A quilt for auction honors Emmett Kelly – who was a creative artist and entertainer whose start began in Houston.
As a circus entertainer with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, he created the famous “Weary Willie” character based on childhood memories of the hobos who rode the train during the Great Depression in the Houston area.
The quilt was designed and sewn by men in the South Central Correctional Center in Licking. They make quilts for nonprofits in the area to use as fundraisers for their communities.
The money raised from the quilt will provide scholarships for graduating seniors in the arts programs at the high school. This will be the fourth year of providing scholarships. The quilt fundraisers have provided five scholarships to Houston graduates.
The front of the quilt is centered with a drawing of “Weary Willie” and the background a circus tent in very colorful circus colors. It measures 7.25′ x 8.5’.
It will be auctioned on April 26 at the Emmett Kelly Festival in downtown Houston.
“This one of a kind quilt will be a treasure for many years to come and a reminder of America’s very first clown,” said Brenda Senter, event organizer.