To celebrate the LaGrange County Barn Quilt Tour, we are devoting two blogs a month on information regarding a specific mural you will see dotting the Amish backroads in Northern Indiana.
Even though we have numbered the blogs, the order in which we present the murals isn’t terribly important, as you can begin your own self-guided tour anywhere you would like. Just stop by the CVB at 350 N. Van Buren Street, Shipshewana to pick up a brochure with a map.
We hope you enjoy each blog at it provides a sneak peek into the background of each barn quilt mural and location.
Barn Quilt Mural #5: Indiana Puzzle
Decorating the Southeast corner of the Yoder’s Shopping Center building is the “Indiana Puzzle” quilt pattern, painted in varying shades of blue.
Dawn Yoder, manager of the fabrics department, said this particular pattern was chosen because of its historical connection to the state of Indiana.
“It has been debated whether or not the pattern originated in Indiana,” Dawn explained, “but because some people believed it did originate in this state, that’s why we chose it.”
She also explained the color scheme used in the mural gives a “nod” to the Amish community, whose clothing frequently is made from darker but varying shades of blue.
Location Information:
Yoder’s Shopping Center, home to Yoder Department Store, has been in the family since 1967 when the building was constructed to support the growth and success of the business begun in 1945.
The building’s founder, Ora Yoder, duplicated the building similar to one he had seen when on a tip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in the 1960’s. This “mini” shopping center originally was named “Shipshe Center.” The concept was to provide a place where locals could shop for all their needs in a single location.
After the death or Ora and his wife, Grace, the name was changed to Yoder’s Shopping Center as a tribute to the founders.
Today, not only does Yoder Department Store remain in its original location, shoppers will also find Yoder’s Shipshewana Hardware and a new restaurant coming soon.
Location of Mural:
Yoder Shopping Center
300 S. Van Buren Street, Shipshewana, IN
GPS: N 41° 40.011
W 085° 34.931
Barn Quilt Mural #6: Rising Star
Sitting pretty in the corner of Next Door Shops is, appropriately named, The Cotton Corner, with the Rising Star mural decorating the storefront.
This mural pattern embodies a more contemporary look and contains vibrant gold, green, and burgundy colors.
Location Information:
The Cotton Corner, located in the Next Door Shops adjacent to Yoder Shopping Center, was constructed to provide anchor stores for the larger retailer. This specific business has been a lifelong resident of this location and offers along with its fabric selection sewing machine and quilting needs. Not only does The Cotton Corner specialize in Bernina, batiks, longarm sewing machines and custom quilting, they also operate a computerized Handi Quilter Fusion.
Location of Mural:
The Cotton Corner, located in the Next Door Shops
350 S. Van Buren Street, Shipshewana, IN
GPS: N 41° 40.414 W 085° 34.935
For more information on this and other LaGrange County Barn Quilt Tour blogs, visit www.VisitShipshewana.org by clicking here, and then click on any blog link.
