohio near the original site of the Revolutionary War fort known as Fort Laurens.

We are a non-profit organization, supported by membership dues and other fundraisers as necessary. Fort Laurens Rugcrafters is a chapter (#33) of the Association of Traditional Hooking Artist (ATHA) therefore all members joining the Fort Laurens Rugcrafters chapter are required to maintain membership to ATHA.

The membership continued to meet in Bolivar until the membership outgrew the meeting location and moved to the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ meeting hall in Navarre, Ohio. With Mary Myers being a church member, the guild was able to meet at this location for almost 30 years before relocating to the Otterbein United Methodist Church and then Richville United Church of Christ. The membership now meets in a meeting room located in the lower level of the Perry police station in Massillon, Ohio (Perry Township).

To support their dedication to promoting interest in rug hooking, the original guild membership demonstrated at various festivals and historic locations including Spring Hill, Great Trail Festival, and the historic canal era towns of Zoar, Ohio and Roscoe Village located in Coshocton, Ohio. With education in rug hooking at the forefront, the now growing guild hired teacher, Shirley Bloom to be present at each meeting. Prior to this time the membership paid dues of $2.00 per meeting with $1.00 going into the guild Treasury and $1.00 donation to the church. Once Shirley was hired, each member present paid an additional $4.00 for Shirley’s instruction with a minimum of $50, which was supplemented by the guild treasury, as needed. Shirley continued to instruct and teach projects for several years until it tapered off to a just few times a year, then not at all, due to aging and ill health.

As fundraisers, the guild held occasional Hook Ins to not only raise money but also promote the interest of rug hooking in the Navarre, Ohio area. One Hook In incorporated a rug exhibit that was open to the public and was themed around the Bicentennial anniversary of The Village of Navarre. Historical details were included in the event brochure and early photographs displayed among the hooked rugs. Another exhibit-only event, was held at the Define Building in Navarre, with members demonstrating the art of rug hooking in the historic building where President McKinley first practiced law.

Today, our annual Hook in has become extremely popular with major vendors, multiple door prizes and auction items. These fun-filled events draw over 100 attendees from all over Ohio and beyond.

To continue promoting interest and the education of rug hooking set forth by our original founding members, the Fort Laurens Rugcrafters continues to hire rug hooking and fiber art teachers on a regular basis.

Linda Powell
Member since 1988