SVM-SS3

August 31, 2016

Quilted Barns

A Supplement To Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

Quilts and the Underground Railroad Source: chicagonow.com

Quilts have been in America since the beginning only most disappeared with use.

Many of them were made of fabric that had already been used as clothing. Once that quilt wore out, it was sometimes then used as the batting for a new quilt. Starting with the fact that fabric is very fragile to begin with there are only a tiny fraction of the early quilts made which have survived. Those quilts were generally those of the rich or were somehow lucky enough to have been put away and not used.

Hundreds of years ago, if the quilter was lucky and had enough fabric and light, she could stitch some art into her much needed bed covering. Quilts also were symbolic and showed support for the Women’s Temperance League, Political Candidates and religious organizations like the Masons. I am sure there are many other codes in quilts, some which may be too personal for us ever to figure out.

There are many books which talk about this kind of code in quilts for the Underground Railroad. Given the highly symbolic nature of quilts, the fact that some of these quilts were made by slaves and the ephemeral nature of fabric I am not surprised that there is a lack of written corroboration of these quilts. I think it’s entirely possible that quilts played a role. Others are not and are welcome to their opinion.

Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

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This barn was in the Whiteside County Barn Tour in 2015. It is a Dutch

gambrel roof. It is a working barn, as we treat cattle and have a lean-to attached to shelter them. We store hay bales in the haymow and the steel hay track is intact.

Owners: Dale and Sue Sterenberg 16836 Millard Rd., Morrison, IL

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SM-ST5183-0825

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Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

Quilted Barns

The Original Barn was built in 1868. It was a three bay carriage house with a hay mow. It’s been covered with siding to prevent deterioration.

A unique feature is the window in the front, placed askew intentionally.

The school house in the center is a symbol of the owners previous job of school superintendent.

I sew quilts for fun: So I needed a barn quilt.

Owners: Dean & Connie Lower 621 E. Pearl Street, Lanark, IL

Owners: Richard & Jane Meyer 5508 E. Cottonwood Rd., Chana, IL

Quilt is painted on the haymow door. It is “Fathers Choice” done in similar colors used in their wedding. They have owned the barn since

Our barn quilt is observant of our 50th wedding anniversary. Pattern

July 24, 1972 it was there long before.

is “Diamonda & Autumn Leaves.”

Owners: Terry & Paulette Rahn 12277 Stone Bridge Road, Lanark, IL

Owners: David & Karen A. Sloan 401 Blair Parkway, Lanark, IL

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

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1825 Locust St. • Sterling 815-625-4323 www.wilcorental.com

and put a new roof and siding on the barn. The barn quilt was added in 2012. The silo behind the barn was first painted during the great depression of the 1930’s.

It is an advertisement for spray paint. It was a common part of rural America to have advertisements on farm buildings & silos. It has since been refurbished in 1979 and 2009 by local artists.

Owners: John and Sandra Cox 8298 E. High Rd., Stillman Valley, IL

Offer valid on new 1023E Compact Tractor purchases made between August 3, 2016, and October 28, 2016. Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial. Up to a 20% down payment may be required. Example: based on a purchase of $10,438 with $2,088 down payment, monthly payment of $99 at 0% APR for 84 months. $500 off implement bonus is in addition to low-rate financing and requires the purchase of two or more qualifying John Deere or Frontier implements. Taxes, freight, setup and delivery charges could increase the monthly payment. Loader and implements sold separately and not included in monthly payment. Price and model availability vary by dealer. Valid only at participating U.S. dealers.

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SM-ST5184-0825

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Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

Quilted Barns

Patriotic Star quilt on the garage and Director’s Dream on the workshop.

We put the first barn quilt on our garage in May of 2010. I have made many quilts and Bud always showed an interest in them. When I saw barn quilts, I thought it would be a hobby he would enjoy. We finish the barn quilts with a frame around them, like I finish my quilts with a binding.

The name of this quilt is “Clay’s Choice”.

Owners: Millard L. Hicks 7038 S. Rock Nation Rd., Dixon, IL

Owners: Harold and Lucille Woodin 701 E. Dixon St., Polo, IL

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The barn was built in 1895. The Carpenter’s wheel was chosen as the barn quilt square when Louis and Carol were married. Carol’s grandmother Julia Wolf made 13 quilts, one for each of her grandchildren. The quilt square on the barn is the same color as the square on the quilt itself. It is now 50 years old.

Owners: Louis & Carol Vaessen 1925 Maytown Rd., Sublette, IL

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

We moved here in 1986 - 30 years ago and put up the quilt in honor of our 35th anniversary, 9/25/11. The barn is over 100 years old and was a modern dairy barn!

