The Amish of Mechanicsville, Maryland

Amish St Marys County Maryland

The Amish settlement at Mechanicsville is one of only three Maryland Amish communities in existence.  The oldest Maryland Amish settlement, at Oakland (Garrett County), was settled in 1850.  Today it is a single church district in size.

The Mechanicsville Amish community in southern Maryland was founded nearly a century later (1940) than the Oakland community.  But today it is much larger, consisting of 8 districts, with Amish residing in St. Mary’s County as well as in neighboring Charles County.

St. Mary’s Co. MD Amish

Mechanicsville is a Lancaster County daughter settlement.  Amish first emigrated here in 1940 in response to statewide educational changes in Pennsylvania, including school consolidation and longer school years.

Amish parents, who had long sent their children to small public one-room schoolhouses, found themselves losing influence over the character of those institutions.  These issues reached a flashpoint in Lancaster County in the late 1930’s.

maryland amish school
One-room school house in the Mechanicsville, MD Amish community

Nearby Maryland provided a place for Lancaster Amish to escape these pressures and, as Karen Johnson-Weiner describes in New York Amish, avoid “what they saw as a threat to their religious identity” (New York Amish, Johnson-Weiner, p. 82).

Today, the Mechanicsville community is one of the largest Lancaster daughter settlements.

Lay of the land

A large chunk of the Mechanicsville Amish community is found along Route 236, aka Thompson’s Corner Road, a short connector highway in St. Mary’s County.

Amish homes and farms line this two-lane byway.  There are also numerous dead-end side roads which peel off from 236 and go on for up to a couple miles, and which are heavily populated by Amish.

maryland amish farm
Amish farmhouse in St. Mary’s County, MD

Amish homes are scattered about here and there in this community, interspersed with non-Amish residences in many places.  The homes here are not as wealthy-appearing as those in Lancaster.

And though there are land pressures, this area is definitely not as heavily settled as some others.  It seems Amish here could conceivably subdivide land and perhaps farm more intensively, or open more businesses.

There are quite a few farms in the community, with tobacco being grown by some Amish.  However, I am not sure on the quality of the soil.  Most Amish drives here were of a sandy rock mixture.  This may very well not be the best farming country.

Mechanicsville is not far from the expanding blob that is Washington, DC, which is of course a key reason for the land pressure.  There are some upscale developments in the area.

But there are many “backwoods feel” parts as well, and at least one swamp nearby.  Also, the Mechanicsville Amish have Plain neighbors nearby, with an Old Order Mennonite community located a bit further south near the town of Loveville.

maryland amish buggy
Mechanicsville Amish buggies are squat and feature small back windows

Buggies here are Lancaster grey, but seem to be “squatter” than those in the parent settlement.  You’ve also got a back window on many Mechanicsville buggies–both rounded and squarish–which is not the norm in Lancaster.

Maryland Amish Businesses and Occupations

Like their Lancaster counterparts, Amish here operate a number of businesses.  While in the community, I stopped by some furniture shops, of which there are quite a few. I also saw shed makers, engine and harness shops, and many homes selling farm products.

It was quite a rainy day.  I asked one furniture shop owner if he appreciated the wet weather after such a dry summer.  “Well the farmers do”, he replied, which I took to mean him, not so much.

Despite the downpour, many Amish homes had laundry out, under porches in most cases.  One woman I met said she may need to visit the laundromat later in the day.  If you’re wondering, she probably wasn’t joking–some Amish do in fact use the coin-operated dryers at the laundromat, if one is nearby, as an emergency backup.

maryland amish home
Porches come in handy if rain falls on laundry day

I also dropped into a couple of dry goods stores in the community, hunting for candles.  At the Locust Grove shop, I came up short–at least on “Amish-made” candles (there goes that “pull” of the “Amish brand” at work again–and no I am not immune either), though she had a number of factory-produced ones.

In the second place, Kurtz’s, I found what I was after–bona-fide “Amish” candles–and had a chance to speak with the proprietor, a middle-aged Amishman.  He noted the high land prices, and also how he dislikes traveling over the nearby Governor Harry Nice Memorial Bridge, which towers over the Potomac River and spans nearly 2 miles.

