Washington Discovery Academy is excited to announce it is the first school in the Marshall County area to display an official Marshall County Tourism Barn Quilt. Recently, a schoolwide dedication ceremony was held outside of the building on the front lawn to announce the news.
Cori Humes, the Executive Director of Marshall County Tourism was in attendance and said, “Back in 2009 we started a trail, that our quilt bought patterns posted on barns, homes, and community buildings as a way to bring new visitors to the community and add a little grassroots arts in our communities countryside, etc. We have several quilts on our trail that were symbols used in the underground railroad. They helped slaves get to where they needed to go, where there was a safe place to be, and where water, shelter, etc. was along the way.”
WDA fourth Grade Facilitator Kim Riddle said all fourth-grade students design a barn quilt of their own for a class project during the school year. In fact, Riddle said the practice has been going on now for the past few years.
“During the study, Cori Humes from Marshall County Tourism comes in, and she gives every student a map of all the Barn Quilts in Marshall County. When we started this off, we taught our students about the different symbols that were used during the Civil War; they are folklore. We talk about how the different symbols got them to freedom. We then tie the lesson into the Barn Quilts and Marshall County and tourism. She talks about how the students can make a Barn Quilt of their own. “
Two former fourth-grade students who worked together to design a Barn Quilt last school year got the honor of having their winning art put on the front of the school for all to see. The students, Quintin Price and Ella Krynock, both fifth-grade students at Riverside Intermediate School this year, were both invited back as guests of honor at the WDA Barn Quilt dedication ceremony on Nov. 8th.
Krynock said, “Every time we drive by since my brother and sister come here, I think it’s amazing to see. I had a great time; it was awesome getting to know that my barn quilt was chosen to be on the school since it was the first barn quilt to ever be on a school in Marshall County.” Price said the project was unique and was truly a team effort. “I was just really proud of it.”
“This is something that I thought of probably about two or three years ago. I was talking to Cori thinking, hey, it would be a great idea. We knew that funding would be an issue. With the support of Mrs. Cooper, we were able to do a non-uniform day where students were able to donate a dollar. We raised the money in one day to move forward with getting the project going. It’s just an exciting feeling that a piece of their history will be on this school forever,” said Riddle.
