Quilting has a great history in the world, but also in the United States. Once the 18th century came around, textiles began to be produced a lot easier which made the fabric more accessible, and women would be able to make quilts a little quicker, even using different designs and patching them together. Fast forward, as the US expanded westward, women became resourceful because of the lack of available manufactured goods. So pioneer women would reuse materials by stitching them together, or quilting to make bed coverings to warm the chilly nights
So for about two centuries, women have worked to piece together scraps of material to make a way to keep the family warm in the sometimes harsh winters. Back when houses were not insulated, and there was no such thing as central heaters, quilts were not only decorative but life-saving as well. Locally, churches had quilting groups that provided quilts for graduating seniors each year. One quilting group presented patriotic quilts to as many Terry County Veterans as they could, which is very appreciated.
Many years ago, a group of quilters in Terry County began a movement to preserve the art of quilting. So to honor the art of quilting, a Terry County Quilt Trail was established. Ten different mural quilt blocks were painted and placed throughout Terry County, and are approximately 10′ X 10’, with most being inside the city limits of Brownfield. These quilt murals represented popular patterns of the day that were used often by the quilting women of Terry County down through the years. Sadly, they have fallen into disrepair and no longer represent Terry County pride as they once did.
With this in mind, the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce has taken on the task of having them redone. It may surprise you to know that we still have visitors who come to the Chamber to ask for information on the Quilt Trail. Of course, brochures are located at the Chamber office which has a map and information on each quilt mural.
If you or your business, or a church would like to sponsor the restoration of one of these quilt murals, the cost is $600. They will be professionally redone, and the Terry County Sheriff’s Office will restore the frames for each block. Your business name or family name will be added to a corner of any block you sponsor. This is such a great part of our history and we should be proud of it, and let’s not allow this part of Terry County’s history die.
To sponsor a block, go by the Chamber office at 221 Lubbock Road or call 806.637.2564.
