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Monroe County Quilt Trail

The Monroe County Quilt Trail was made possible by the collaboration of many individuals and organizations from both Monroe County and the state of West Virginia.

First, Mary Legg-Moses (RBS Coordinator at West Virginia State University) arranged for Monroe County to receive a quilt trail grant from West Virginia University State University Extension and USDA Rural Development. Greenbrier County resident Fawn Valentine, author of West Virginia Quilts and Quiltmakers, selected the first design of "Farmer’s Fancy," based on an actual quilt made by Mae Long, a Monroe County resident.

The local Mountain Heritage Quilters Guild of Southern West Virginia then picked twelve designs and sewed sample quilt blocks. These blocks were displayed at the 2010 Farmer’s Day festival, and the public voted on their favorite designs. From the public vote, seven designs were chosen to be created and put on display around the county. These were: Basket, Dresden Plate, Honey Bee, Maple Leaf, Paddle Wheel, Turkey Tracks and Union. Blocks were painted by local residents, groups and school children, including professional artist Joan Menard, 2010 Summer Energy Express mentors, the Monroe Arts Alliance, and 4-H campers. The frames for these first blocks were constructed by students at the Monroe Technical Center under the supervision of Quinton Crawford.

Soon additional blocks were requested by county residents. Others involved in painting these blocks include the Peterstown Junior Honor Society, after-school students and their mentors, the Monroe Connections CEOS club, high school art students and local artists. Installation was completed with the aid of local contractors (including Dale Dixon, Duane Miller, and Scott Peirick, Jason Mundell and Dwayne Boggs), and Don Dransfield and Travis Cullen of West Virginia University Extension Service - Monroe County Office, as well as barn owners themselves and many volunteers. Staff members from the West Virginia University Extension Service - Monroe County Office, and Helen Graves of the Monroe County Tourism Office were involved throughout the entire project. The Trail continued to grow with a mini-grant for materials from the Monroe County Art Alliance, and the support of private donations and Friends of Monroe, Inc.

The Monroe Quilt Trail Committee was made up of volunteers from the West Virginia University Extension Service - Monroe County Office (Don Dransfield, Brian Wickline, and Travis Cullen), Monreo County Tourism Office's Helen Graves, artist/former AmeriCorps volunteer Joan Menard, quilter Doris McCurdy, RBS Coordinator Mary Legg-Moses, Monroe County Art Alliance director Judith Bair and former AmeriCorps volunteer Cathy Abernathy. Joan Menard and Cathy Abernathy served as project coordinators. At this time, the Quilt Trail is under the Monroe County Tourism Office.

Monroe County Quilt Trail

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