Patchwork Trail
In recent years, historic quilt trails have begun appearing throughout Appalachia. The trails consist of over-sized quilt blocks painted on barns and other buildings, then marketed as a scenic driving route.
The concept is now emerging locally, as the Pennsylvania State Grange Organization is creating a Quilt Heritage Trail of its own.
The most recent 8-by-8-foot square was unveiled Friday at the Unionville Grange on Benbrook Road in Center Township.
"Our grange chose the Dutchman's Puzzle pattern and we used the colors red, white and green," said Rod Fleeger, the Unionville Grange master.
Fleeger created the square with the help of Faye Malalik and Virginia Mangel, members of the Unionville Grange, and Albert Martsolf of the Jefferson Grange.
"We had completed the painting last fall and were working on the frame to hang it. The weather turned and so we had to wait until now," Fleeger said.
That square joins one already adorning the Jefferson Grange on Bullcreek Road in Jefferson Township.
The idea to create a quilt trail was suggested by Barb Gross, a member of the Scrubgrass Grange in Venango County, after she toured the ones in Ohio and New York.
"Our buildings could use a bit of decoration, and this was a way of making them more attractive," Gross said of the structures that house farming fraternal groups that began in the 1800s.
"It also lends itself to the fact that grange organizations traditionally are based on trades and skills with our hands."
Sometimes the granges will choose patterns that exemplify their particular focus, as was the case with the Churn Dash quilt square at the grange in Jefferson Township.
"We felt that it represented our agricultural interests and we chose red, white and blue to show our patriotism," said Nettie Martsolf, master of the grange. Her husband Albert was instrumental in designing and creating the square.
"It really is a lovely way to beautify our buildings," she said. Their unveiling was in August of 2009.
The Scrubgrass Grange in Scrubgrass Township was the first grange to display a square in Pennsylvania.
"We put ours up in April of 2009. It is the Carpenter's Square pattern, which exemplifies our grange's interest in building and construction," Gross said. "We chose our grange colors, blue and gold, for its design," she added.
Gross believes that currently in Pennsylvania only granges are creating a trail."This has really generated interest in the granges themselves."In addition to the three local ones, there are two others, one out toward State College and one near Harrisburg," Gross said.She also is aware of 10 that are in progress.According to the Adams County, Ohio, Travel and Tourism Web site, the Quilt Heritage Trail idea originated in 2001 with Donna Sue Groves, who purchased a barn there with the Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco slogan painted on it.Groves replaced the slogan with a painted quilt square in honor of her mother, Nina Maxine Groves, a noted quilter who learned the craft from her mother and grandmother.Now, more than 13 states have joined in creating their own Quilt Heritage trails throughout their states. In New York, one county features more than 40 quilts.Gross, also a member of the Pennsylvania State Grange executive committee, said the organization hopes to complete a Website by August with driving directions and GPS coordinates for the Pennsylvania State Grange Quilt Heritage Trail.The information will be posted at www.pagrange.org.
