The story
Wagon Wheel
The Wagon Wheel pattern has been chosen to represent D.R. Van Allen’s original survey of Dresden. Van Allen’s survey 128 was home to the Hub and Spoke and Bending Factory (later O. and W. McVean) a major employer in Dresden for over 70 years.
Flying Geese
The Pennsylvania Black Abolitionist, William Whipper’s legacy at Dresden including his bringing hundreds north on the UGRR (Underground Railroad) is celebrated here. Those escaping north to freedom were sometimes told to follow migrating geese northward.
Maple Leaf
Our quilt block celebrating Wright’s Fairport reflects the song “The Maple Leaf Forever” — once in contention to be our national anthem. The song acknowledges Canada’s British roots with the words: “The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, entwine, the Maple Leaf Forever!” It pays tribute to early settlers who were Scottish (symbolized by purple for the Thistle), Irish (green for the Shamrock) and British (red for the Rose) who were the dominant presence in Wright’s Fairport. The blue represents the bodies of water on which they traversed to come to Canada.
Dresden Plate
The Dresden Plate quilt pattern symbolizes diversity with its many multi-coloured “petals” coming together to create a new and dynamic pattern. This is an apt symbol for our quilt project, begun as a celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial year.
North Star
This North Star quilt pattern commemorates the contributions of the early Black settlers who founded the British American Institute here. Their developed lands would later make up nearly a quarter of the Dresden townsite. Escaping Slaves were encouraged to “follow the north star”.
Name of sponsor of Barn Quilt : IODE and Rotary Club of Dresden
Location
The Dresden Collection
on Brown St @ Corner of St George St
Latitude : 42.59002 Longitude : -82.18001