46. Tuggle - Ithaca
The Double Wedding Ring block has always been a favorite of Phil and Lisa Tuggle. This pattern replicates a quilt that was given to Lisa's grandmother, who later passed it down to Lisa. Although they have no documentation, it was said to be a state fair winner. The Tuggle quilt square is installed on an original 40-acre plot that was purchased from Oscar Studer in 1988. Since then, an additional 100 acres has been added on to the property. The farm is a Registered Angus farm--approximately 100 calves are born there annually between January and March. Cows are relocated to pastures from May to October and an annual Bull Sale occurs the 3rd Saturday in March. Females are sold the 3rd Saturday in August. The Tuggle Farm produces all feed and is MAEAP certified. 47. Robert Reeves Family Farm - Ithaca
The Memorial Quilt Block shows some favorite things of the namesake of this actively working farm passed to the next generation. 48. Quality Equipment - Ithaca
The name of this quilt block is "Swing in the Center." Quality Equipment is owned by Ed Whitaker (Trucker Ed) and was started in 1991 for the purpose of hauling farm equipment. |
49. Wineland - Ithaca
The four sides and eight points of this Friendship quilt block represent the four generations who lived on and loved this farm. The farm was purchased by Orrin and Anna Eckelbarger in 1921. In 1936 it was taken over by their son and his wife, Roy and Mabel Eckelbarger. Roy died in 1946, and in 1947 Mable moved to Ithaca. Her son and his wife, Keil and Vera Echelbarger moved to the farm and raised their family. The farm is now owned by their daughter and her husband, Duane and Colleen Eckelbarger Wineland. The original quilt block had a heart in the center, and the Christian cross was added to represent the four generations of Christians to which the farm has belonged. The patriotic colors were chosen to represent the involvement of several family members who were (and still are) in the military. 50. Marble - North Star
The Cross Block represents the center of this family's faith. The couple has lived in the home since 1972. The block represents North Star and the cross represents the family's belief of God's power in all aspects of their lives. It is hoped that visitors will see the cross and pray for the community of North Star. |
51. Lamey - Ithaca
The first square denotes Miss Heritage coming to North Star to marry Roy Lamey in 1973 (Represented by the Star). The evergreen tree in the second square represents the trees planted by the Lameys and their four sons. The third square depicts a log cabin quilt square with a heart at the center to represent the log cabin that is now their home. The sun is depicted in the fourth block to show that the sun rises and sets on each new day. 52. North Star Township Hall - Ithaca
The North Star Americana block was chosen not only because it was named after North Star Township, but also in the hopes that a bright and colorful pattern will catch the attention of those entering the township from the west. North Star began in 1857 in what was then known as Douglas, a station on the Ann Arbor Railroad that was renamed North Star in 1884. North Star is an unincorporated community in North Star Township on the Bad River, founded in 1948. The Township encompasses 34.6 square miles, 12% of which is water, and has a population of 1,000 residents. |
55. Miller - Perrinton
The Eternal Star block was chosen for this farm because it means "The Fellowship of Friends and Family." The Millers like to think of their home as a gathering place for friends and family who so often congregate around the campfire or their inviting wicker chairs on the front porch. The colors of the block were chosen to closely match the color scheme of the house and other buildings to create a warm, cozy, and welcoming atmosphere. 56. Fitzpatrick Farm - Perrinton
Fitzpatrick Farm was purchased in August of 1965 by William (Bill) and Muriel Fitzpatrick. Bill and Muriel were excited to start a farm and family of their own since they were both raised on a farm. Bill's family moved to Gratiot County in 1950 to start a small farm and milk a few cows just down the road from today's farm. Muriel (Becker) was also raised on her family's farm in Clinton County. Bill and Muriel married in November of 1965 and moved on to the farm. They had their first son, Dennis, in September of 1966. Bill worked at GM in Lansing and Muriel at Klien's Fertilizer in Perrinton as well as both working together on their farm. Over the years Bill and Muriel grew their family, another son and a daughter, and the family farm in acres. In 1992 Bill, Muriel, and Dennis incorporated the farm and today Dennis is the sole owner of Fitzpatrick Farms, Inc. where he lives with his family. Dennis's Grandmother Lucile and his Mother Muriel both had a passion for quilting. They would have loved being a part of the Gratiot County Quilt Trail and displaying a block on the farm. The Quilt block chosen for the farm is the Lone Star pattern. The colors in the block were chosen to match the barns and home on the farm. |
