Brewster Students Help Navigate A Unique 'Fall Path Through History'

BREWSTER, NY — Hudson Valley heritage helped shape a new nation, and local high school students are helping to make sure a unique legacy endures.

From the Brewster Central School District.

Through its I Love NY campaign, New York State is sponsoring a "Fall Path through History" and Brewster High School students are part of it.

One of dozens of events taking place this fall is a tribute to the American Barn Quilt, the history of which dates back more than 300 years. For the event, Brewster students created painted quilts on display at Tilly Foster Farm through the weekend of October 12 - 14.

The quilts are big and bold and hanging at the farm as a tribute to the American Barn Quilt. Did you know, early homestead families in Putnam County created decorative and distinctive patterns to display on the barns as decorations and directions? You have likely seen their geometric patterns before, which may include elements of a family’s heritage, animals from the farm or American flags.

Brewster High School students in Shannon Riley’s Drawing and Painting class collaborated with the Putnam County Historian’s Office, and Southeast Museum and researched and designed quilts based upon what happened at a particular agricultural site — past and present — all within the region of the Brewster Central School District. Students chose from eight sites and worked collaboratively to research, draft a design and submit it to stakeholders who contributed feedback, which was included in the final designs.

Riley said that her inspiration to teach this experience came after viewing New Milford, CT’s Barn Quilt Trail. "I grew up here and as I was driving through the area. I thought this would be an awesome opportunity for my students to learn more about the history of our community and to understand the impact agriculture had on Putnam."

Mikaela Russano and Jacob Caraballo worked on a quilt based upon the Tilly Foster Apiary. Their quilt is yellow and white and has honeycomb and flowers and bees.

"We learned a lot about the town when we researched this project," explained Russano, "The county historian brought in old newspapers to show us how people used to do beekeeping in Putnam County over a 100 years ago. We incorporated some of those ideas into our final project."

"I really liked the research part," said Maria Denaro. "Our quilt was based on Salinger’s Orchard. It turns out Brewster and North Salem are really great places to grow apple trees, which is why there are so many orchards around. And apples are a great source of food! Our quilt depicts a variety of apples in different colors with a geometric design which is in the style of the barn quilt."

The students’ quilts — which are painted onto wood — are hanging on the creamery barn at Tilly Foster Farm and feature sites including Ryder Farm, Morningthorpe Manor/Delancey Street Foundation, Tilly Foster Farm, The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County’s Apiary, Green Chimneys/Boni Bel, Budd’s Corner/The Elks Lodge #2101, Salinger’s Orchard and Pegasus Farm.

"Tilly Foster Farm provides great public space for these quilts which celebrate local agricultural history," says Jennifer Cassidy, Putnam County Historian. "It’s wonderful to see such creative folk-art projects on display that honor the past and engage the community. The students did great work!"

The quilts are now on exhibit at Tilly Foster Farm, 100 Route 312, Brewster, NY through the fall; the farm is open to the public 7 days a week, hours posted. While taking in the exhibit, visitors can tour the farm, visit with the animals, and shop the farm stand. And of course as a highlight of I LOVE NY’s Fall Path Through History Weekend October 12-14.

This release was produced by the Brewster Central School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.