By Patricia Beech-
The Adams County Clotheslines of Quilts tour is one of six recipients of the 2018 Scenic Ohio Award. Each year Scenic Ohio honors individuals, agencies, and organizations that conserve and preserve Ohio’s many scenic resources.
The 2018 awards ceremony was held Nov. 16 at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center at The Ohio State University in Columbus. The event recognized groups and organizations for their dedication to preserving Ohio Farms and promoting tourism across the state.
In addition to the Clothesline of Quilts tour, award recipients included: the Bob Evans Farm; the Malabar Farm State Park; the Hale Farm and Village; the Hancock County Historical Museum and Historic Barn Tour; and the Slate Run Living Historical Farm.
The Clothesline of Quilts tour began as a grass roots art movement in 2001 in Adams County.
The idea was initially conceived by Donna Sue Groves, who wanted to honor her quilt-making mother, Maxine Groves, by painting quilt squares on local barns. In 2001 she and a group of Adams County residents organized a driving tour featuring the Clothesline of Quilts.
At that time, Donna Groves said she envisioned other counties in the region creating their own barn quilts for visitors to admire.
“Just think, we could have an interconnecting clothesline of quilts throughout Appalachian Ohio,” she said.
Since 2001, Groves has seen her dream spread to 16 states and 900 barns across America.
The original quilt barns driving tour in Adams County includes: the Lemon Star on St. Rt. 52 Manchester; the Ohio Star, St. Rt. 247, Manchester; Saw Tooth Star, St. Rt. 52 Rome; Pin Wheel, Gift Ridge Road, Manchester; Windmill on St. Rt. 247 and Beasley Fork Road, West Union; Liberty Star, Main Street, Peebles; two LeMoyne Stars, Old St. Rt. 32, Peebles; Nine Patch, St. Rt. 73, Peebles; the Hourglass, St. Rt. 41, Peebles; Clay’s Choice, N. Grace’s Run, Winchester; Snail’s Trail, 3324 Germany Hill Road, Manchester; Old Maid’s Puzzle, 380 Weaver Road, West Union; the Monkey Wrench, 1818 Waggoner Riffle Rd., West Union; Shoo Fly, 9999 St. Rt. 41, West Union; the Friendship Star, 1092 Vaughn Ridge, West Union; Brown Goose, 5213 Eckmansville Rd., Winchester; Broken Dishes, 21309, St. Rt. 125, Blue Creek; the Dutchman’s Puzzle, Burnt Cabin Road, Seaman; Corner Ohio Star, Front Street, Manchester; Hovering Hawks, 39 Walnut Street, Peebles; the Bronze Star, St. Rt. 247, Manchester; the Double T, 871 Spurgeon Hill Road, West Union; the Bow Tie, 1191 Vaughn Ridge, West Union; Vogler’s Quilt Barn, Coon Hill Road, Cherry Fork; Brush Creek Road Quilt Barn, Brush Creek Road, Manchester; Chestnut Ridge Quilt Barn, Chestnut Ridge, West Union; and the Carpenter Star Quilt Barn, Baily Road, West Union
Celebrating Appalachian heritage, the rural landscape, and traditional Appalachian handicraft, the Quilt Barns have become landmarks all across Ohio in recent years.
Created in 1933 as the Ohio Roadside Council, Scenic Ohio is the only not-for-profit in Ohio dedicated to protecting and enhancing the scenic character of the state’s towns and countryside. An affiliate of Scenic America, the volunteer, not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization seeks to educate the public and elected officials about their ability to enact stricter laws to protect Ohio’s landscapes.