Waynesville, NC – The Haywood County Arts Council’s Quilt Trails project announces the dedication of the “Stars & Stirrups” and “City Streets” quilt block at 5:30pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at the Town of Waynesville Police Department & Development Office at 9 S. Main Street. The block was installed on Friday, May 25 by Town of Waynesville Electrical Department employees David Hyatt, Chris Massey, and James Rhinehart.

This first quilt block on the Ned Hildreth Memorial Walking Quilt Trail is comprised of two quilt patterns: “Stars & Stirrups” and “City Streets.” The “Stars & Stirrups” pattern pays homage to the history of the installation site as a livery stable, with the star representing law enforcement. “City Streets” is in honor of the late Ned Hildreth who, with his partner Paul Germann, took daily walks through downtown Waynesville. Quilt blocks located within the downtown district are being partially funded by Ned’s generous donation to the Downtown Waynesville Association.

In 2004, the Downtown Waynesville Association (DWA) received a $5,000 legacy gift from the estate of Waynesville resident Edward C. “Ned” Hildreth. Throughout the years, DWA has assured Paul Germann, Ned’s executor and partner, that Ned’s gift would be a reflection of the man he was and his generous spirit.

For years, Ned Hildreth and Paul Germann shared daily walks through downtown. This tradition gave rise to a very befitting walking memorial proposal to feature the Arts Council’s Haywood County Quilt Trails project blocks on multiple buildings within the downtown district.  In financial partnership with downtown property and business owners, DWA is currently helping with the purchase of seven blocks using legacy funds, with a goal of twenty-five block installations throughout the district. The first block of the Hildreth Memorial Walking Quilt Trail reflects Ned’s personality and interests–his love and appreciation of handmade quilts and his shared walks in the downtown district.

Additional quilt block patterns on the walking trail have been selected to reflect the character and history of downtown Waynesville’s buildings and commerce. The DWA staff and board members feel a project of this nature honors Ned in an appropriate manner, while it also fulfill DWA’s continued mission of promoting downtown Waynesville.  Areas with established quilt trails have become destinations where enthusiasts travel far and wide to tour trails. As part of the larger Haywood County Quilt Trail project (coordinated by the Haywood County Arts Council, an affiliate of the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina), DWA views the project as an economic bonus for downtown in that the map-guided walking aspect of the Hildreth Trail encourages shopping and dining in the district as visitors explore downtown in search of the blocks.

If you are a property owner or a business owner within the DWA district and you are interested in having a block on your building, partial funding is available through DWA courtesy of the Hildreth Estate funds. In financial partnership with property/business owners, the original $5000 bequest will go much farther in establishing a quilt trail with a significant number of blocks. There are specific guidelines, as well as an application process, that must be fulfilled for quilt block installations. Representatives from DWA and the Haywood County Arts Council are available to meet and discuss specifics of the project at your convenience.

The Quilt Trail concept is based on similar projects in Ashe, Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey counties in North Carolina, where quilt squares are painted on wood and installed on barns, public structures, shops, and other appropriate buildings around the community. The heritage-based project aims to help communities in Haywood County find and tell their stories. A new website www.haywoodquilttrails.org was launched in 2011 and provides block names, locations, photos and short stories about each block. The Haywood County Quilt Trails project is funded in part by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (800-334-9036, www.VisitNCSmokies.com).

If you are a property owner, business owner or individual outside the Downtown district and would like a quilt block installed on your barn or building, or if you need more information about the Haywood County Quilt Trails project, call Kay S. Miller, executive director at the Haywood County Arts Council at 828-452-0593 or email her at info@haywoodarts.org. For information on other Haywood County Arts Council programming and events visit the Arts Council’s web site at www.haywoodarts.org.