Monday, June 22, 2009

Wagon Wheel

Last week I posted three 'quilt barns' on my photoblog (here). The above barn is the last of those barns I found while following this particular trail in West Virginia. The National Quilt Barn trail was began in 2001 by Donna Sue Groves. In 1989 she purchased an Adams County Ohio farm and promised her mother that she would one day paint a quilt square on it to honor her mother and their Appalachian heritage.

In Adams County there were many old barns and she began to think of painting not only her barn but others as well and develop a driving trail to entice tourists. What resulted was the nation’s first quilt barn trail; a collection of 20 wooden quilt squares leading visitors through scenic Adams County,Ohio. Today, the trail is scattered across the landscape of 19 Ohio counties, and throughout 27 states nationwide. Close to 2000 quilt squares adorn barns across the nation. Donna's mother is a master quilter and just so happens to be a native of West Virginia and lived in the county where I was born. Thus, the idea to develop a trail here.

This photo doesn't present the barn itself well; but it sits right beside a two lane road and no place to pull off completely. I took this photo shooting from the passenger seat out the driver's seat window. You can tell it's right there! The horse had been standing inside the door. When the Jeep came to a stop he walked out and whinnied for us. I think he was glad for a minute's worth of company.

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20 comments:

  1. quillyJune 22, 2009 at 6:49 AM

    Thank you for the story of the trail! I have never seen this quilt pattern and I thnk you for that, too.

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  2. PappyJune 22, 2009 at 7:29 AM

    You know how much I love rural America. Bebe and I just completed a 3000 mile plus motorcycle trip through a big chunk of the South. Thanks for continuing my adventure. I also enjoyed your Father's Day post. Have a great week. Pappy

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  3. Regina June 22, 2009 at 8:15 AM

    Hello. Nice story
    This barn is great. Wonderful post.

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  4. CarolJune 22, 2009 at 8:45 AM

    This is a great mellow yellow. I love this quilt barn story.

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  5. at the cottageJune 22, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    I love seeing old barns, there is so much they could tell us. beautiful photos Carlotta!

    I enjoy your blog! Thanks from a fellow wish-I-could retire teacher! (I have to go until 62 at least as I started teaching lat)

    Beautiful
    Deb

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  6. RavenJune 22, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    What a cool idea! You alway have such interesting information to share. I'll have to go check out your other photos. I'm behind in my visiting.

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  7. JoannaJune 22, 2009 at 11:26 AM

    I enjoyed reading about the quilt barn trail. Thanks.

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  8. AnonymousJune 22, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    Thanks for the story and the great photo. How interesting this was to read. And I think you were so right about the horse. Aloha

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  9. Stephanie VJune 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM

    I love the idea of the Quilt Barn trail. Someday, I'll be one of those tourists.

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  10. PatJune 22, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    What a great idea! I love stumbling upon different things on our travels, especially off the beaten path. Thanks for sharing this story.

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  11. storyteller's other blogJune 22, 2009 at 8:56 PM

    Colorful quilt pattern on this old red barn ;--)
    Hugs and blessings,

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  12. RoseJune 23, 2009 at 12:24 AM

    I have been thinking about doing a quilt square for my house....something about these barns has really got me thinking about it.

    Don't you just hate it when you can't pull off to get the picture you really want...

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  13. UnknownJune 23, 2009 at 1:07 AM

    That is a beautiful quilt...

    Interesting story about the quilt trail ... I'd love to travel that..

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  14. UnknownJune 23, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    What a beautiful idea!
    I love barns and I would love to follow that trail.

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  15. NessaJune 23, 2009 at 12:23 PM

    Barns make such wonderful photo subjects and the story is an added bonus.

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  16. Felisol June 23, 2009 at 1:54 PM

    I love the idea of a quilt barn.
    Woman's work should rightly be honored.
    This pattern looks rather intricate, and beautiful.
    From Felisol

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  17. MarthaJune 23, 2009 at 2:17 PM

    Great MYM and love the story! :-)

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  18. EG CameraGirlJune 23, 2009 at 8:45 PM

    This is so cool, Carletta. I was at a meeting this afternoon where one of my towns councilors told me she's interested in working on a similar project. She was surprised when I knew what she was talking about. Ha! Thanks, Carletta, you made me look informed. ;-)

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  19. BirdJune 25, 2009 at 12:16 PM

    This is gorgeous! I've never visited the USA and the history and culture are fascinating to me. This is the kind of thing I would never have known about if I hadn't stopped by your blog, so thanks for sharing it! The barn with it's quilt square are so striking, and the story of how the idea came to be is very touching. I love it when people celebrate their heritage.

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  20. GeorgeJune 25, 2009 at 8:57 PM

    Thanks for the history of the quilt barns. I never knew how they started.

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