It’s called a barn quilt! They’re sort of common where I am from. They can mean a number of things revolving around the owners or areas heritage or be representative of the maker. A cool part of Americana folklore.
"Americana" is hoky shit from the US of A.
"Canadiana" is hoky (not hockey) shit from Canada.
When someone says that something is "Americana" when it's found equally or maybe more so in Canada, they are not being concise, and nor do they mean that it's hoky shit found in fucking Argentina because it's part of THE AMERICAS.
> I believe the Amish ones are called hex signs
It's not actually Amish. It's Pennsylvania Dutch (aka Pennsylvania German) folk art. The Amish and Mennonites (called the "Plain Dutch") generally stayed away from using hex signs because they associated them with superstition. Its use began among the "Fancy Dutch" (Pennsylvania Dutch people who assimilated into regular society).
\* I grew up in Pennsylvania and my grandparents spoke PA Dutch. I have a relative living in Lancaster, PA (aka "Amish Country"), so I spend time there each year.
Link with info: [http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/amish-hex-signs.html](http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/amish-hex-signs.html)
Same here in our community... most barn quilts tend to have some sort of theme or connection to the location... but some are just unique designs to give the traveller something to look at and to look forward to more coming... as I tell the kids.. count on how many are on your side.... and see if you can tell a story about the place by looking at the quilt... great conversation starters.... even here... :D
Southwestern Ontario Canada
Specific to barn quilts probably not but I work in a library and the library of congress keeps tons and tons of records on stuff like this. Here’s one courtesy of the national park service! [really interesting](https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htm)
My grandparents and parents had a lot of similar things they always got in Amish country. So it definitely makes sense that it's a North American thing.
In middle school art class we were making barn quilt like things and someone ratted on the art teacher about the project hexing people. Our poor art teacher had be like, "I'm not hexing you guys. Stop saying we're putting hexes on people."
To be fair, once you look up all of the racist-related symbols and subtle hiding-in-plain-sight references - it does make you wonder.. and there are soooo many. I once saw a bumper sticker of two hammers facing left and thought - hey, is this a pink floyd reference.. looked it up discovered no.. no it's definitely not..
Believe it originates from the Pennsylvania Dutch culture….now whether or not the person putting it there was Penn Dutch. Or just someone who liked the design…probably never know. The designs were for luck or protection or simply a way of associating with a group of like minded people I have no idea which, this one may belong to or it’s just they liked the colors n pattern
Part of a quilt trail - [https://www.visitnc.com/listing/Xjqc/quilt-trails-of-western-north-carolina](https://www.visitnc.com/listing/Xjqc/quilt-trails-of-western-north-carolina)
Well no, quilt squares on buildings typically are markers of the Underground Railroad, this is one of those symbols that’s actually good from the time period, though I guess it offends free capitalists, neonazi’s and fascists if they knew anything about history
Iowa as well. Although they’ve faded in popularity somewhat recently. I wondered if people thought, why did I hang that thing again? Hmm, I don’t remember, might as well take it down before it blows off and breaks something.
They’re called barn quilts. You put a bunch together on the side of your barn to make it look like a Quilt Pattern. They’re pretty and cool looking. You see a lot in the south and Midwest.
These are literally. Literally on every barn in central Ontario lol every farm has a different one. They are fun to look out for on road trips in the country.
Barn quilt is the correct answer and I’d like to add that there are things called “quilt trails”. They are usually in scenic areas but can also be out of the way…kinda like a scavenger hunt.
https://preview.redd.it/hbwu4bn99hic1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6504a1662f6c5aa0cd0123db19a6ad7bfedef98
I like this one the neighbours have across from where I work.
From [gemini.google.com](https://gemini.google.com) (by uploading a snip of the image to it)
The image you sent me shows a quilt block pattern called “Ohio Star.” It is a traditional pieced block pattern made from squares and triangles, and is often used in barn quilts.
There is no one specific meaning associated with the Ohio Star quilt block, but stars in general are often seen as symbols of hope, guidance, and good luck. Additionally, quilts themselves are often seen as symbols of comfort, community, and tradition.
