Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Quilting has been part of our Appalachian Heritage for centuries – passed down from generation to generation.
Whether it’s hand-sewn or the newer machine quilting, the fabric and patterns are more than just something pretty to look at. They tell a story.
In 2013, Pocahontas County honored the history of quilt patterns during the Sesquicentennial of West Virginia with the “Patterns From the Past” barn quilt square trail.
The trail began with 13 blocks, which were installed on barns and large buildings throughout the county, and it now includes 19 of the colorful blocks.
Local quilters and artists collaborated to create the large squares, most with a nod to the Civil War or West Virginia patterns.
During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad was established to provide secret routes and safe houses to help escaped slaves find freedom. Along those routes and outside the safe houses, quilts were used to communicate with the slaves to let them know they were on the right route or near a safe house.
Many of those quilt squares are included in the barn quilt square trail.
Starting in Durbin, there are three squares on Main Street. The first is on Station 2 Restaurant and is the Rail Fence pattern, which depicts the many rail fences that were a common sight at plantations and safe homes.
The Annie’s Choice quilt block is in Durbin, on the side of the former Whistle Stop store.
The next pattern, Annie’s Choice, on the side of the former Whistle Stop store, is a double pinwheel and adds a nice teal and brown pattern to the trail.
Between the Durbin Art and Visitor’s Center and the Rail Trail store is the Shoo Fly block, which is freestanding. During the Civil War, this pattern was used by members of the Underground Railroad to show that they were friendly and could help guide slaves in the right direction.
This pattern also reflected farm life and the square represents a hole in the home through which a fly could enter.
Next stop on the trail is at the former Travelers Repose in Bartow. The Bow Tie pattern, which looks like the gentleman’s accessory of the same name, was a symbol to escaped slaves to change their clothing and find attire that depicted them as higher status individuals in hopes they would not be captured.
Continuing on Route 92, before Arbovale, a large red barn, formerly owned by the author Stephen Coonts, is the site of the next square, Carpenter’s Wheel. The pattern, a star in the center with stars surrounding it, was a signal to pack items that were needed for travel by wagon. It was also a symbol of packing for a long journey.
Just before you get into Arbovale, on the right is the next square mounted on an old spring house. The Log Cabin pattern is one of the most popular quilt patterns. It is a series of strips that create a square pattern. It symbolizes home, warmth, love and security to the pioneers who were traveling west.
It was also used on the Underground Railroad to signify a safe house.
The next stop is in Green Bank at the Green Bank Arts Center. This quilt square is the Churn Dash pattern and is a bold yellow, green and blue pattern.
The churn dash is another farm related pattern depicting butter churning. The triangle and rectangle perimeter is the butter churn and the central square is the stick or “dash” used to churn the butter.
In between Frost and Minnehaha Springs on Rt. 92 is the Sunset Star block.
From Green Bank, travel to Dunmore and stay straight on Rt. 92 toward Frost. In between Frost and Minnehaha Springs is the next square, the Sunset Star. Not much is said about this pattern other than it is one of many variations depicting stars.
At the intersection of Rts. 39 and 92 at Minnehaha Springs is the Turkey Tracks square. While it may seem this square is self explanatory, it actually has nothing to do with turkeys. The tale goes that this square is also known as Wandering Foot and has a superstition tied to it.
Colonial boys were not to sleep under a Wandering Foot quilt because if they did, they would become afflicted with the urge to run away from home.
On a straight stretch of Rt. 92 in Minnehaha Springs, the Dresden Plate quilt square brightly stands out against the aged barn on which it is mounted.
Turning left onto Rt. 39, east of Minnehaha Springs is the Dresden Plate square. The colorful pattern is inspired by the 1920s and 1930s Dresden, Germany, porcelain plates that were decorated with elaborate designs of flowers, fruits and foliage.
The pattern almost resembles a flower, with petals all meeting at the center. The colorful “petals” symbolize diversity with the many colors coming together to create a dynamic pattern.
South of Minnehaha Springs on Rt. 92 in Rimel, is the next pattern, Corn and Beans. This pattern is also a celebration of farming and agriculture, representing the staple crops of corn and beans.
From here, turn around and return to Rt. 39 and continue into Huntersville. Turn onto Luster Shrader Road and there will be the North Star square. This pattern, as the name implies, was a symbol to follow the north star onto the escape route to Canada.
Leave Huntersville and continue into Marlinton. On Fourth Avenue, on the side of McGlaughlin House is the Birds in Flight square. This pattern looks like four birds flying in unison.
Continue through Marlinton and take a left toward Hillsboro.
On the way to Hillsboro, in the small town of Cooktown is the Bear’s Paw square. It is so named because it looks like four giant bear paws pointing in different directions. This pattern was used to show escaped slaves where to find food and water during their trek.
On into Hillsboro, at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace is the West Virginia Star pattern, which is on the front of the Sydenstricker Cabin. This pattern was originally pub- lished in Hearth and Home magazine in 1915, when the magazine editors asked for a block to represent each state.
Next, return to Marlinton and head to Edray. Between Walgreens and Glades Building Supply, is the next square, the Monkey Wrench. This pattern looks similar to the Churn Dash. This particular square is unique because it depicts Pocahontas County High School in its maroon and gold colors and at the center is the school’s mascot, the Warrior.
Continue on Rt. 219 in Edray and turn right on the Edray-Back Mountain Road for about a half mile. On a barn to the left is a second Churn Dash square, this time in bold blue and red.
Return to Rt. 219 and continue to Slaty Fork. At Sharp’s Country Store, there is a barn with the Flying Geese square. This pattern symbolized freedom and was used to guide escaped slaves to follow the direction of the geese to Canada. The triangle “geese” were also used to point to the direction of water, food and shelter.
The final square is also in Slaty Fork, on Rt. 219. It is called the Drunkard’s Path. This square has a couple meanings. During the Civil War, it was used by the Underground Railroad to warn escaped slaves to not make a direct path and instead zig-zag and double back in order to evade capture.
This pattern was also used during the Temperance Movement. Since women were not yet allowed to vote, they used the pattern the express their opinion concerning the use of alcohol. The movement used blue and white for the pattern with white standing for purity and blue for water, the purest beverage.
The barn quilt trail is definitely not a straight trail and may be hard to do in one day, but it is a great way to experience Pocahontas County and the history of quilt patterns.
The Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau has pamphlets with a list of the blocks and their locations.