Later, when I left the community heading south, I found out what he meant–at a mere 2 lanes wide, it feels a bit tight and not especially nice up there on Governor Nice’s bridge, especially when you reach the roller coaster peak and peer over the side to the waters which seem like they’re about a mile down.

maryland amish lane
Sandy dirt lanes often signify Amish homes in the Mechanicsville community

While at Kurtz’s, I also picked up an Amish directory for this settlement.  This was a new one, produced in 2010.

Amish directories often feature listings for related daughter settlements (for instance, the Allen County, Indiana directory features daughter communities in Michigan and Missouri as well).

This directory had listings for communities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Wisconsin, and Illinois.   A glance through the book’s pages shows that Hertzler, Swarey, Kurtz, and Stoltzfus are among the most common names here.  No maps inside, though, which can be the case for some smaller communities’ directories.

Finally, I should note that Amish in the Mechanicsville community are quite tuned-in to their local markets.  This is the first Amish settlement in which I have seen a large number of business advertisements in Spanish.

amish maryland business signs
But what if I want my beef butchered and fully-clothed?

“Pollos”, “Gallinas”, and  “Queso” alert Spanish-speaking customers to the presence of chicken, hens, and cheese.  And “Cerrado Domingo” shows that the famous “No Sunday Sales” prohibition crosses language barriers as well.

Jammed in

Like the Amish in Lancaster County or not-too-distant Dover, Delaware, the Mechanicsville Amish also face land pressures.

maryland amish house blue fence
The “jam” in the jam sandwich

David Luthy quotes an Amish correspondent to The Diary, who wrote in 2006 that “St. Mary’s County reminds me more of a jam sandwich.  The outer layers consist of Washington, D.C. (large developments and housing complexes) with the Amish jammed in the middle.  Almost impossible to buy land from outsiders anymore.” (Luthy, Amish Settlements Across America: 2008).

Amish have different strategies for coping with land pressures.  Some sub-divide land, making 2 farms from one.  There is a limit to how many times farm acreage can be divided, though.

Others start small businesses requiring less land, or go into produce farming, which can make intensive use of small plots.  Still others react by moving to other communities or starting settlements elsewhere.  Amish in the Mechanicsville settlement have employed all three strategies.

East Coast Amish

Mechanicsville is a much less-known Amish community than some others, despite the proximity to a large population base.  Local Amish seem to get a number of tourist visitors however, from across the border in Virginia, for instance.

amish maryland buggy
Will Amish buggies remain a common sight in this corner of southern Maryland?

Along with Lancaster County and the Dover, Delaware Amish community, Mechanicsville is one of a few truly “East Coast” Amish settlements, lying just a short drive from the Chesapeake Bay.  Like those other settlements, the Amish of Mechanicsville face land pressures due to the high population.

Some Amish settlements, faced with external or internal pressures, may stall out or even dwindle and eventually fail over time.  It remains to be seen whether the Mechanicsville community will withstand population pressures or decrease over time due to emigration or other factors.

Read more on other Amish communities in Maryland.

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    65 Comments

    1. Christina

      I grew up in Western Maryland and knew there were Amish around there, but this is really interesting about Southern Maryland. I’m just thinking about how many times I’ve been through that part of the state and had no idea they were there. I really hope they survive the encroaching urban population for generations to come.

    2. Robin Miller

      Thank you for posting this entry. I grew up in Maryland and remember driving through the Mechanicsville Amish area many times. I also remember when my uncle in neighboring Charles County hired an Amish crew to build a tobacco barn on his farm in the 1960s. He was so impressed with the craftsmanship and professionalism of these talented men. I’m sure that barn stands to this day.

    3. Hi Robin, glad you enjoyed it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the barn still does stand.

      Christina it is one of those communities that is just not as well known, even though it is quite close to a major population center.

