MONROE - Barn quilts are known to adorn many a structure in these parts, but hanging them within the boundaries of the city's downtown historic district remains a no-no.
But could there soon be an exception to the rule?
Minhas Brewery asked Monroe's Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday if it could hang an 8-foot by 8-foot multicolored barn quilt outside its 13th Street gift shop and tour center, but commission members denied the request, noting the location lies just barely within the district, where outside quilts are not allowed.
"If we approve one, next week we're approving 10," said commission member David Riese.
Instead, Gary Olson, Minhas' president, will be hanging it one street down on the south side of a brewery warehouse building on 12th Street, which lies outside the district.
"The tour guides were lobbying to hang it by the tour center, where there's just a blank wall," Olson said. "But that's OK -12th Street is well traveled and people will see it going in and out of the brewery."
Commission member Russ Brown said it was a shame the desired location wasn't within the boundary.
"That stretch of 13th Street is kind of ugly, with not a lot of adornment," he said. "It might have looked nice there."
However, commissioners told Olson to monitor whether or not he receives any negative feedback about the quilt, saying they'd likely revisit the topic. For now, his barn quilt will serve as a test pilot.
"Put it up, and if there are no complaints, come back to talk to us," Riese said.
The quilts, which are mostly found in rural settings, are not allowed downtown because they are not synonymous with its buildings' original look.
"They were never there," Riese said. "The idea of historic preservation is to safeguard what was there, not what wasn't there, regardless of time period."
But could there soon be an exception to the rule?
Minhas Brewery asked Monroe's Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday if it could hang an 8-foot by 8-foot multicolored barn quilt outside its 13th Street gift shop and tour center, but commission members denied the request, noting the location lies just barely within the district, where outside quilts are not allowed.
"If we approve one, next week we're approving 10," said commission member David Riese.
Instead, Gary Olson, Minhas' president, will be hanging it one street down on the south side of a brewery warehouse building on 12th Street, which lies outside the district.
"The tour guides were lobbying to hang it by the tour center, where there's just a blank wall," Olson said. "But that's OK -12th Street is well traveled and people will see it going in and out of the brewery."
Commission member Russ Brown said it was a shame the desired location wasn't within the boundary.
"That stretch of 13th Street is kind of ugly, with not a lot of adornment," he said. "It might have looked nice there."
However, commissioners told Olson to monitor whether or not he receives any negative feedback about the quilt, saying they'd likely revisit the topic. For now, his barn quilt will serve as a test pilot.
"Put it up, and if there are no complaints, come back to talk to us," Riese said.
The quilts, which are mostly found in rural settings, are not allowed downtown because they are not synonymous with its buildings' original look.
"They were never there," Riese said. "The idea of historic preservation is to safeguard what was there, not what wasn't there, regardless of time period."