The Barn Quilts of Bureau County
What was that flash of color high on that barn? You just caught a glimpse of one of the Barn Quilts of Bureau County. As you drive across the county pay close attention to the farms that you are passing. You may see one of the over 60 Barn Quilts that have been placed on farm buildings all over the county. "What's a Barn Quilt?" you wonder. It is a quilt block design painted on a special type of plywood called MDO board. The blocks are usually either 4x4 feet or 8x8 feet. No fabric is used in the design, it all comes from paint. They are painted with exterior paint and each displays a colorful quilt block, either one chosen from a traditional quilt design or from something personal to that farm owner.
A small group of local women came together as a group that loves quilts and now the rich tradition of the barn quilts. They started the group, The Barn Quilts of Bureau County and they started out in 2014 with just five quilts in place. Early in 2016 they will have over 60 quilts on barns and farm buildings all over the county. The committee's goal is to have barn quilts in all 25 townships in the county. Several of the townships have multiple quilts hanging already. The Quilt Trail was designed to celebrate our rich agricultural heritage, showcase our rural areas and promote agritourism, the arts and a sense of community pride in Bureau County. A barn quilt lends a homey feeling to a farm and is just another of the ways our community honors our agricultural roots.
"How do they pick their design" you may wonder. Some of them are chosen by the name of the quilt design or by a favorite hobby or tradition. For example "The Ohio Star" hangs on a barn outside of Ohio, IL. One farm has the "Pinwheel" design painted in green and yellow. It shows the colors of the family's favorite football team and tractor style along with the windmill design too. Family heritage shows on some of the quilts that have a Swedish styled flag or Swedish Dala horse designs. Livestock on the farms show up on some of the quilts with horses, cattle and sheep designs. Some of the quilt names are really unique- "Farmer's Daughter"; "Corn & Beans"; "Mariners Compass"; "Loyal Daughter"; "Double Wedding Ring"; "Gentleman's Fancy"; "Honey Bee"; "Carpenters Wheel" or "Flying Geese". Designs are found in quilt books, on quilts handed down through the family and also on Pinterest.
You can see four examples of barn quilt designs on the red building inside the main gate of the Bureau County Fairgrounds, 811 W Peru St, in Princeton. There is a box on the end of the building next to the quilts that contains maps for the quilt trail around Bureau County. You can also pick up maps at the Prouty Building on Main St. in Princeton or < ahref="forms/BC-Visitors-Guide.pdf" target="_blank">Download Your Copy Here. You can do a self guided tour of the barn quilts at any time, summer or winter. The map in the guide is for informational purposes; please use the addresses for the best help in locating the farms. Note that the quilts are to be visible from the road. If there is no safe place to pull off the road to view the barn quilt you may pull into their driveways. Please remember to check for traffic as you slow down to view a quilt. We are indebted to our barn hosts for their hospitality.
The Origins of Barn Quilts
This nation-wide phenomenon was born in 2001 in Adams County, Ohio, when Donna Sue Groves made a promise to her Mother to paint her a quilt block. Her Mother was an accomplished quilter and she thought this would brighten up their colorless, grey barn. This barn quilt that was painted for her Mother has sparked the Barn Quilt movement throughout the United States and Canada. The book "Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement" by Suzi Parron with Donna Sue Groves tells the story of one of the fastest-growing grassroots public arts movements.
Our Beginning
Barn Quilts of Bureau County began in 2014, starting the year with 6 quilts in place. Since then, we have added many more, with over 2 dozen currently situated throughout the beautiful Bureau County countryside. It is our goal to continually added additional Barn Quilts with each passing year hoping to ensure a quit in each our Bureau Counties 25 Townships.
2016 Barn Quilt Tour - July 9th
In cooperation with both the Princeton Tourism and Bureau County Tourism Committees, Our Barn Quilt Tour is held with the annual Bureau County Garden Walk. While touring the beautiful gardens around Bureau County, make sure to visit our local farms displaying beautiful new Barn Quilts.
Please feel free to take your own self-guided tour of the quilts sprinkled throughout Bureau County. This will give you a chance to visit our lovely landscapes, farms and villages as well as offer an opportunity to enjoy our local shops and restaurants. We are very proud of the scenic beauty found throughout Bureau County each season. The breathtaking autumn colors and picturesque winter scenes will only add to your visit.
We would like to note that each quilt is visible from the road. We kindly ask for everyone's well-being that you please drive safely and obey all traffic laws. If there is no safe place to pull off the road at Barn Quilt farm, you may pull into their driveways. Please also remember to check for traffic as you slow down to stop to view each quilt. We are indebted to our barn hosts for their hospitality.