      1. Laura

        the amish of st. Marys county

        hello Erik!
        I am doing my senior thesis on the amish of St. Mary’s county and was looking for advice on where to begin. Did you find the Amish people who reside here talkative regarding their lifestyle? Were they willing to share or were most more reserved? What methods of research would you recomend from your experience?
        Thanks,
        Laura

    4. richard

      i live in lebanon county,pa. its the next county up from lancaster, and there is a amish comunity here as well, though much smaller than lancaster. i was born in new york, and since 1988 until a few weeks ago i lived in florida. there is a amish community call pinecraft located in sarasota, and i know your aware of it erik. for everyone else, this very small community is for snow birds, so there are no horse and buggys to be found, they do drive 3 wheel bikes though. they also have a few very good amish style restaurants yoders being my favorite, and this one is amish owned, the other is called troyers, its a very large and clean restaurant based in ohio. the food is very good there as well. since i used to go there alot, and i know a good amount about that community, i thought id share this with the readers here……. richard

    5. Katie Troyer

      I visited a few people one time in Mechanicsville MD simply because I was traveling with friends who had cousins living there. I am not aware that many from Mechaniscville visit Pinecraft in the winter.

    6. richard

      katie…… in pinecraft there are many amish from pretty much every amish community in the usa, thats one one the things that make a place like pinecraft so great to visit. you might get a chance to talk, and maybe learn from folks from each of the many settlements in the usa. you must come from a mennonite/amish back ground with a last name like troyers. those folks who visit pinecraft tend to be on the older side, but there are more younger folks who are staying there for the winter, so i hear are even staying there on a perm basis, those are the older ones who are tired of going back and forth to the north. there is a amish church there which was just re-done in stone alittle while ago. it looks sort of out of place with palm trees all over the place, the bulding has a penn look to it though, and they seem to have done a great job on it. the best time to go to pinecraft if you would like to see as many amish/menn as possible is in january. if anyone has a pinecraft question, id be happy to atleast try to answer it. richard

    7. Phyllis

      I live in Mechanicsville, Maryland and have visited some of the Amish farms. Can you tell me where Kurtz’s dry good store is. I am not familiar with this store.

      1. allen m parke

        replyto laurie:ref: kurtz"s

        wed-oct-3-2012, 10:52 am.
        responding to Laurie, the kurtz dry goods is actually kurtz”s variety store, owner is solly kurtz, 13860 ryceville road mechanicsville, MD. 20659. its on the right side of ryceville road going northwest, from thompson corner road, a.k.a.MD RT 236 south/west ie: directions from MD. route 5 in new market, which is actually a very small town in mechanicsville, MD. example:from waldorf MD. 1) MD route 5 south towards lexington park & leonardtown &st.marys city. 2) right at flashing traffic light onto MD route 236 south,a.k.a.thompson corner road. 3)right onto ryceville road. 4) 13860 is on right side. 5)facing the property kurtz cabinet shop is on left. home in middle. kurtz variety store on right up the stairs. dont expect to find exactly what youre looking for.

        1. allen m parke

          oops reply to; PHYLLIS

          i was responding to phyllis

    8. Maryland Amish dry goods shop location

      Hi Phyllis, it is right off Ryceville road and slightly unmarked. I wish I had the exact address but don’t–you’ll see a sign saying Kurtz and advertising I believe a furniture place. There is also a phone shanty right by the road at this address. The dry goods shop is at this location though I don’t know that it is advertised as such. Just pull in where you see the Kurtz sign/furniture shop and the phone shanty and ask to be shown to the store and they should be happy to do so.

    9. Lorie

      I live in Mechanicsville and thought that I would just add that we have great soil quaility here.. especially for growing tobacco. I grew up on a tobacco farm here and that’s how many people made their living until the government stepped in. “In 2000, the state government decided to decrease the amount of tobacco grown in Maryland through the “Tobacco Buyout Program”. Farmers who wished to participate were paid to stop growing tobacco. They were paid $1 per pound of tobacco based on their average crop for 10 years. Farmers participating in the buyout looked for alternative crops such as bedding plants, produce, and corn.”

      With growing up in this community, the Amish have always been a part of my earlist memories. And even today, as a mother myself.. it seems that one of all of my children’s very first words have been “horsie” from enjoying seeing the horse and buggies go past our home or as we pass them driving out and about.

      Enjoyed your article.

    10. St. Mary's County MD soil quality

      Hi Lorie, I appreciate you checking in with some local knowledge. I can believe it is good soil…I actually had not much to go on other than the appearance of the ground and, coming from NC with its varying soil qualities and regions, figured that something similar might apply in MD. Though I’m sure that when Amish moved there 70 years ago they were going somewhere they’d be able to make a living farming.

