Where the Mountains Begin Quilt added to Trail

The quilt block, called Pickens Where the Mountains Begin, was designed and quilted by Elizabeth (Betty) Dalton of Pickens. “I collaborated with my good friend and sister quilter, Angeline Byers, to come up with a design. She found a similar block on the Internet which I edited somewhat. It is a stylized mountain landscape. The blue pieces represent the Blue Ridge Mountains. Of course, the orange circle represents the sun; and the triangle represents Glassy Mountain. At the bottom of the triangle are darker colors representing the homes and farms found there.” Betty taught 7th grade mathematics at Pickens Middle School for 50 years. She had been a lifelong seamstress, having learned to sew in 4H. “In those days we had to make hidden plackets rather than use expensive buttons. We learned to make them, though, thanks to Matilda Bell of McCormick, SC, who was the Home Demo agent. I also learned by making clothes for my Shirley Temple doll. Then I was invited to join the Upcountry Quilters Guild in Pickens and was given a year’s membership as a birthday present. I was always a soft touch for fabric and I especially like bright colors. My first quilt was a ‘ying yang’ pattern for my husband. Then I made a Mariner’s Compass, which I was asked to exhibit in Paducah, KY at the quilt museum. I published pictures of quilts in the Quilters Newsletter and became so addicted to quilting classes that I guess I have made about 27 quilts in the last 8 years. Nearly all of them have won ribbons.” Dean Holder and his son Jeff Holder, both natives of Pickens own the Gatehouse Restaurant. Dean was with the Pickens County School District for 33 years as a teacher, coach and principal, retiring in 2002. He and Jeff have been in residential construction and in real estate and had an eye on the Gatehouse property for some time. The building had been empty for several years and they bought it to renovate to sell or lease as a restaurant.