The Stitches in Time Barn Quilt Trail is the newest project of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau. Barn quilts are wooden signs, painted with representations of quilt blocks. The concept was originally designed 18 years ago in Ohio where they were mounted on barns, hence the name. Today, these brightly colored blocks are found on barns, businesses, houses, churches or even garden sheds.
Barn quilts have been organized into trails that can be followed, like a scavenger hunt, and have become a huge boost to tourism. Organized trails are found in 43 states and spreading rapidly. The largest one in PA is found in nearyby Fulton County. The Frontier Barn Quilt Trail, was only organized about 6 years ago, and now boasts approximately 203 sites. Bus tours, road rallies, or private care trips are popular – just go to the website and download their maps.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau “Stitches in Time Barn Quilt Trail” will launch in the upcoming weeks. FCVB is in the process of painting the first 30 squares. The average size is 4 -t, some are 2 and 3-ft. square, and the largest is to 8-ft., particularly when the site is viewed from a distance.
Special thanks to Franklin County CTA Linda Hartman for authoring the story about the Franklin County Stitches in Time Barn Quilt Trail. Linda is an avid member of the Chambersburg Quilt Guild and approached the Franklin County Visitors Bureau in 2016 about the possibilities of a county-wide barn quilt trail.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) showcases fresh food and great dining in Franklin Fresh Food & Dining Guide. Franklin County has an abundance of freshness to share. The county ranks second in vegetable production in the state, is home to the Chambersburg peach, and yields 850 million pounds of milk annually. With such a variety of fresh foods, foodies love Franklin County.
Franklin Fresh Food & Dining Guide features healthy eating stories; all-American and international flavors of Franklin County; a spotlight on local breweries, wineries, and distilleries; listings of farm stands, farmers markets, and honey producers plus a guide to local restaurants. The publication is a great way to plan a “foodie tour” of Franklin County and take home some of the fresh foods from farmers markets, cheese makers, and creameries to enjoy a little longer. It even throws in a few favorite recipes and ways to eat more plant-based meals.
Food is an essential part of every trip, and Franklin County food is a reason to visit. Plan ahead by checking out the publication online here. Or, contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866.646.8060 to receive a printed publication.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore Franklin County PA and enjoy the trails of history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Discover more…plan a visit soon at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or by contacting 866.646.8060.
Agriculture is the cornerstone of Franklin County’s past and certainly its present. The beauty and the balance of the county’s agricultural land is a prime reason people visit and want to live in Franklin County. It secures the quality of life. Along with the open spaces and forest land, farm lands are the character of the county. To maintain the character, Franklin County needs to retain its agricultural heritage.
The following excerpt from “Old Mercersburg” about Michael Cromer glimpses a piece of the agricultural history and the character of the people, who farmed the land of Franklin County.
The Champion Cradling Feat of the World
It was reported in the harvest of 1857 that an expert cradler in the village of Mercersburg, Pa., had cut in one day ten acres of wheat. The feat being noised about, some newspapers ridiculed the idea as being absurdly preposterous.
“In the meantime the report reached the Millard Scythe Company, of Claysville, New York. The proprietors wrote the cradler to ascertain whether, if they should make and present him a suit- able cradle, he would undertake with it to beat his former record. Of course with his splendid rec- ord to sustain, and his splendid pluck to carry him through, he accepted the challenge, but asked the privilege of having the woodwork built to suit himself, which request the company acceded. In due time the cradle came, a marvel of strength and beauty. The blade was five inches in width, by sixty- five in lengfth, and made of silver steel. (more…)
The Franklin County Visitor’s Bureau is reaching out to visitors and residents to dine and explore fresh food and fun in Franklin County with the annual “Franklin Fresh Food & Dining Guide.” The publication is distributed to over 10,000 visitors and residents annually.
The new edition includes features on Franklin County agriculture history, Master Gardeners, harvest festivals, the importance of pollinators, gardening tips, and a tasty tour of Franklin County foodie stops. It offers a complete listing of farm stores, creameries, orchards, cheese makers, farmers’ markets, and produce stands throughout the county. Finally, it spotlights the local flavor of Franklin County in its many neighborhood and county dining spots along with an extensive list of local restaurants.
Agriculture is a consistent part of Franklin County’s economy and pairs well with tourism because visitors are attracted to freshly grown food, festivals, and the open space beauty of farmland. Beginning the last weekend of September, Franklin County has fall harvest festivals, corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin picking through the first weekend in November. Visit the Fall Fun listings for a selection of apple festivals, beer fests, and pumpkin festivals.
“It’s a great time to explore. The foliage is amazing, and families enjoy corn mazes and hayrides. Franklin County is a favorite spot for a fall hike, a drive, or a bike ride. Our trails are amazing when the trees are gold, crimson, and copper,” said Janet Pollard executive director of the Franklin County Visitor’s Bureau. Download a copy of the 2017-2018 annual “Franklin Fresh Food & Dining Guide” here.
At the Sign of the Saw, the “Agricultural Implements and Tools” exhibition in the south rotating bay in the Barn at Allison-Antrim Museum, 365 S Ridge Ave, Greencastle, PA 17225 includes one-horse powered implements, such as the Clover Header and a plow, seed flails, an Antrim Township Henry S. Walck grain cradle and hay fork, a made-in-Greencastle Flinchbaugh buck saw, seed cleaner, corn sheller, scales for weighing feed bags, corn huskers, a farmer’s manual and a ledger, a J. B. Crowell grain drill “boot,” chisels and gouges for building barns, planes, and much more. (more…)