      The horsie part of your comment was really a great little anecdote. 🙂

    11. Mike Hallisey

      I think the Southern Maryland Amish presence stands an excellent chance of not only holding on, but growing. The county government (St. Mary’s, at least) appears to be seriously committed to maintaining the rural nature of the county by allowing only three areas of development (Lexington Park/NAS Patuxent River, Leonardtown, & Charlotte Hall (listed in decreasing “urban-ness”)). With many farmers in the area getting out of the business and the current financial climate, there may be and continue to be opportunity for land purchase and expansion. As a resident of St. Mary’s for the last 10 years (and for the foreseeable future), I certainly hope this is the case. St. Mary’s county commissioners must certainly be aware of the role the Amish farms can play in maintaining the character of the county. I enjoy my Amish (literal) neighbors and try to support their businesses as I can.

    12. Farmland preservation in St. Mary's County, Maryland

      Many thanks for checking in with some local insights from St. Mary’s County, Mike. I find it interesting that there is a policy to preserve the rural character of the area. Lancaster County has a farmland preservation program as one means of maintaining the agricultural quality of the area in the face of development pressure. Sounds like St. Mary’s Co is using zoning to try to achieve a similar goal.

      In a more general sense, I think it is an interesting question as to what degree local governments should be involved in influencing the use of land. Obviously zoning regulations are an effective tool in that.

    13. Firpo Sjogren Jr.

      Hi Erik,

      My name is Firpo Sjogren Jr., and I am deaf young black man. I lived in Glen Burnie, Maryland.I really want to visit of the amish of Mechanicsville, MD. Do you have deaf amish people in Mechanicsville, Maryland? I am strong christian for 22 year and i love know everything in my Holy Bible book. i still keep peace , friendly, sweet soft in my heart. I believe that I saw amish people are very impressing and friendly for respone people. Hopeful, i wish meet with Erik I visit to the amish of Mechanicsville, maryland. I say that God Bless you and everyone amish people. Love Christian, Firpo

    14. Hi Firpo, thanks for writing! In answer to your question, I do not know if any of the Amish near Mechanicsville are deaf. I hope you will get a chance to visit and it sounds like you are on the right path 🙂

      1. Peggy

        There are many deaf children in the area. There are meetings held frequently at the Amish schools to help the parents cope with the youngsters deafness issues. Most of the parents have dealt with these problems very efficiently since birth. I am very fortunate to have many, many Amish friends. Thanks for your article. They are not usually so spot on correct. I also live in Mechanicsville.

        1. mike

          deaf Amish

          There is a young teenage boy working at Ryceville Sawmill who is deaf.

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    16. Donna

      I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I used to love visiting Lancaster. My mother knows all the cool, little farmer’s markets, pretzel shops, jam shops, etc. It makes me feel so serene when I’m there. Now, I live in Alexandria and would love to visit a farmer’s market or cool Amish store near here. Thanks for your article. I’ll have to check out Southern Maryland. If you know of any other Amish stores that are closer to me, please let me know. I’m, also, fascninated by the Amish from a cultural and religious standpoint. I admire their lifestyle and would love to learn more about them.

    17. Ray

      Thanks for making a post deal with the Amish from my homeland. Many people do not realize they exist.

    18. Germantown MD Amish market address

      Ray, Donna, glad you enjoyed the post. Ray you’re right Maryland often does get overlooked, though this is a pretty well-established settlement around for 70 years.

      Donna there are markets not too far away from you; for instance at Germantown, which I guess isn’t next door to you, but closer than Lancaster!

      Lancaster County Dutch Market
      12613 Wisteria Drive
      Germantown, Md. 20874

      I’ve never been to this one but it may be worth a shot.

      1. John

        Amish Markets in SoMD

        DONNA, there are a number of small “markets” in Southern Maryland. The largers market is in Mechanicsville/Charlotte Hall on RT 5/235. While it is nothing like the Bird In Hand, Lancaster Market (This one is al outdoors), it is worth a visit if you come down to explore the area.

      2. Wadhamite

        Germantown

        My wife and I were at Lancaster Dutch market and restaurant today (October 2023) and impressed by it. We live near Glen Burnie and are not Amish but deeply respect them.