Owners: Richard & Kathy Burgess 781 Bloody Gulch Rd., Dixon, IL

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Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

Quilted Barns

45´ x 72´ barn built in the early 1990’s. Barn quilt pattern is Corn & Beans

Known locally as the “old Norrish farm”. The barn was refurbished in 2010.

Owners: Jim & Linda Dykstra 19395 Millard Rd., Morrison, IL

Owners: Martin Ostrander 15370 Norrish Rd., Morrison, IL

Almost lost in a storm in 1998 when a beam was broken by wind and the side showing in the picture caved in. The quilt is made of vinyl decals on steel.

Owners: Dave and Lynne Meyer 5225 Cranes Grove Road, Freeport, IL

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

Quilt on garage/work shop

Quilt on 100+ year old barn Owner: Orville Goodenough 11589 Garden Plain Rd., Morrison, IL

The barn was built in the late 1930’s by my Grandfather, William Crump. It was built to house Angus cattle. I moved here in 1954. The farm has been in the same family for over 151 years.

The

name

of the quilt on the barn is

Carpenter’s Wheel.

Owners: Frank & Linnea Belt 12985 Feldman Rd., Morrison, IL

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Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

Quilted Barns

Our barn was built in 1913 by the Rose Morrissey family. After it’s completion they held a barn dance. For many years the barn was the center of a working farm. Today it is mostly used for storage, but we still honor its worth. We covered it with steel to preserve the exterior and adorned it with a barn quilt a few years ago.

Owners: Edward & Beth Morrissey 1712 Shaw Road, Amboy, IL

Believed to be built about 1910, the barn was raised and had a cement foundation installed in the early 50’s. At that time the layout was changed and a haymow was added. The barn quilt pattern is Northern Star.

Owners: Corey & Eva Dykstra 11511 Smit Rd., Morrison, IL

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

Built in 1876, post and beam construction with wooden pegs and an earthen ramp. The shed contains a teakwood water distribution tank.

Owners: Eunice E. Detweiler 19552 Pennington Rd, Sterling, IL

Serving our communities for over 147 years www.birkeys.com

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815-537-2304 SM-ST4385-0825

Our Contact Information 120 W. South Street, Franklin Grove 815-456-2334 www.bradfordmutual.com

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Quilted Barns

Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

Built in 1933, this barn first served as a dairy barn. In 1938, Dr. Willard Keller, a dentist in Rock Falls, purchased the farm where he and his wife, Maud, would raise their four sons, Tim being the third son. The dairy barn became a barn for Hereford cattle and later Angus.

The barn quilt was painted by Barbara Leuders from a design created by Carolyn and Barbara.

Barn photo by Linnea Koch.

Owners: Tim & Carolyn Keller 20598 Hoover Rd., Sterling, IL

The open doors of this barn welcomed in truck loads of apples to be processed into fresh apple cider. The Keller family operated Ye Olde Cider Mill for over 40 years, custom pressing for other orchards as well as individuals. Kellers discovered this barn in rural Rock Falls and were able to purchase it in the early 1980s.

They dismantled it, numbering each board, and moved it across the Rock River, rebuilding it at its present home in Sterling.

The barn quilt was painted by Barbara Leuders from a design created by Carolyn and Barbara.

Barn photo by Linnea Koch.

Owners: G. Tim & Carolyn Keller 1716 W. 4th St., Sterling, IL

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

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Barn was erected in 1921 and used as a horse and cow barn. Hazel’s father, Warner C. Hartman, purchased the farm in 1946 and then it became a grade “A” dairy operation. The barn contained a milking parlor and calf pens. The new attached sheds housed the dairy herd. The large hip roof allowed for open hay storage and now stands empty and open, begging to be a playhouse for someone or some creature. The attached sheds are used for a workshop and storage. The barn quilt design called “HARVEST STAR” was painted by Leroy Getz in 2015.

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Owners: Leroy & Hazel (Hartman) Getz 19056 Argo Fay Route, Mt. Carroll, IL SM-ST5551-0825

This barn was built in 1974 following a structure fire on the Lucky Clover Dairy Farm. The lower level houses our registered and grade Holstein dairy herd. The upper floor stores several thousand bales of hay and straw. This farm has been in the Getz family since 1866 and covers 5 generations.

The barn quilt design is called the “EXCITED STAR” was painted by Leroy Getz in 2014.

Owners: Leroy & Hazel (Hartman) Getz 11576 Jacobstown Road, Savanna, IL

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Quilted Barns

Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

Barn & raised in the heartland Project will help document Carroll County’s colorful side Lonnie C. Miller Special to Sauk Valley Media

There’s an old saying: “If you want a job done, ask the busiest person you know and they’ll get it done.”

