Month: October 2009

The Top 10 Amish Settlements

The ten largest Amish settlements, by number of church districts, as of 2009: 10. Allen County, Indiana (Founded 1852; 19 church districts).  This Amish settlement located to the north of Fort Wayne is a Swiss-ethnicity community.  Open buggies are driven here;  the construction trade is popular.  Allen County Amish homes are often built of red brick, unlike those of most other Amish.  The three most…

Basements in Amish homes

Most Amish homes have a sizable basement.  The basement is an important part of the typical Amish home for a number of reasons.  The basement of course makes a good storage area.   Amish families often keep their stores of canned goods in the basement. The basement also offers living space.  Amish in warmer climes may ‘move’ downstairs to the basement in summertime, eating meals and…

Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive

Success Made Simple is the first practical business guide based on Amish ideas. 9,000 Amish businesses thrive throughout North America.  This book examines why, and what lessons they can offer modern business owners. It reads a bit like this blog does, chock full of anecdotes, stories, and 16 sidebars covering everything from the ‘Amish miracle heater’ to why you’ll find 47 David Yoders in one…

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David Kline’s October

Ohio Amish bishop David Kline is an interesting person.  I’ve known David for a couple of years and fondly recall my last visit to his Ohio farm, and specifically some warm muffins and warmer companionship at the kitchen table.  David is also unusual as an Amish person in that he is a twice-published author. David’s descriptions of wildlife, farming, and rural living in Great Possessions…

A Joyful Chaos former Amish blog

A Joyful Chaos is a blog written by a formerly Amish mother of three.  This is her photo above, which she has shared on her blog, along with some other family photos from her time as a part of the Somerset County, Pennsylvania Amish community. The author discusses the Amish approach to photography and growing up Amish, among other things.  Back in July, she commented…

Amish scooters

Lined up in a bicycle rack in front of a barn at an Amish farm is a row of scooters in various sizes and colors–red, blue, and green.  Around four o’clock in the afternoon, Simon Bontrager went looking for his five-year-old son, Reuben, finding him high up in a tree house perched over a stream.  Simon cupped his mouth to holler up the tree, “Hey,…

Ira Wagler on South-End Lancaster County

Ira Wagler grew up in Canada and Iowa Amish communities.  I like to link to his posts now and again, because his writing is very good and he offers a particular insider’s insight thanks to his Amish background. In one recent post, Ira offered his interesting take on the Lancaster County Amish, and the north-south ‘divide’ in particular.  An excerpt: Homes are spotless, inside and…

Thursday Amish links

Two interesting Amish-related links today. The first is not really a story about Amish, but touches on a place where a number of them work. Canton-based Belden Brick, through its Plant no. 6, has been a local institution in Sugarcreek, Ohio since 1957. Belden’s facilities dominate the town, and driving down the main thoroughfare, you cross railroad tracks that link the two halves of the…

Where Amish buggies come from

Where Amish buggies come from

Where do Amish buggies come from?  Most established Amish settlements have at least one full-time buggy maker, but those that don’t usually acquire their vehicles in larger settlements. Amish buggy makers rarely make a buggy from top to bottom.  Parts such as the wheels or undercarriage may come from other Amish shops. One buggy shop owner acquaintance produces one new vehicle per week.  Stephen Scott…