Quilt Barns

Over The Back Fence Magazine | Summer 2007

For a lot of families quilts are a way of expressing creativity, pre­serving traditions," defines Paige Alost, Executive Director of the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bu­reau.  "We are just beginning to explore and understand their historical signifi­cance. During the time of the Under­ground Railroad, quilts were path-finding tools for escaped slaves. People would hang quilts in windows or on lines as warnings or as invitations to safe havens."

Today, Ohio is the birthplace of "Clothesline of Quilts," a project that ties rural areas together through art.

Adams County Ohio has led the way to creating this connection of patterns that includes several surrounding states. Proudly displaying vibrant quilt squares on rustic barns, the project highlights the significance of quilts in our region.

Never dreaming of launching such a public trend, Dona Sue Groves, representative for the Southern Ohio Field Office for the Ohio Arts Commission, is credited with a now national movement with her first concept of Adams County Quilt Barn Trail. This innovative project is a tribute to her mother, Maxine Groves, a noted Ohio quilter.

"Its amazing to note there are over 700 known squares on display in the US," Donna relays. "The very first quilt square (Ohio Star) was unveiled at the Lewis Mountain Old Thyme Herb Fair in 2001. With community support, Foundation for Appalachia of Ohio and the Adams County Chamber of Com­merce, a dream was realized."

Organizers hope the quilt barns will increase tourism and generate economic opportunities, particularly for artists, craftsmen and other cottage-based busi­nesses. The Quilt Barn Trail in Adams County is well established and now co­incides with the official Appalachian Discovery Birding & Heritage Trail. This 200-mile trail combines the region's most productive bird nesting with signif­icant historical sites. The trail extends into Brown and Monroe Counties of Ohio, Grundy County, Iowa and nu­merous counties in Tennessee. It also connects several counties in North Car­olina and West Virginia, evolving the quilt trail into a "national clothesline."ea so much, they started adding squares to their own barns, which compliments the original Quilt Barn Trail."

Where the Bicentennial Barn Project adorned large logos on highly visual barns, these quilt barns take a different path. They thread together the rural landscape, luring tourists to venture be­yond the mainstream roadways. Patterns including: Shoo Fly, Bow Tie and Maple Leaf may not sound familiar, but you'll find them on the trail.  Old traditional patterns like the Double Z and Devil's Claw are heirloom patterns handed down from original quilted fam­ily art works. The Ohio Star, Bear Claw and the Lemon Star patterns are thought to have been a part of the "Coded Quilts" for the Underground Railroad.

Local artist, John Leselhocz, has been instrumental in efforts to paint and es­tablish Athens County's quilt squares. "The combination of traditional and contemporary blocks is unique to Athens," states John.  "Many squares are painted by local groups and represent Athens in traditional patterns, such as the Corn and Beans pattern or the Ap­palachian Sunburst."   As the owner of the Cycle Path Bike Shop he has estab­lished the Athens County Quilt Barn Cycling Challenge, which prompts cy­clists to enjoy the rural area and quilt barns.

Standing in the warm fall sun in Athens County, John Kreger glances at the large vibrant flower pattern sus­pended high upon his barn.  "I chose the Passion Flower as a gift for my wife's birthday.  It represents a part of the com­munity. The Passion Works Studio is well known to the area; it pairs local artists with developmental challenged in­dividuals and they produce some really outstanding artwork and jewelry. The passion flower is like their trademark."

From Monroe County's "Patchwork Jewels" to Highland County's "Paint Creek Patterns," southern Ohio is a true extension to this multi-state theme.

Brown County has a more traditional quilt squares theme according to Joann May, artist to some 25 squares. "I start with a black and white pattern and then choose a color palette with traditional colors like turkey-red and indigo-blue. The quilt squares themselves take on a depth of field by color placements." As a fine artist with a graphics background, Joann applies her skills to the large 8X8 foot designs.  "Some are mounted 25 plus feet in the air. The squares are pub­lic art that link Brown County's old Mail Pouch Barns to its historic tobacco agri­culture and quilting heritage. These works of art help to save the old barns -preserving the past."

No matter what county's quilt barns you visit, you're sure to come away with an appreciation of the art and natural treasures on the back roads of Ohio.