Breunig Barn Quilt
Alumni Barn Quilt
Frey Barn Quilt
Celebrating Barn Quilt Heritage!
Cook Barn Quilt
The history of barn decoration dates back to the mid 1800’s. Painting symbols on barns originated from traditional folk art passed along from the German and Swiss immigrants who settled the Pennsylvania Dutch region in southeastern Pennsylvania. Once these groups built their family farms and communities, they would paint small patterns on their barns to celebrate their heritage and bring good fortune. Today’s barn decorating revival became popular with a woman named Donna Sue Groves, from Adams County, Ohio. She wanted to honor her mother by hanging a colorful painted quilt square on her barn. Instead of just one quilt square, she began a community project with twenty quilts being displayed along a driving trail to encourage visitors to travel through the countryside. This was the start of our first quilt trail in America. Quilt trails are now being organized all across the country. Barn quilts are displayed around communities and then mapped out for tourists to follow these amazing works of art. They promote tourism and help draw visitors into our rural communities. Traditional stars and various quilt patterns are now being displayed on barns, homes, sheds and sides of buildings. For a complete map of Barn Quilts in Sauk County please contact a Chamber of Commerce. Alumni Barn Quilt The barn quilt was constructed in honor of their son, BJ Chrisler, who served as the State FFA President in 2009-2010, State Vice President in 2008-2009 and the National FFA Officer “NOMCOM” Chairman in 2010. The FFA President’s symbol in the FFA emblem is “the Rising Sun’ which is depicted in their quilt. The border consists of blue corn kernels also from the FFA symbol. Badger Steam & Gas Barn Quilt S3347 Sand Rd. Baraboo, WI 53913 These 4 small barn quilts are on the Women’s building at the Badger Steam and Gas Property. Earl Sprecher’s four daughters Jean, Judy, Janet and Joanne chose patterns and painted them for the building. They represent the following: #1 – Sunbonnet Sue - Jean Sprecher Brew chose this pattern as she collects Sunbonnet Sue quilts. #2 – Windmill - Judy Sprecher Wehler chose this pattern as she lives on the Sprecher family farm which has a windmill. #3 – Log Cabin - Janet Sprecher-Bruski chose this pattern as she hopes to live in a log cabin some day. #4 – Schoolhouse - Joanne Sprecher Welty of Milwaukee, chose this pattern as she is the youngest in their family and is always a student of some sort.
38 • SAUK COUNTY VISITOR’S GUIDE
Brian Bender Barn Quilt S40654 State Road 136, Reedsburg, WI 53959 The pattern for this quilt is a triple star, and it was painted by the Reedsburg Middle School Art Class. It was placed on the barn when the farm hosted the Sauk County Dairy Breakfast in June 2012. Breunig Barn Quilt E9430A County Road PF Prairie du Sac, WI 53578 The Breunig farm has a historical house on the farm dating back to 1869. It’s architectural style consists of the “block and stack” construction. The limestone is very popular in this area and you will notice some homes made this way. The block walls are 2 ft. thick and provide the natural insulation. Mike and Jodi Cook-Husom Barn Quilt Denzer Road North Freedom, WI 53951 This barn quilt is a rail fence pattern that was picked out by their mother on the Mike and Jodi CookHusom farm in North Freedom on Denzer Road. It was a gift to their mother and father, Monte, for their anniversary in 2011 from daughters Sara and Jodi.