NAPPANEE — Nappanee resident Vickie Hunsberger was award the Distinguished Historian Award from the Nappanee Historic Preservation Commission May 23. Both Vickie and her husband, Bruce, grew up in the Milford area. She feels that she is undeserving, and noted it is  difficult to accept an award when she was just doing what she loved.

Hunsberger has been an outstanding figure within the community and continues to work on historical preservation at home. While it’s been a few years she used to speak at the Milford library and various churches about the Victorian period, dressing in old Victorian garments and bringing props for emphasis. She also served on the Historic Preservation Commission for 22 years and owned the Victorian Guest House Bed and Breakfast with Bruce. They owned and operated the home for 15 years but not before renovating and restoring it back to its historic beauty from 1887. Such renovations included pulling up shag carpet, discovering the original paint color under the over-paint and discovering an enclosed staircase.

“We tried to keep it as historically sound as possible with modern conveniences included,” explained Hunsberger. “At that time the granddaughter of Frank Coppes, the man who built in the house, was still living so we consulted her on different things that she remembered about it.”

Along with her recreational quilting, Vickie Hunsberger participates in quilting for A Quilt for Mother’s Tears, an organization that makes quilts for mothers of fallen police officers around the country. Hunsberger also worked with Quilts of Valor. (Photo by Elisa Walker)

Hunsberger always enjoyed history and loved the thought of preserving old buildings so future generations could have a glance back in time. She has intertwined her passion for history into every aspect of her life. She reads it, travels to historical sites and finishes quilts that were once started long ago. Having traveled with her daughter, Lisa Weisser of Milford, across historic European sites, Hunsberger’s true interests are the Civil War and World War II.

“I always enjoyed history in school but after school in 1970, World War II wasn’t that far away. It ended in ‘45, just 25 years ago.” Hunsberger elaborated. “Knowing that there were people who were still alive and had lived through that is what interested me. It could’ve been your neighbor next door who was a part of it.”

Hunsberger’s whole world is on the lower level of her house where her fabric pieces, giant quilting machine, homemade soaps and many other alluring crafts wait for her to cast her talent upon them. Some of the fabric that she works into the quilts are blocks that were cut but never sewn together. Unfinished work from an untold story. It is that thought that sparks wonderment from her.

“What was going on in their life when they were hand-piecing these? Where they enjoying it? Why did it never get finished?” Hunsberger wondered aloud. “It’s those melancholy thoughts of who last worked on this quilt and wondering what their life was like.”

Hunsberger has planned to continue traveling to historic sites, which is especially easy for Civil War sites throughout the country. Her favorite part of historical preservation would be keeping things in tact so future generations have a chance to see or visit them and enjoy them the way she does. Hunsberger often finds herself wrapped up in thoughts of what people in history were going through and what their lives were like whenever she visits a new place. Unlike today where technology has allowed for more contact, soldiers years ago wrote letters that may not have even made it to their loved ones. It’s those thoughts that continue to keep Hunsberger involved and intricately woven through the fabric of history.