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    20. George

      Hi Erik,
      I love these pix, keep up the good work!!!
      George

    21. Naomi

      I attempted to stop in at the dry good store you mentioned on Ryceville Rd. Saw the phone shanty and the Kurtz sign. When I went inside the furniture shop to ask, I was redirected to the Locust Grove store. I got to see some beautiful oak children’s furniture, though. I enjoyed driving around the settlement. I’d never been, even though it’s only 45 miles from my house.

    22. Ray

      Naomi, you were looking for Katey Byler’s small dry goods store? Did you happen to make it by the Pine View store?

    23. Wendy

      I just had the opportunity this past weekend of visiting Sully Kurtz at his furniture shop looking for someone to recane an old chair I have that was my Grandmothers. Although Sully does not cane, he was kind enough to point me in the direction of a wonderful woman, Sarah Swarey, who does. What an awesome adventure we had that day driving around the Amish community and talking with them. We drove by the bilingual sign and had a chuckle over it. We also made the mistake of trying to buy a BBQ sandwich from a family who had advertised a sign by the road “HOGS, BBQ, DEER PROCESSING”. When we pulled up to the house the Amish woman and her young son were in the front yard and we asked her if she had any BBQ today. She laughed and said she had a BBQ pig she could sell us but no sandwiches. LOL!! Boy did we feel stupid!!

    24. Great story Wendy. I guess you’d have to be pretty hungry, though if you had been in a tour bus you could have taken her up on the offer!

      1. Ursula

        Tours

        I am planning to take a trip to visit The Amish community in Maryland. How can I get a tour or a visitor information center?

        1. Ray

          Amish in Maryland

          Ursula, the Amish in Maryland are not really a tourist attraction like they are in places like Lancaster County. So there are no tours or information centers?

    25. Wendy

      Erik,
      It was priceless……the Amish woman had a good laugh over it too!!
      We told her maybe next time we would buy the pig!

    26. Debbie Welsh

      Hi Everyone,

      I see some of you live in the Mechanicsville, MD, area and I was wondering if you might know of a nice, decent, roadside type motel (as opposed to the big chain hotels)in that area? My husband & I would like to explore the area for a couple of days.

      Thanks alot!

    27. Kelly

      Blacksmith

      I was just searching for info on the MD Amish and came across this post. My uncle is a blacksmith and lives on Ryceville Rd. He has recently retired, but actually shoed (is that how you spell it?) horses for the Amish in this area for many years. He and his wife have told me stories of the area’s Amish my entire life, but I had never visited Mechanicsville until a few years ago. Now we come every other year and I love soaking in the scenery and culture.

      1. Nancy

        Kelly, ryceville rd.

        I grew up amish on ryceville rd. and a guy named Mr. Fulcher was our farrier. our family used to go to their house and we would make homemade icecream with them. we were very close with them,and as a little amish girl it was so exciting to go to a house with electric and tvs..lol I remember when mr and mrs fulcher build their new house to the amish and built there little house back in the woods.

        1. Kelly

          Nancy, Ryceville Road

          Nancy, that sounds like my aunt and uncle!!!! They built their little house set back in the woods right in the middle of the Amish. Thanks for posting. I’d like to stay in touch with you, so keep posting and maybe we can email sometime. 🙂 Small world.

    28. Karen

      Amish horses for sale

      Hello Eric,
      I live in Mechanicsville , MD. Ive just visited Loveville tack shop for the first time. And I often shop at Debbies store across the street from them. I was wondering if you knew of any Amish horses for sale ? I am also very interested in finding a map of the Amish farms in my area and the services they provide. Do you know where I can get info on either of these ? It is so hard when your driving and trying to read their signs and have cars behind you.
      Thank you for any info you can help me with.

      Karen

      1. Hi Karen, I wish I could help, but I’ve only been here once. Any readers out there that might know?

      2. Denise

        Amish in Mechanicsville

        couldn’t see many response to questions so I wil answer if I can. We own a house in Mechanicsville & the Amish there are just a part of our everyday lives who go about there business as we do. If you want to speak with an Amish folk and get more info on them I would suggest the flea market on 3 notch Road. It is only open on Saturdays and Wednesdays, but during the summer there is a true Amish farmers market on the corner near the library. It is ALL amish fruit, veggies, etc… There are generally Amish in the library too. I think they hold meetings there. As a rule you can drive down most side roads, like Thompsons creek, and tell which are Amish farms, quilt stores, flower marts. There will be little to no power lines, dirt driveways and usually hand written signs. I would suggest you go to the mechanicsville visitors center or one of the Fruit farms, like Forrest Hall farm. They have small books and guides to the amish in our area. Just drive down three notch road on a Saturday and you will see several Amish vendors along the road. Good Luck

