From The Wilmington News Journal dated Tuesday 13 Oct 2009.
EDITORS NOTE -- Quilt Trail is a series of articles featuring painted wood barn quilts that are being placed on barns throughout Clinton County in conjunction with the upcoming county bicentennial celebration in 2010. A variety of quilt block designs will connect the entire county into one large patchwork quilt block.
The twelfth barn along the Clinton County Barn Quilt Trail is located at 6613 Gurneyville Road. The quilt block "Providence" was chosen as it reminds us to seek God's guidance and protection.
The current farm contains 218 acres and is owned by Ronald and Pat Whitacre, however the original tract contained 1,000 acres and was a military tract owned by Jonathan and Elizabeth McKay. In 1971 the farm was purchased by Moses McKay, and in 1910 Edwin and Allie McKay took over ownership of the farm. The property was then transferred to their daughter Cleo (Harold) Whitacre in 1969. By 1990 the remaining property was transferred to their son Ronald (Pat) Whitacre. The property has been farmed by McKay/Whitacre famililes for more than 138 years and in 1997 Ronald received the farm bureau's Century Farm Award.
The barn displaying the quilt block is approximately 103 years old, with the corn crib and another barn being even older.
Ronald is the fifth generation owner/operator. Beginning in 1964 he raised hogs for 46 years and to this day he continues to raise beef cattle and grain. Ronald's mother instilled in him a deep love for farming and responsibility for the land that had been entrusted to him. Each day he seeks God's guidance and protections as he goes about his duties on the farm.
Due to the overwhelming interest in the project barns with adequate space and visibility are being accepted for the display of quilt blocks. Sponsorships for those barns are available through Oct. 31. For more information contact Diane Murphy at 382-0316 or Carol Earheart, Cotton Junky Quilt Shop, 366-6302.
