HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – In 1989, the Historic Huntsville Foundation faced a daunting challenge: a $50,000 remaining mortgage on the Harrison Brothers Hardware Store. What happened next became a remarkable story of community spirit, celebrity generosity, and the power of a handwritten letter.
Dale Rhoades, a 30-year volunteer with the Historic Huntsville Foundation and talented quilter, had a simple goal. “I just wanted to see Harrison Brothers saved,” Rhoades said.
Working alongside the late Lynn Jones, Rhoades conceived an ambitious plan: create two American Signature quilts featuring autographs from notable figures. One would be kept by the Foundation, the other auctioned to help pay down the debt…