Page 40 - March 2022

On the flip side is Alfred A. Early immigrants to the
Shoemaker, a Pennsylvania folk- region would paint the sym-
lorist, who discounts any other- bols onto doors, walls,
worldly significance. He says they books, etc. with a great
are “pure and simple decoration amount of detail, using
motifs,” adding that, “a farmer only certain colors and
would not parade his mysterious symbols. Zook’s intent
doings before all the world to see.” was to enable anyone to
He says farmers do not often speak have a personalized hex
of hex signs as hexeri. Instead, like sign for their home. He
their ancestors, they are fond of knew each of the symbols
saying the signs are “chust for pretty.” had meaning or a “legend.”
Or, could it be this version from and Zook would work with a
www.berkscountyliving.com where customer to select one that
they say the use of the term “Hex” is appealed to them for their color
fairly modern: and design, and selected to project
“Small towns and villages sprung meaning for the family.
up among the vast farms that domi- These decorative pieces became
nated the area. For farmers, it was Pennsylvania Beautiful extremely popular and allowed the
the size and style of their barns, not by Wallace Nutting (1861-1941), owner to display “their” sign within their 16” Bless This Child Hex Sign by
their houses, that spoke to their first edition, 1924 home or on the outside of their home, Jacob Zook selling online for $45
prosperity and ranking. garage, outbuilding, or just about anywhere.
“According to Patrick Hex signs by Zook are collectible and still modestly priced.
Donmoyer, whose devotion, Typically, the larger (over 16” diameter) signs can range from $50-
scholarship and expertise has $250, whereas the smaller examples can be as low as $10. These were
elevated him to director of the mainly used outdoors, so check the condition prior to buying.
Pennsylvania German Cultural
Heritage Center at Kutztown From Hex Signs to Barn Quilt Trails:
University, it was from the 1924 The Revival
publication of Wallace Nutting’s The modern concept of Barn Quilts began with
Pennsylvania Beautiful that the Donna Sue Groves (1948-2021) and her wish to
phraseology emerged. Prior to this, honor her mother, Maxine,
local farmers called the barn paint- and her Appalachian heritage by having a
ings flowers or stars, blume or painted wooden quilt square hung on her
sterne in German. But one farmer barn in Adams County, Ohio in the late
interviewed by Nutting described
Remains of an old star on the Grim 1990s. Little did she know what that idea
Barn, ca. 1858, in Berks County, PA them as Hexefoos, which translates would turn into.
Original Colonial Barn Quilts or Hex to witch’s foot. Graves looked to neighbors with barns
Signs are almost impossible to find The article at Berks County and together they outlined a driving trail
Living goes on to offer another of Barn Quilts hanging on barns in their
definition. “Die Hexezeeche is a community to attract tourists looking Donna Sue Groves
(1948-2021)
Pennsylvania Dutch adaptation of for a day trip who might stop and spend
an earlier European German money on gas, food, or crafts made by local artists.
phrase which refers more directly However, the first quilt square on the American Quilt Trail does not
to small-scale images created hang at the Groves farm. The Ohio Star was painted by local artists
Another barn in the either for the purpose of protecting and installed on a building at a greenhouse nearby-a location that
region using similar an individual or building from allowed for a public celebration of the inauguration of the quilt trail.
elements witchcraft, or small-scale images A Snail’s Trail quilt square was later painted by an artist and mounted
created for the purpose of on the barn where Donna Sue and Maxine Groves reside.The first
witchcraft. This type of activity can
be seen in some markings found inside barns, homes and outbuildings, square, called the “Ohio Star,” was placed on the Lewis Mountain
Herbs & Everlastings farm in 2001.
but it cannot be applied in a comprehensive sense to the large-scale Today, over 370
designs on barns.” Barn Quilt trails have
been created across A scene from along the
Quilt Trail
Hex Signs in the Mid-1900s: the U.S. – including
Jacob Zook Alaska. Craftsmen
In the early 1940s, Jacob Zook, an 11th-generation and women have
Pennsylvania Dutchman living in Paradise, PA, successfully created businesses
pioneered the hand “silk screening” of hex signs. making custom works
for clients’ properties,
As a boy, Zook had a fascination with the variety of hex symbols,
and in about 1942, he began working on the possibility of silk screen- and much like Jacob
Zook, have estab-
ing designs onto a white lished yet another
board – signs that would be collectible for those
affordable and decorative as who love the lifestyle and feel of an old farm and a simpler time. Signed
a souvenir for the growing pieces will be the sought-after collectibles of tomorrow.
tourist interest in “Pennsyl- Donna Sue Graves lost her battle with breast cancer just this past
vania Dutch Country.”
year on November 13. Her idea for Barn Quilt Trails has not waned,
Chrome Pennsylvania postcard with new trails being created every day. Learn more about this trend,
with Jacob Zook, “The HexMan,” the quilt patterns made for the trails, and see the award-winning
House of Crafts in Paradise PA documentary on this topic at www.piecedtogetherdoc.com

38 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles