Longwoods

Barn Quilt Trail

Longwoods Barn Quilt Trail

Two hundred years ago, this part of Ontario was caught up in the War of 1812–1814. Longwoods Road played a vital role carrying troops supplies.  Longwoods Road has probably been used for centuries.   

We often hear that no one won that war.  It was the last time we fought with or friends from south of the border.  These quilt blocks tell stories about the women and children who lived through through the war for three years.   What do we know of the First Nations families affected? Of the settlers whose homes were burned? Of the families who endured the fear and loss?

This trail tells their stories.

The Longwoods Barn Quilt Trail runs 65 kilometres along the historic Longwoods Road through southern Middlesex County.  It links to the eastern end of the Thames River Barn Quilt Trail which runs through Chatham-Kent to Lighthouse Cove; the Wardsville Barn Quilt Trail ;and the Native Women’s Barn Quilt collection  which was completely refurbished in 2025 by members of Chippewa of the Thames.  

The Back Story

The early barn quilt trails in Ontario were inspired by re-enactor Dave Westhouse, who envisioned an 1812 Discovery Trail as part of the Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance in the years of planning leading up to the commemoration which ran from 2012 – 2014.   Dave encouraged communities to “think big” about heritage events, commemorations, and tourism.

In 2010, Wardsville’s bicentennial celebrations took up the challenge. The community created a fabric quilt and 30 barn quilt blocks to tell the story of George Ward, a retired soldier drawn into the conflict. With seed funding from Heritage Canada, the Wardsville Barn Quilt Project became a model for other communities.

Denise Corneil wasn’t satisfied with 30 barn quilts in Wardsville.  She envisioned barn quilts running down old Number 2 Queen’s Highway from Windsor to Montreal!  Inspired by Keith Jamieson, an Indigenous historian who explained the significance of the Tecumseh alliance,, Denise and her friend, Mary Simpson started meeting with women who lived along Longwoods Road as well as quilters and artists from the four neighbouring Indigenous communities.  They all started learning about their history and hunting for government funding, partners and sponsors. 

In 2011-2012, the Sand Plains Community Development Fund invested in trails across these five counties in south central Ontario.    This regional project was initiated by the Elgin Norfolk Oxford Association of Curators, Archivists and Directors.  Longwoods is one of five trails created as part of that project. 

 

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