Tobacco Fields~Barn Quilt Trail, New Milford, CT

COUILLARD BARN‍

The tobacco leaves and flowers that inspired the quilt block’s design tell the story of this remarkably intact tobacco barn. J. Stuart Halpine, later the biggest grower and dealer of sun-grown tobacco in the Housatonic Valley, built it and another large barn, since demolished, on prime tobacco land along Town Farm Brook that he bought in 1883. Large doors on both ends allowed unloading of the harvested leaves, lath was hung on poles inside the structure, and hinged vents and louvers could be opened for air circulation to cure the leaves.

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‍The New Milford Barn Quilt Trail consists of 19 colorful quilt patterns hand-painted on large weather-resistant blocks and hung on antique and vintage barns and historical buildings around our town. It honors our rich agricultural history, the exciting resurgence of family farms in New Milford today and the American tradition of quilt-making. It is the first barn quilt trail established in Connecticut. Already, over 40 U.S. states, including New Hampshire and New York, boast quilt trails in a rapidly expanding movement that began in Ohio in 2001. Get in your car or jump on your bike and use any mobile device to access this site as you visit these barn quilt block sites. Please use caution as you drive, bike or walk along the country roads of the barn quilt trail. Remember that the quilt blocks are displayed on what is often private property and can be viewed only from public roadsides. Responsibility for any accidents while observing the quilt blocks rests entirely with the viewer.

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