Hopkinton MA 300th Anniversary

October 8, 2015

For Hopkinton resident Brenna Creswell, the opportunity to become involved in Hopkinton’s Tercentennial Commemorative Quilt project began during her junior year at the Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical School.  In an advisory board meeting attended by her parents, Bruce (Chip) Creswell Jr. and Kerry Creswell, Brenna was considering ideas for her senior project when her mother suggested she build the box that would house Hopkinton’s 300th anniversary quilt.  Her carpentry teachers, Mr. Newell and Mr. Fairfield, thought it was a great idea and Brenna’s senior project was decided.

The Tercentennial Commemorative Quilt is being created by Colleen Barnes, Jean Bertschmann, Russ Greve, Yvonne Powell, Kris Waldman, Laure Warren, Laima Whitty, Merylyn Mezitt, Kate Gasser, Maddy Boyce, Tina Berlad, Christine Meyers, Kelsey Ullman and Kerry Creswell with the support of many other quilters in Hopkinton. Featuring a map of the town and history of the town’s growth, the quilt, when finished, will be permanently installed in the Hopkinton Historical Society.  And making the hanging of the quilt possible will be the frame built by Brenna.

“Brenna has always loved working with wood since she was very little,” said her mother Kerry Creswell. “As a child, she attended every Saturday workshop at Home Depot, helping all the other kids with their projects.”

In choosing to attend Keefe Tech, Brenna followed in the footsteps of her father, Chip Creswell, and many other family members who attended Keefe Tech.

“It was the best choice for her,” said Creswell. “The hands-on learning and the teachers were great.  We saw a very positive growth in her learning and wanting to learn.”

For Brenna, making the quilt box was an opportunity to build something special; something with meaning for her and her mom.

“I think it is cool that I was able to make the quilt box and that it will hang in the Historical Society building for all to see,” said Brenna. “It is special that I could build something that will hold a very special quilt that my mom had a part in making; something that we can pass on to the town that we both made together.  I have now made the next generation of our family continue on in Hopkinton and maybe one day another family member of ours can add to our family and town history.”

Her family’s history includes her grandparents, Mark Lumbra, Master Electrician, and Barbara Rossi, retired, and the late Bruce Creswell Sr., Shop Supervisor at Liberty Mutual Research Center in Hopkinton for more than 40 years and the late Shirley Creswell who was an avid seamstress, artist and knitter/crocheter.  She is also the great-granddaughter of the late Joseph and Doris Irvine, owners of J.C. Parmenter, Inc.

The quilt frame built by Brenna was installed in the Historical Society in June of this year, the same month that she graduated from Keefe Tech where she was a Carpentry and Honor student and was awarded an Outstanding Performance Award for Carpentry on June 3, 2015. Brenna also excelled in many sports, playing varsity Volleyball, and serving as team captain in her senior year and was awarded the MVP. In both her junior and senior year she was chosen to play at the CAL Volleyball All Star Games. She was a varsity Softball player freshman and sophomore year, as well as a JV Basketball player. She was also a member of the track team and threw discus, shot put and javelin, medal placing in both her junior and senior years at the MVADA meet.

“I am proud that I chose to attend Keefe Tech,” said Brenna. “I applied all my learning from Keefe to make many things throughout my hoe and now to have made a historical piece of woodworking art to hang forever in Hopkinton.”

Brenna is currently attending Wentworth Institute of Technology, majoring in Construction Management.   The Tercentennial Commemorative Quilt will be hung on the frame built by Brenna in December.