Bonnifield Questers Quilt Display Coming to Iowa State Bank in November
The Bonnifield Questers of Fairfield will have a quilt display at Iowa State Bank, 55 S 4th Street, during November. The display is part of a fundraiser to raise money for the Bonnifield Log Cabin Restoration, helping preserve an important piece of Fairfield’s history.
Rhodham Bonnifield and his sons built the Bonnifield Log House in the summer of 1838, replacing the family's first makeshift cabin. Known as Iowa's oldest existing two-story log house, the home welcomed travelers, territorial officials and other visitors, and also served as an unofficial Methodist church.
The house holds a special place in the story of Fairfield's name. In March 1839, commissioners and their assistants gathered there to discuss the new town. Conversation about the surrounding prairie prompted Mrs. Bonnifield to suggest “Fairfield,” a name the group adopted.
By 1908, the house had fallen into disrepair. The Old Settlers Association arranged for it to be dismantled and reconstructed at Old Settlers Park, adjoining Waterworks Park on Fairfield's north side, preserving a connection to the community's earliest years.
Look for the Bonnifield Questers quilt display at Iowa State Bank during November and take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship and Fairfield history it brings to mind.