        1. Dave Nelson

          Amish are great folks

          I grew up in Mechanicsville and worked on the tobacco farms. We sometimes helped the Amish with their tobacco and they helped us process our hogs. I greatly respect their work ethic and dedication to their families. My experience was, whatever you did for them, you always received double in return. I hope they continue to grow and prosper. I will always value their friendship and I’m sure that many of their neighbors can back me up on that.
          Sincerely,
          Dave

    29. Ray

      Karen, the area of Loveville is an Old Order Mennonite community. Unfortunately, I don’t know enough to lead you to the horses or a map.

    30. Gerri

      Market

      I was finally glad Denise mentioned the markets in Charlotte Hall.
      You can eat organic, or that is what I believe, when I got every week to get vegetables and flowers. If the parents do not speak English, the children do, and you can ask question they will answer.
      I live in Charles County but am a Realtor so I travel all over and love seeing the buggies and the various sites of the farms and the different ages of the children and parents. It is beautiful country and in the night you can see the stars sparkle because there are no street lights or city lights to ruin the sky.

      1. Ray

        Gerri, all the Amish parents can speak English!

    31. AJ

      Cats

      I have a few cats, I was wondering if any of the amish would take them? You can email me back at amw269@hotmail.com

      1. You need to go to an Amish Cat Auction AJ. Just kidding, I think most Amish, at least farm families, are pretty well set on their cat supply, but thanks for checking 🙂 You could always drop by a farm and ask.

    32. Rebecca

      I came across this article today… I grew up (from 5-17 yrs) in St Mary’s & remember going to the “Amish Market” every other weekend or so w/my parents. That was 16yrs ago…But I still remember the Amish woman that sold the baked goods, near the barn they would auction the animals off at. She made the best bread I ever had! I also remember always spending more time in the stables, looking at the horses as opposed to shopping!

    33. mike m

      getting to know the Amish

      My work brings me in contact with many Amish folk in Southern Maryland. They are most amazing people. They celebrate Christmas just like we do by exchanging gifts and eating a big meal. Some of them smoke and cuss. I know a couple of Amish men who would rather be hunting than celebrating Christmas. While driving thru Amish country you will now see that there are several small tobacco fields. I know of their excellent work habits, but I would like to know what life is like after a day of work. Is there any books written that would give me an insight to their home-life and what they do in their spare time?

      1. Mike a recent one that is very good is “An Amish Paradox”. It is about Amish in Ohio. “The Riddle of Amish Culture” is also very good, about Lancaster County Amish (who would have ties to the Southern Maryland Amish).

    34. Heather

      The amish are not necessarily organic farmers.

      I live in Hollywood Maryland which is just south of the Amish community here in Southern Maryland. We have lived in the area most of my life (about 30 years). I just wanted to tell the person that thought all the produce the amish sell is organic that they are mistaken. There is a produce auction in Loveville that farmers from all over the area bring their goods to and auction them off. The Amish at the market in Charlotte Hall all sell similar things because they buy the products from each other and the “English” at the auction twice a week. It is still better than what you get in the supermarket because it is all local.
      I would not recommend buying horses or pets from the amish unless you are an expert. They do not give the same level of veterinary care to the animals. Many of the dogs are sick and infected with worms or other parasites and die while still puppies.
      That being said I really enjoy living here and being around the Amish. They are kind and polite to everyone- wonderful neighbors. They make the absolute best furniture hands down, great baked goods, and wonderful vegetables. I would rather live among the Amish then anywhere else. No crime, no noise, just have to dodge the horse poo sometimes! 🙂 I am glad we are not a tourist destination because it keeps the area peaceful.

      1. Karen

        re:

        I agree with you on living among the Amish. I’ve lived in Hughesville for 20 years. Now in Mechanisville for 5 years. Only you can not put down all Amish selling animals. I own a Chihuahua that I bought from them in 2010. I’ve also bought animals from them in the past. But it does help being a retired vet. tech.