Carroll County Motel and Hotel Tax Board and Farm Bureau members did just that for to get their Barn Quilt Trail project done.

They asked a world-famous doll maker, Connie Zink, who’s also the owner of Robert’s Roost Country Guest House in Carroll County, just one of three businesses she runs. Now, in her spare time – what there is of it – she’s helping document the county’s quilts. The project’s goal is to locate, document, and map the barn quilts, and in the process, give the county another tool to promote itself.

Despite their name, barn quilts aren’t really quilts at all, at least not the the kind you cover up with. In fact you’d have a hard time wrapping yourself up in a barn quilt.

They’re made of wood or metal, and are most often one large square, thought sometimes – like their cloth cousins – they can be made up of colorful pieces that are assembled into a larger quilt. They can be freestanding, but are usually hung on a barn or other outbuilding.

They can simply be something pleasant to look at, or they can represent something special to the family.

An avid photographer and amateur historian, Connie took the project on after another organizer had to back out due to time constraints. And while Connie’s keeping plenty busy with project, she can’t do it all alone. She needs the public’s help to complete the massive project.

She’s already taken more than 200 photos and traveled all over the county to gather information about barn quilts in the area. But, she knows there are more out there.

She’s asking people to go to visitcarrollcountyil.com/ barn-quilt-trail, or the project’s Facebook page (search for “Barn Quilts of Carroll County Illinois”) to help.

Got a quilt that’s not on the list? Let her know. And if you’re already on the list, she asks simply that you verify the information.

Don’t have a quilt at all, but would like information on how to be a part of trail? Let her know. Or if you’d rather put the pieces together yourself, you can research barn quilts online. Some businesses sell them pre-made, there are instructions online for making your own, or the project’s Facebook page offers a list of people in Carroll County who make them.

Got a quilt that’s on the list, but that you’d rather have it off the list? That’s OK, too. Just let her know.

She can be reached at 815-565-0024 or Robertsroostcountryguesthouse@gmail.com When submitting information about the quilt, there are several pieces of information organizers are looking for – the list of which can be found at the trail’s web page. Connie also wants folks to submit pictures of barn quilts.

with a painted quilt square on the family’s barn in Manchester, Ohio. Groves would eventually go on to contribute to a book, “Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement,” written by Suzi Parron, and a national quilt trail movement has unfurled across America.

While there’s no book in Carroll County’s future right now, organizers do plan on having a printed map and a brochure, in addition to the website and Facebook page.

Carroll County is very fortunate to have many “Barn Quilts” already in existence throughout its countryside, and the people behind the patchwork project of the county’s artistic side are hoping to highlight all of them.

So far, it looks like they’re already off to a good start, assembling, piece by piece, a colorful and creative side of Carroll County.

Contact Connie Zink at 815-565-0024, or email: Robertsroostcountryguesthouse@gmail.com to submit or get more information.

Barn Quilt Workshop

They’re encouraged to take photos and submit them, but she can come and take pictures, too, if they’re unable to get a good, clear photo.

Barn quilts of any size are welcomed. “Some groups require that a barn quilt be a minimum size of 4-feet by 8-feet to make their lists, but our group wants all quilts of all sizes and on any building.” As if to illustrate her point, she points out the small 2-foot by 2-foot quilt painted on her garden shed.

According to the trail project’s web page, what’s come to be known as The American Quilt Trail Movement is credited to Donna Sue Groves, an Ohio woman who wanted to honor her mother, who was a noted quilter,

The Carroll County Motel and Hotel Board and The Farm Bureau Boards will sponsor a presentation and barn quilt painting class on Tuesday, June 21, and Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Suzi Parron, author of “Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement,” will be at the Farm Building Auditorium on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

In order for the class to be held, it will need 15 committed participants. People can sign up in advance and will paint a 2-foot by 2-foot square.

Online: Suzi Parron’s website on barn quilts: http:// barnquiltinfo.com/

August 31, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Quilted Barns

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yard and the other one on my husbands shop. These were the first ones put up in Whiteside County.

Owners: Clayton & Cheryl Linscheid 26972 Pilgrim Rd., Sterling, IL

Family owned and operated since 1967!

IL Licensed 055-000988

SM-ST5199-0825

I wanted to put up a quilt block but we no longer had a barn. While

1835 pegged barn has a basement once used for livestock. Upstairs is used for hay and grain storage.

Quilt on left is “Farmer’s Daughter and quilt on right is “Fireman’s Cross”.

Owners: Edward, Steve and Scott Gilmore 2853 Chicago Rd., Compton, IL

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Quilted Barns

Sauk Valley Media • August 31, 2016

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