Sounds like they were picked when too green still. From everything I read you have to leave them on the vine til all the vines are dried hard - and even then it is better to let them "ripen" and dry outdoors in the cold. Perhaps it was too warm in the basement.

Really sorry to hear you lost them all - what a mess to clean up and even wore - nothing to show for your hard work. It takes about a year from the time you grow to the time you can have fully dried gourds - esp large ones. THe ones I have here drying I am worried about as I think my soninlaw picked them too soon - I could have much out there too.

Do check at Amish Acres (do a search on google for it) for a great article about harvesting and drying gourds.

Where are you in zone 4?
Cheers from Kazoo Michigan