Additional Information
Barn quilts on the Bureau County trail are required to be on an agricultural building. You may see other quilts in your travels that are in town or on homes and garages. The Barn Quilt committee can make arrangements to paint one for your farm building if you don't feel artistic.
We hope you will slow down and take a few back roads and enjoy the lovely landscapes, farms and villages that make up Bureau County, Illinois and enjoy the Barn Quilt Trail too!
If you need additional information please contact us at:
815-303-4608 - Valerie Jensen 815-973-7789 - Sandy Carpenter |
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barnquiltsofbureaucounty@gmail.com | |
"Barn Quilts of Bureau County" Facebook Page |
Barn Quilt Locations
Please use the map below to locate the picturesque Barn Quilt locations through out Bureau County. You may click on each listed in the left column or map icon in the right to zoom in on each individual Barn Quilt location.
1: Marge Albrecht
Swedish Dala Horse - Red
14973 Lover's Lane Road
Princeton, IL 61356
2: Hilding & Joann Allen Farm
Swedish Dala Horse - yellow
7113 1700 North Avenue
Princeton, IL 61356
3: Bill Brothers Farms
Double Windmill
8071 1310 North Avenue
Buda, IL 61314
4: Arthur & Judy Bland 12966 IL Hwy. 26 Princeton, IL 61356
5: Melvin Carlson
Americana Star Block
24396 1900 North Avenue
Princeton, IL 61356
6: Joe & Sandy Carpenter
Ohio Star, Carpenter's Wheel, Jessie's Star
27713 2350 East Street
Ohio, IL 61349
7: Lawrence & Rita Dabler
Loyal Daughters
16125 1100 North Avenue
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
8: Rex Elmore
Square in a Square
10914 1575 East Street
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
9: Jared & Jill Frueh 20824 2300 North Avenue Ohio, IL 61349
10: Jason & Sara Hildebrand
Sara's Star
24889 2100 North Avenue
Princeton, IL 61356
11: Kathy & Tim Bauer
Wedding Rings, Draft Horse
15945 2625E St.
Princeton, IL 61356
12: Scott & Valerie Jensen
Pinwheel
6889 1475 East Street
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
13: Jim & Jeanine May
Harvest Star
16541 2750 East Street
Princeton, IL 61356
14: Aaron Menerey & Kathi Reed
White Parks Cattle
16998 1110 North Avenue
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
15: Richard & Terri Molln
Celtic Trinity Cross
1452 Baseline Road
LaMoille, IL 61330
16: Clem & Judy Newton
Star Points
4271 Wyanet Walnut Road
Bradford, IL 61421
17: Marilyn Olds
Eight Point Star
12101 1550 North Avenue
Wyanet, IL 61379
18: Stone Gate 13336 Lover's Lane Road Princeton, IL 61356
19: Kevin & Teresa Pinter
Farmer's Daughter
26802 Angling Road
Malden, IL 61337
20: Jim & Nancy Rapp
Swedish Flag
18762 2200 East Street
Princeton, IL 61356
21: Lonnie & Linda Rieker
Night and Day
24373 2600 North Avenue
Ohio, IL 61349
22: Gary & Beth Rosene
Corn & Beans
20280 2400 North Avenue
Ohio, IL 61349
23: Bob & Janice Williams
Crown of Thorns
25247 IL Hwy. 92
Van Orin, IL 61374
24: Ron & Linda Wright
Summer Star
16732 645 East Street
Sheffield, IL 61361
25: Eldon Molln
Gentleman's Fancy
25448 3000N Ave.
