- The Garfield County Courthouse is hosting a patriotic quilt display for America's 250th celebration.
- Local quilters showcase work, highlighting Garfield County's deep quilting heritage and community ties.
- Quilts will be displayed for the next few months; visitors can vote for their favorite quilt.
PANGUITCH — People usually visit a courthouse to take care of serious business. Maybe to file paperwork, pay a bill, or speak with a county official.
But lately in Garfield County, many visitors to the courthouse in Panguitch have been stopping by for something else.
On Friday, more than two dozen patriotic quilts hang along the walls inside the Garfield County Courthouse as part of the community's celebration of America's upcoming 250th birthday.
The quilts were made by local residents and are part of a community contest celebrating the area's deep quilting heritage.
For Elaine Baldwin, a Panguitch quilter, seeing the courthouse filled with quilts has been rewarding.
"It just feels great to just see so many people responding to this," she said.
Baldwin came up with the idea after county leaders began discussing how to participate in the nationwide America 250 celebration.
"That's the very first thing I put out in July of last year in the local paper, that we wanted to have a quilt contest," she said.
Quilting has deep roots in Garfield County, going back to pioneer settlers who relied on the craft for both practicality and community. It's a tradition that is still thriving.
At Patches Quilt Shop on Main Street in Panguitch, manager Jon Gray said customers come from far beyond southern Utah to buy fabric and supplies.
"We have heavy traffic from southern Colorado, everywhere in Utah. I have people who text me from SoCal and southern Nevada who just need stuff shipped," Gray said.
At a time when many quilt and fabric shops are struggling, Patches is doing well.
"We're the largest in southern Utah. People who are just traveling through the area, they'll stop in," said Gray. "We love being here and we love helping people create the things they have in mind."
His mother, Donna, who owns the business, entered a quilt into the courthouse contest and knows how important it is to the area.
"I'm surprised that they haven't come up with an excuse every year to find some way to hang patriot quilts in the courthouse," said Gray with a laugh.
For many local quilters, the craft is more than just sewing fabric together. Garfield County quilter Claudia Crump said quilting has always been meaningful to her.
"That's what quilting is for me," Crump said. "It just fills my life."
Crump entered a quilt she made with an eagle in the center. But she admits winning this contest won't be easy.
"There are so many phenomenal quilters in Garfield County," she said.
Beyond the craftsmanship, she says quilting gatherings have always helped bring people together.
"When you're quilting, you get that. You get those deep feelings, those deep conversations and we need that nowadays," Crump said.
Baldwin agrees, saying it's nice to see younger quilters put down their phones and enjoy conversation with others.
"No, you can't be on your phone when you're quilting. You're definitely sitting there and just visiting one with another. That brings the community together," Baldwin said. "You would be surprised at all of the wonderful things you learn about people when you're sitting around a quilt and talking and visiting and talking and visiting."
That sense of connection is something many residents say makes the courthouse display especially meaningful as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
"We are proud of our heritage all over the United States," Crump said. "But we are definitely proud of Garfield County's heritage."
The quilts will remain on display at the Garfield County Courthouse for the next couple of months. Visitors are invited to stop by, view the quilts and vote for their favorite.
The winning quilt will be announced later this year.