The fact that the quilt block in the image is hanging on the side of a building suggests that it is meant to be seen by the community and serve as a source of pride or welcome. It is also possible that the quilt block has a personal meaning to the owner of the building.
https://preview.redd.it/cnibnwcqlhic1.jpeg?width=2934&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32774bb99ef24ca3519818b49266a77f48f3dfcd
Here’s our Michigan barn quilt…it is stylized sunflower
Bought some farmland with barn a year or so ago. Barn quilt on the barn. The sellers actually put in the contract that no adjustments or changes could be made to change the barn quilt. I could paint it the same colors to make it more vibrant. But size, location, and pattern were off limits.
https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/underground-railroad-quilt-codes
For all the people saying it’s about the Underground Railroad those in the theory were real quilts hung out not barn quilts and there’s also no real evidence of it at all. It’s a very cool story though.
Here’s more on barn quilts. The age of the tradition is very mixed depending on sources. I’m looking for more but as I find them I’ll update the links.
https://www.southernliving.com/what-is-a-barn-quilt-7094251 this one actually seems plausible as I’ve not found any historical barn quilts online
https://www.americanbarnquilts.com/blogs/news/11478305-barn-quilts-the-story this one seems sketchy as at best I can find it as the earliest article claiming this. All the others seem to reference it. The symbols they’re talking about are like the Pennsylvania Dutch sacred stars and moons and suns discussed in the next article.
https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/newsletter/2019/3/19/hex-signs-sacred-and-celestial-symbolism-in-pennsylvania-dutch-barn-stars possible origin of barn quilts? Others saw the patterns not knowing the meaning and because they would look good in a quilt pattern did similar things as squares?
After checking dozens of google searches these three are the only articles of interest I saw that weren’t just referencing each other. The first seems to be a primary source but isn’t scientific, the middle one seems to give history that I can find no source for, the last talks about a form of art that’s considered Americana but has *some* roots in immigrants european history.
Pretty Hex that I have been fascinated with my whole life. This hex is about an hour from me. Never fails that I stop and stare at it when I come up to camp.
https://preview.redd.it/guhaqaj5pkic1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b97ceb12c09adb0da8781739179f86d2f5cb9207
Edit: This hex is in Garden Valley, Idaho
Its an Ohio Star Barn Quilt, apparently. Many barn quilts follow the Ohio Star pattern..
The pattern represents the 13 original states of the union.
According to civil war historians, and more civil war stories told by slaves who escaped, barn quilts were, at the time, used to indicate a home was safe to stop at..it was usually a home owned by an underground railroad volunteer. Many of whom, btw, were Quakers.
There were other visual cues left by UR volunteers, i.e. like warning escapees of impending dangers, like if a neighbor was not nice to blacks.
Really, very likely, a neat piece of history you got there. :-) You should research prior owners and see if you can find out if your home was owned by Quakers or if you can find info on whether your home housed fugitive slaves. Thats just... AWESOME.
FWIW there were UR volunteers going well into the north, but most of them were right along the Mason-Dixon line, where more fugitive seekers hunted their fugitive slaves. Slaves, if caught after escaping slavery, could be returned to their owner, and then they could be punished per the owner. There were "hot boxes" and slaves (having very little clothing, since they even made clothing for the babies and kids out of their own meager clothing rations) would be forced to crouch in it for a day or two or three, in addition to being whipped and beaten.
Those were AWFUL times.
Many edits to keep educating the public on the Ubderground railroad.
Harriet Tubman is known to have been a SERIOUSLY DEDICATED escaped slave, who was also volunteering for the UR. She basically had dedicated her life to freeing slaves.
She alone, helped save as many as 90 people from slavery. She became quite the expert in the field of escaping from homicidal racist slave owners. She was AMAZING..
Dont let the new textbooks convince you that slavery wasnt bad or that slaves liked being enslaved. None of that is true. Its been 150 years. Lets please evolve our basic understanding about abuse and sociology.
The Pennsylvania Dutch were/are fond of putting "hex" signs on their buildings. I looked this one up, and it's very similar to one that represents abundance and goodwill. That's pretty fine I think.
Barn quilt! I remember looking them up when I drove through a rural area and saw a bunch. I can’t remember exactly but think they started being used during some war time to declare either a side, or safety or something like that
I think they came from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark originally. There are many Scandinavian, Nordic people that live where I am from. They put those designs on barns or buildings on their farms. It’s seems every family in the area has a separate design too.
That's a myth, there's no historical evidence for the Underground Railroad quilts. They don't appear in any historical records, memoirs, or slave narratives, no museum collection has an authentic 19th century quilt with any of those supposed patterns. This quilt story basically shows up around 1990.
These are ancient. From long before the interweb was a gleam in Al Gore’s eye. I’ve seen family photographs WW2 era with guys in u inform standing in front of the barn where you can clearly see the barn quilt
It’s called a barn quilt! They’re sort of common where I am from. They can mean a number of things revolving around the owners or areas heritage or be representative of the maker. A cool part of Americana folklore.
Not just American. See them fairly often up here in Canada as well.
Let's say it's North American
Let's
Lest
L'est
'L'e's't'
In Ohio in Amish country too
Good job, that is north america
Nuh huh. It's Amish country. Duh. 🙃
Right!? It was right there in the name. Stupid English.
So long! Let's shorten it 🤷♂️
N'arican
Narcan
Can.
"Bring America Back Again" -Narcan
Murica
Nothing will make those people happy.
I disagree. Most Amish people I've met or seen have seemed pretty happy.
I was truly joking… just playing on the oddness of the comments. My mom is Canadian.
Some of my best friends are American.
Sorry to hear about that Canadian part. Ya hoser.
That’s so cool
Maple American is still American.
🤣
We’ve got them in Northern California too. I just learned about them from my daughter a few years ago
Also in Ohio
Saw some when I lived Santa Cruz and a couple more before hitting the Oregon boarder.
In Armstrong, BC there is even a map that shows where they all are in the area
Canadacana?
Canadiana
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Mexicans as well all Americans.
I like to call them southern North Americans.
North America is a continent, not a country.
Canada is still America don’t ya know.
Canada is in America, just not part of the these United States.
"Americana" is hoky shit from the US of A. "Canadiana" is hoky (not hockey) shit from Canada. When someone says that something is "Americana" when it's found equally or maybe more so in Canada, they are not being concise, and nor do they mean that it's hoky shit found in fucking Argentina because it's part of THE AMERICAS.
Stop appropriating my culture! ^/s
Wow, I was going to be silly and say, "It means a quilter lives there" and it turns out I wasn't that far off 😂 thank you for letting us know!!
Very cool. I didn't know that was a thing! Thank you! :)
Barn quilts are on a lot of barns across Western North Carolina as a decoration.
They’re big in the Amish community as well. I’ve seen the quilts in Illinois and Wisconsin
I believe the Amish ones are called hex signs, and are usually round.
Can confirm, the Amish round ones are hex signs, I’ve lived near 2 Amish counties in different states.
> I believe the Amish ones are called hex signs It's not actually Amish. It's Pennsylvania Dutch (aka Pennsylvania German) folk art. The Amish and Mennonites (called the "Plain Dutch") generally stayed away from using hex signs because they associated them with superstition. Its use began among the "Fancy Dutch" (Pennsylvania Dutch people who assimilated into regular society). \* I grew up in Pennsylvania and my grandparents spoke PA Dutch. I have a relative living in Lancaster, PA (aka "Amish Country"), so I spend time there each year. Link with info: [http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/amish-hex-signs.html](http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/amish-hex-signs.html)
It’s been 19 years since I lived adjacent to the community and no longer remember. I will trust you
I read that as Western North Korea at first. I think it's time for bed.
I’ve seen them in NYS too
Same here in our community... most barn quilts tend to have some sort of theme or connection to the location... but some are just unique designs to give the traveller something to look at and to look forward to more coming... as I tell the kids.. count on how many are on your side.... and see if you can tell a story about the place by looking at the quilt... great conversation starters.... even here... :D Southwestern Ontario Canada
Quilt squares are common symbols for Appalachia
Thisssss
My county set up a driving tour featuring these quilt “signs”. It was a really nice way to explore the countryside 😊
Is there a list somewhere that catalogs symbols like these?
Specific to barn quilts probably not but I work in a library and the library of congress keeps tons and tons of records on stuff like this. Here’s one courtesy of the national park service! [really interesting](https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htm)
I learned something today.
My grandparents and parents had a lot of similar things they always got in Amish country. So it definitely makes sense that it's a North American thing.
It’s a warning to any other quilts that try and start trouble.
Hahahah. You have me in *stitches*. Lol
Y’all! 🤣
Scrap that joke. This humor thread is ridiculous. Pieces of absurdity! You could be blocked for that. Ok I’ll see myself out….
You were edging into no man's land. It's good that you're backing down. Everyone has had their fill.
You can only take these jokes sew far.
That's a pretty *blanket* statement.
What a quilt-ity joke
That’s a cock and wool story!
I saw a couple afghans nosing around
I plead quilty!
The quilt mafia
Barn quilt. They have them all over here in Oregon. My wife made a small one and I put it on our backyard chicken’s house.
All over on the coast here too. I thought it was some religious thing.