57. Fulton Township Hall - Perrinton
The Double X Quilt Block pattern exhibits the exciting history and famous excursion of Arnold Payne and his fellow travelers who first inhabited the area. Take a trip through Fulton Country to explore its rich history exhibited through this Sampler style quilt block. In the center of the block is the first homestead built by Arnold Payne, whose family was likely the first settlers in Fulton Township, as well as Gratiot County, around 1855. Within the cabin, you find three windows representing the three day villages in the township today: Middleton, Perrinton, and Pompeii. To enter Fulton Township, the Payne family and fellow travelers had to cross the Maple River, represented by the Maple Tree on the left. Within the branches of the Maple Tree lie three white triangles symbolic of the three Fulton Brothers for whom the township was named after. This is also represented by the trunk of the tree depicting the letter “F.” On the right side of the cabin, the pine tree represents the Pine Creek, which flows through Fulton Township and forms the man-made Rainbow Lake. Within the pine tree are 13 white triangles to symbolize Arnold Payne’s 13 children. The trunk is also shaped as a “T” to denote the governmental entity, the township. Above the cabin, there is a rainbow with five strands; the rainbow represents Rainbow Lake and the five strands represent the five township board members who oversee the health, safety, and welfare of the township. Below the cabin, you see the sun shining over the plow; this is symbolic of the rich farm production, agricultural business, and strong faith community that exists within Fulton Township today. |
58. Kurtze - Carson City
Quilts have been part of my life since I was a young child, sleeping under a pile of my grandmother‛s hand sewn quilts. I learned a love of sewing from my mother, using these talents to make my first quilt as a young adult. My mother-in-law inspired me to continue quilt-making, her reversible quilts a testament to the patience needed in both sewing and in life. Although I visited family in the country, it wasn‛t until after my husband and I married that we made a move to the family farm, where we have lived and worked ever since. The idea of making a barn quilt to decorate our home and showcase our farm life was the perfect fit for my love of quilts and his of farming. The greens in the quilt represent the crops we grow and the lands that surround us. The pink represents the unconditional love that sustains our family. The pinwheel design was chosen for its playfulness, and for its reminder that it is the simple pleasures in life that both rejuvenate and ground us. |
59. Ratu - Carson City
In 1855, William Brice came to America from England and settled in southwest Gratiot County where he purchased 160 acres of land from the government at a cost of 50 cents per acre. The land has been used to raise a variety of farm animals and crops over six generations. Faith, family, and friendships have been integral threads in binding these generations together. The barn quilt hanging on this farm is a block taken off a quilt the current owner's grandmother, Fannie Hill, created in a combined effort with many community and church members. The many different types of stitches, colors, and patterns of material used in this quilt represent special people and events that are important to the history of this farm. |
60. Roslund - Ithaca
In the fall of 1976, this 80-acre homestead farm located at 2452 W. Johnson Rd. in Ithaca, Michigan was purchased by Loren Roslund and Becky Fitzpatrick. Both were farm kids who had grew up in different parts of Gratiot County. As young adults, they were married in the spring of 1977 and made this homestead their new home. Together they farmed the land with their two daughters Angie and Allison. Proud of their heritage, the couple chose the Swedish Postcard quilt pattern to represent their Swedish heritage from the Roslund side of the family. They placed a Celtic Irish knot in the middle to represent the Irish heritage on the Fitzpatrick side. |