      2. Cynthia

        Amish builder/contractor needed for residential project in Martinsburg, VA

        Posted 4/5/2016 – please email or phone 610-565-7251, if you know of an Amish builder/contractor who can work on a residential project in Martinsburg, VA

    35. Abderrazak

      direction to amish Please

      I am highly interested in buying the Amish diary products but do not know their address. Any body can help me Please with the direction? I appreciate any response!

    36. Melody Harvey

      Hotels in the Mechanicsville Area

      To the reader regarding the hotels in the area: We have the Charlotte Hall Motel/Hotel. Small roadside hotel. Clean, nothing fancy. Nice owners, and a nice pool in the summer. Next to McDonalds, Burger King and walking distance to huge open air farmers market on Saturdays. Please come down and visit!! The Amish here are very friendly, great & helpful people. We appreciate them all!

      Regards,
      Melody Harvey
      Golden Beach Resident
      Mechanicsville, MD

      1. Rhonda

        Amish Authors

        You seem very knowledgeable and willing to promote your community.

        Coming home for a visit and frankly “home” is all I want with Fall colors. Just to let you know how I really miss home think of it this way;”Southern Hospitality simply will just land you in a hospital mental ward”. So while trying to plan this trip, to bring my Southern family home with me and “to ease the culture shock” I want them to be able to get an honest home feeling and thinking of how all of my southern family are readers, I wanted to know if and or when an Amish Author Book Festival events existed. I would love any information for the current 2013 through the 2014 year on such an event rather it be Maryland or Pennsylvania. Reading is therapy with this family so just to be surrounded by books and writers just may be the best reason they would come with me. My last daughter visited Ireland a few years ago, I knew how her trip was simply by watching her debit purchases at Dublin’s book shops where she found peace and new authors she continues to read today. Thank you very much for taking on such a mission if you do so choose this one. Forever Grateful for your help.

    37. mike m

      At what age do Amish girls start to wear something on their head?

    38. amish tour

      my email is kelvin.farrell@howard.edu I am very interested in know ing how to take a tour of the amish community in maryland ..please give me number or some sort of guidance

    39. deena

      home builders

      wanted to know if there are any amish homebuilders that will build in Charles county?

    40. Diane

      Maryland Amish article

      I loved reading this!! I live right off Rt236 at the end of Bethel Church Road. We have a one room school house on Bethel Church as well as 5-8 Amish families that live off that road. They are wonderful people, always a smile and wave when you see them. They are always willing to lend a hand! Once when I was expecting and we had a snow storm, my car got stuck as I was trying to get into my driveway. A horse pulled sled with 4 Amish men on it was coming down my street and they stopped and pushed my car well into my driveway. Wouldn’t take anything in payment for doing it!! Love living among them!!
      Thanks for the great article!!

    41. Taz in La Plata

      Tree Removal Services & Lumber Mills

      I am new to the area and own a home in La Plata now. I have a back yard full of extremely tall and straight trees. I am considering clearing out a portion of land to build a three bay garage on. I was wondering if the amish would be interested in cutting down, removing and using these trees for building material? Perhaps by having the wood for milling use they might consider a fair trade for the falling and removal for materials? Anyone know if this is a practice and who I should get into contact with regarding such?

      1. zuri el

        have some land in bradywine maryland and would love for the amnish to take away the trees and would like for them to have trees for wood making

    42. zuri el

      cutting down trees

      have some trees in bradywine maryland on 22 acres. would like for some of the amish to cut trees and stumps out and cut take trees away for land clearing. also want to do off the grid farming. non profit religious organization.

    43. Elizabeth Burns

      Repair work

      I have a rocking chair (1940-50’s) with curved back and two arms shaped in an upside down and backward C. The arms are connected to the back with three wood capped pegs or nails. When getting out of the chair, too much pressure was put on one of the arms and it snapped straight across in the curved part. Can it be repaired? Can a new arm be constructed, stained to match? How do we contact the repair division? I can send photos if you send an email address

    44. Gene Lews

      Great Article

      Thank you so much for your informative article. I moved to Leonardtown just over a year ago and was totally charmed when I was driving north and discovered that we lived so close to an Amish/Mennonite community.

      We are trying to settle a family dispute? Is the community Amish or Mennonite? Or is it a mixed community?
      Or do the Mennonite live in and around Loveville and the Amish Mechanicsville?

      Again thank you so much,