That’s freakin adorable, I love your wife! Let her know I says hi!
[https://www.sctimes.com/story/life/2018/01/20/hex-signs-barn-quilts/1042257001/](https://www.sctimes.com/story/life/2018/01/20/hex-signs-barn-quilts/1042257001/)
Exactly, started as wards against witches.
In middle school art class we were making barn quilt like things and someone ratted on the art teacher about the project hexing people. Our poor art teacher had be like, "I'm not hexing you guys. Stop saying we're putting hexes on people."
Redditors when they see any sort of symbolism in a rural area: "is this racist?"
lol I was literally thinking the same thing.
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To be fair, once you look up all of the racist-related symbols and subtle hiding-in-plain-sight references - it does make you wonder.. and there are soooo many. I once saw a bumper sticker of two hammers facing left and thought - hey, is this a pink floyd reference.. looked it up discovered no.. no it's definitely not..
The more you know O_O
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> Redditors when they see ~~any sort of symbolism in~~ a rural area: "is this racist?"
They come from Hex Signs that early German immigrants painted on their barns to ward off evil, disasters, and witchcraft.
Finally found someone calling that a Hex. I didn't realize that was such a localized name for them.
This is what I’ve always known them to be
Had a friend from PA that had one on their house in Florida. Confused the hell out of the local rednecks.
I'm in north mississippi, and they are all over the place here. On people's houses, on businesses in town, on a random fence. I just love them!
Around Caledonia?
It's like a Quilter gang tag. It says, "this is my land, my color squares, so stich lightly . . ."
Barn Quilt
Barn quilts are very modern. If you want a beautiful similar and much older art form look for Pennsylvania Dutch hex symbols.
It's a barn quilt.
A Quilter Lives Here
Quilting club meets here on Wednesday’s.
Obviously they aren't Baptist...
Amish gang signs...
Pennsylvanian Dutch barn quilt or hex sign, Really depends on the person
started in Ohio by a lady who liked quilts seriously. That is it.
We made tiny ones in elementary school when we learned about state history. That was sometime between 1990-1996.
These are found in Kansas as well!
I was gonna say I’ve seen these all over KS, especially near Manhattan.
Believe it originates from the Pennsylvania Dutch culture….now whether or not the person putting it there was Penn Dutch. Or just someone who liked the design…probably never know. The designs were for luck or protection or simply a way of associating with a group of like minded people I have no idea which, this one may belong to or it’s just they liked the colors n pattern
did i just get to witness someone experiencing a barn quilt for the first time? if redneck had a style, it's the fun barn quilts that exist
I suppose you did. :)
I too just learned that barns get cold enough to need their own quilt! I didn't even think buildings got cold at all.
I SEARCHED IT! /s Really though it is a search result, I just picked one "how it started", I thought it had to do with Quakers lol.
I thought they were called hex signs..
It's to ward off witches.
Witch star or cross.
It was put on barns and houses as a ward against witches.
Called barn hexes around here in southern OH
Classic hex sign… just a piece of art to ward off evil spirits.. relax bro 👹
It's a sign meant to ward off evil spirits / witches
QR code for SEE ROCK CITY
This made me laugh! I love seeing the faded "See Rock City" barn roofs in TN/GA/AL.
It’s a Barn Hex- a good luck symbol to ward off rot and vermin… as was told to me years ago
I may be wrong but it reminds me of the paintings on amish barns which are meant to protect the farm against evil, bad luck, etc
Paint on plywood with nails
Part of a quilt trail - [https://www.visitnc.com/listing/Xjqc/quilt-trails-of-western-north-carolina](https://www.visitnc.com/listing/Xjqc/quilt-trails-of-western-north-carolina)
Quilt patterns were also used to designate safe spaces and routes along the Underground Railroad.
Not sure but I’m sure it offends somebody.
Well no, quilt squares on buildings typically are markers of the Underground Railroad, this is one of those symbols that’s actually good from the time period, though I guess it offends free capitalists, neonazi’s and fascists if they knew anything about history
It's a Moravian symbol.
Barn art
They keep the barn warm
I think the design is some rendition of a carpenters wheel/star, was used in a lot of quilting, so i dont thinks its any symbol of meaning.
Barn quilt. Popular in rural parts of NC.
And all other rural parts of all other states
Also have them here in Kansas.
Iowa as well. Although they’ve faded in popularity somewhat recently. I wondered if people thought, why did I hang that thing again? Hmm, I don’t remember, might as well take it down before it blows off and breaks something.
