The Haywood County Arts Council will install the first Quilt Block on the Haywood County Quilt Trail at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Historic Shelton House in Waynesville.

The Shelton House Quilt Block, designed by Chris Sylvester, is a 4-foot-by-4-foot wooden block painted with her design and will be installed on the lower front left portion of the house where it is visible from every direction on Pigeon Street/U.S. 276.

The design incorporates traditional star, arrows, and Milk Maide quilt patterns and is emblematic of historical associations with the Shelton family. The star motif symbolizes Stephen Jehu Shelton’s duties as high sheriff of Haywood County. Arrows represent second-generation Will Taylor Shelton’s years of service to the Indian community in New Mexico and in North Carolina. The Milk Maide pattern is symbolic of the dairy farm Will Shelton developed on the Shelton farm when he retired from the Indian Agency. 

The heritage-based project aims to help communities in tell their stories. The Haywood County Quilt Trails project also has blocks nearing completion for several sites in Clyde, including the Shook House, and the Town Hall in Maggie Valley.

Anyone who would like a quilt block installed on their building should call 828.452.0593 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..