Plank Road Quilt Guild started in October 1982 with seven ladies present. They called themselves The Crazy Quilters. In 1983, they decided to change their guild’s name to honor the first plank road built in the United States in 1846. This road ran through North Syracuse, New York, along what is now Route 11. The guild has consistently grown and now has almost 70 members.

A Business meeting is conducted at the first meeting of the month followed by “Show and Tell.” Guild members or regional quilters then present a lecture or demonstration or workshop. Twice a year a nationally recognized teacher is invited usually in the spring and fall.

The second meeting is the Friendship meeting and is less formal. It gives members an opportunity to work on their own projects, assist each other, baste a quilt, work on community service projects, or just visit.

Other activities include lunch and a visit to Schweinfurth Museum in November, a Holiday party in December, a Valentine Social in February and a picnic in June.

Guests are welcome at meetings with a $1.00 fee for attending. If there is an outside instructor presenting a program, the fee is $5.00.

In April of every EVEN year, a quilt show is held. (Next show is 2008.) There is a quilt raffle, silent auction, vendors, door prizes, and a welcome gift. Well over 100 quilts are on display with samples of community service projects shown.

A newsletter is published quarterly (March, June, September, December.) The newsletter contains the program schedule for the coming months, upcoming area quilt shows and other items of interest. It is free to members and may be purchased by non-members for $5.00 per year.

The Guild has an extensive library of materials that members can sign out. It includes books, stencils, patterns and magazines.

Community Service is an important component of the Guild’s existence. Lap robes and quilts are donated to area nursing homes, the Syracuse V. A. Hospital and a battered womens' shelter. Dolls for children facing major surgery or other procedures and premie hats and neonatal quilts are provided to local hospitals. Placemats are made for Meals-On-Wheels clients. Members also give their time demonstrating quilting techniques at various school and community events.