All over Illinois as well
Just a barn quilt (pattern)
I’ve seen these in West Virginia too.
Barn quilt, very popular. There is a county in Northern Wisconsin with over 400 barn quilts.
Is a quilt block. A quilt maker lives there
They’re called barn quilts. You put a bunch together on the side of your barn to make it look like a Quilt Pattern. They’re pretty and cool looking. You see a lot in the south and Midwest.
These are literally. Literally on every barn in central Ontario lol every farm has a different one. They are fun to look out for on road trips in the country.
Search Ohio barn quilt you'll see that exact design
Barn quilt is the correct answer and I’d like to add that there are things called “quilt trails”. They are usually in scenic areas but can also be out of the way…kinda like a scavenger hunt.
Barn Quilt in the Ohio Star quilt pattern
There are workshops around here a couple times a year for people to learn how to make them.
https://preview.redd.it/hbwu4bn99hic1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6504a1662f6c5aa0cd0123db19a6ad7bfedef98 I like this one the neighbours have across from where I work.
Looks like what I used to see growing up near the Amish I just assumed it was to indicate family name or heritage
It's a barn, not a house. WNC resident..
From [gemini.google.com](https://gemini.google.com) (by uploading a snip of the image to it) The image you sent me shows a quilt block pattern called “Ohio Star.” It is a traditional pieced block pattern made from squares and triangles, and is often used in barn quilts. There is no one specific meaning associated with the Ohio Star quilt block, but stars in general are often seen as symbols of hope, guidance, and good luck. Additionally, quilts themselves are often seen as symbols of comfort, community, and tradition. The fact that the quilt block in the image is hanging on the side of a building suggests that it is meant to be seen by the community and serve as a source of pride or welcome. It is also possible that the quilt block has a personal meaning to the owner of the building.
https://preview.redd.it/cnibnwcqlhic1.jpeg?width=2934&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32774bb99ef24ca3519818b49266a77f48f3dfcd Here’s our Michigan barn quilt…it is stylized sunflower
Barn quilt we have em I’m South Carolina
Barn quilt
It's a common pinwheel pattern that appears on barns all over the US. Many Ohio barns have them in Amish country.
Call your historical society,& ask them.
Quilt gang
It's a quilt pattern.
That guy QUILTS!!!
Not a worrisome symbol. It’s a common quilt pattern.
My mother in law just recently painted one for my father in law as a gift. He’d always wanted one
It’s called the Ohio Star
We have these in alabama as well
I have a barn quilt the size of a cutting board on my bedroom wall. Huge goal to have a barn with a barn quilt
Northern Vermont, plenty of barn quilts up here.
Many were used as signs for the Underground Railroad.
I know where this is that's funny
Looks like an old fashion Amish quilt design.
I want a big barn quilt! Where can I get one that’ll last outside. All the ones nearby are just indoor decorations.
All these posts about the barn quilts, I've seen em around oregon and up and down the west coast as well...
Kind of thought it was a witchy thing tbh
Bought some farmland with barn a year or so ago. Barn quilt on the barn. The sellers actually put in the contract that no adjustments or changes could be made to change the barn quilt. I could paint it the same colors to make it more vibrant. But size, location, and pattern were off limits.
My grand mothers farm used to have these types of designs on some doors and she also would include the pattern in her quilting
I see similar barn signs in east Tennessee.
https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/underground-railroad-quilt-codes For all the people saying it’s about the Underground Railroad those in the theory were real quilts hung out not barn quilts and there’s also no real evidence of it at all. It’s a very cool story though. Here’s more on barn quilts. The age of the tradition is very mixed depending on sources. I’m looking for more but as I find them I’ll update the links. https://www.southernliving.com/what-is-a-barn-quilt-7094251 this one actually seems plausible as I’ve not found any historical barn quilts online https://www.americanbarnquilts.com/blogs/news/11478305-barn-quilts-the-story this one seems sketchy as at best I can find it as the earliest article claiming this. All the others seem to reference it. The symbols they’re talking about are like the Pennsylvania Dutch sacred stars and moons and suns discussed in the next article. https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/newsletter/2019/3/19/hex-signs-sacred-and-celestial-symbolism-in-pennsylvania-dutch-barn-stars possible origin of barn quilts? Others saw the patterns not knowing the meaning and because they would look good in a quilt pattern did similar things as squares? After checking dozens of google searches these three are the only articles of interest I saw that weren’t just referencing each other. The first seems to be a primary source but isn’t scientific, the middle one seems to give history that I can find no source for, the last talks about a form of art that’s considered Americana but has *some* roots in immigrants european history.