LaMoille, IL 61330
26: Ary Family Farm 19292 250N Ave. Tiskilwa, IL 61368
27: Tom & Connie Slutz
Mariners Compass, Shropshire Sheep
602 S Main St
LaMoille, IL 61330
28: Ray & Rheta Schallhorn
Rolling Star
26998 2750 East St
LaMoille, IL 61330
29: Glen & Sharon Rabe
Red Covered Bridge
21366 1840 East St
Princeton, IL 61356
30: Bob & Gale Brandner
Honey Bee
34554 1840 East St
Spring Valley, IL 61362
31: Dale & Chris Anderson
Father's Choice
18828 250 North Ave
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
32: Mark & Nancy Johnston
Starlight
14275 910 North Ave
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
33: Conkling Farm
Baby Quilt Flower Basket
14999 1600 East St
Princeton, IL 61356
34: Norris Farm
All Free and Clear
25120 US Hwy 34
LaMoille, IL 61330
35: Monier Farms
Farming Enterprises
21721 Hwy 26
Ohio, IL 61349
36: Paul & Linda Nordstrom
Appalachian Sunrise
10364 1745 North Ave
Wyanet, IL 61379
37: Kenneth & Susan Bernabei 508 Strong St Dalzell, IL 613420
38: Ruth Molln 22830 IL Hwy 92 Ohio, IL 61349
39: Harry Molln 26877 2900 North Ave LaMoille, IL 61330
40: John Swearingen Family 15848 Wyanet-Walnut Rd Wyanet, IL 61379
41: Crescent Ridge Wind Farm
Crescent Ridge Logo
6250 1475 East St
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
42: Rick & Beth Fonderoli
Nosegay
26054 Angling Rd
Malden, IL 61337
43: Richard & Carol Haas
Ohio Star
25749 2600 North Ave
Ohio, IL 61349
44: Dennis & Jean Hall
Double Wedding Ring
29029 2050 North Ave
Malden, IL 61337
45: Scott & Valerie Jensen
Road to Fortune
14133 Kentville Rd
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
46: Steve & Shellee Monier
Star in a Star
21199 2300 North Ave
Ohio, IL 61349
47: Joe & Kathy Olsen
Triple LeMoyne Star
12709 1200 North Ave
Wyanet, IL 61379
48: Windihill
Dresden Plate
8267 Wyanet-Walnut Rd
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
49: Gerald Levisay, MD
Once Around the Block
401 Old North Rd
Spring Valley, IL 61362
50: Bruce & Anita Obenhaus
Illinois Block
12523 2450 East St
Princeton, IL 61356
51: The Gerber Family
Monkey Wrench
17182 1000 North Ave
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
52: Marvin & Beverly Anderson
Hummingbird
24129 1700E St.
Walnut, IL 61376
53: Ary Family Farm
All Hallows
5391 1925E St
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
54: Bonucci Farms
Harvest Sun, Underground Railroad, Harvest Moon
1950 East Peru Street
Princeton, IL 61356
55: Cowser, Mark
Flying Geese
19914 300 N Ave
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
56: Gail & Sue Edlefson
Father's Choice
22042 1100E St.
Wyanet, IL 61379
57: Gail & Sue Edlefson
Italian Tile
10682 2400N Ave.
Walnut, IL 61376
58: Chs. & Shirley Meisenheimer
And the Eagle Will Fly
14658 2400N Ave.
Walnut, IL 61376
59: Lois Molln
Bethelem Star
24198 IL Hwy. 92
Ohio, IL 61349
60: Schroeder Farm
Rolling Star
12526 1650 N Ave
Wyanet, IL 61379
61: Strattan Family Farm
LeMoyne Star
11744 1000E St.
Buda, IL 61314
62: Thacker Farms 18695 IL Hwy. 92 Ohio, IL 61349
63: Scott & Valerie Jensen
Farmer's Wife
6250 1475E St.
Tiskilwa, IL 61368
64: Miller Family
Miller Family Heritage
8807 2395E St.
Princeton, IL 61356
65: Kurt Missel
Harley-Davidson
13151 Wyanet-Walnut Rd.
Wyanet, IL 61379
66: Bureau County Fairgrounds
Illinois Star, Red Covered Bridge, Corn & Beans, Americana Heart
811 W Peru St
Princeton, IL 61356
67: Gail & Sue Edlefson
Patriotic LeMoyne Star
26769 2650 E St
LaMoille, IL 61330
68: Bob & Joyce Peterson
Cardinal: Illinois State Bird
18075 2500 N Ave
Walnut, IL 61376
69: William & Renee Corpus
Le Rooster
3202 Meridan Road
Peru, IL 61354
70: Jim & Ronette Mathew
IH In a Star
15304 2400 N Ave
Walnut, IL 61376
71: Sam & Betty Maupin
Multi-Layered Star
18717 00N Ave
Henry, IL 61357
72: Steve & Kim Foes
Sun Flower
11495 2125 N Ave
Wyanet, IL 61379
73: Delbert & Marianne Zimmerlein
Contrary Wife
29645 2550 E St
LaMoille, IL 61330
74: The Taylor Family
The Taylor Family
14057 IL Hwy 26
Princeton, IL 61356
75: Jim & Deb Ganschow
GrandmotherŐs Flower Garde
26543 1100 E St
Walnut, IL 61376