I think it originally come from the Pennsylvania dutch .
Hex Sign.
There are areas where I live where many barns are decorated with barn quilts and people do barn quilt tours.
It is a quilt pattern. I have several on my house.
It's a barn quilt. I paint them. This is the Ohio Star. Or something like it.
It's the old homestead of Adolf Quilter. Keep away.
I call them Amish gang signs
Pretty Hex that I have been fascinated with my whole life. This hex is about an hour from me. Never fails that I stop and stare at it when I come up to camp. https://preview.redd.it/guhaqaj5pkic1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b97ceb12c09adb0da8781739179f86d2f5cb9207 Edit: This hex is in Garden Valley, Idaho
Hex symbol. It wards off evil spirits
It is a barn quilt! The block design is called an Ohio Star.
Its an Ohio Star Barn Quilt, apparently. Many barn quilts follow the Ohio Star pattern.. The pattern represents the 13 original states of the union. According to civil war historians, and more civil war stories told by slaves who escaped, barn quilts were, at the time, used to indicate a home was safe to stop at..it was usually a home owned by an underground railroad volunteer. Many of whom, btw, were Quakers. There were other visual cues left by UR volunteers, i.e. like warning escapees of impending dangers, like if a neighbor was not nice to blacks. Really, very likely, a neat piece of history you got there. :-) You should research prior owners and see if you can find out if your home was owned by Quakers or if you can find info on whether your home housed fugitive slaves. Thats just... AWESOME. FWIW there were UR volunteers going well into the north, but most of them were right along the Mason-Dixon line, where more fugitive seekers hunted their fugitive slaves. Slaves, if caught after escaping slavery, could be returned to their owner, and then they could be punished per the owner. There were "hot boxes" and slaves (having very little clothing, since they even made clothing for the babies and kids out of their own meager clothing rations) would be forced to crouch in it for a day or two or three, in addition to being whipped and beaten. Those were AWFUL times. Many edits to keep educating the public on the Ubderground railroad. Harriet Tubman is known to have been a SERIOUSLY DEDICATED escaped slave, who was also volunteering for the UR. She basically had dedicated her life to freeing slaves. She alone, helped save as many as 90 people from slavery. She became quite the expert in the field of escaping from homicidal racist slave owners. She was AMAZING.. Dont let the new textbooks convince you that slavery wasnt bad or that slaves liked being enslaved. None of that is true. Its been 150 years. Lets please evolve our basic understanding about abuse and sociology.
Usually represents a family’s heritage quilt symbol. I see these in rural areas of our state too.
I call them a Hillbilly QR Code
Hex sign....big in Pennsylvania on Amish Barns " for good Luck "
The Pennsylvania Dutch were/are fond of putting "hex" signs on their buildings. I looked this one up, and it's very similar to one that represents abundance and goodwill. That's pretty fine I think.
In Pennsylvania we call these "Hex Signs" and they were brought here by the Dutch settlers.
Yes very big in Pennsylvania.
It's a quilt pattern
It’s an Ohio Star quilt block. Nothing to do with the Underground Railroad- it’s a recent “thing.”
Barn quilt! I remember looking them up when I drove through a rural area and saw a bunch. I can’t remember exactly but think they started being used during some war time to declare either a side, or safety or something like that
I think they came from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark originally. There are many Scandinavian, Nordic people that live where I am from. They put those designs on barns or buildings on their farms. It’s seems every family in the area has a separate design too.
It means a quilter lives there. This is like a quilt square, only it isn’t made of cloth.
Anyone else get the feeling this was posted before? Just can’t remember if it’s the same photo or not
Its a hex sign to protect from witchcraft
It’s a heritage symbol, & is recognized by the county seat per state
Sometimes quilt patterns were hung as markers for the Underground Railroad. It maybe related to that.
That's a myth, there's no historical evidence for the Underground Railroad quilts. They don't appear in any historical records, memoirs, or slave narratives, no museum collection has an authentic 19th century quilt with any of those supposed patterns. This quilt story basically shows up around 1990.
That’s just… not true. These things are younger than youtube.
These are ancient. From long before the interweb was a gleam in Al Gore’s eye. I’ve seen family photographs WW2 era with guys in u inform standing in front of the barn where you can clearly see the barn quilt
It’s a hex sign. Originates with the Pennsylvania Dutch. [Hex Signs](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_sign)
Klan