Running this website for over fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege to not only learn about the Amish – but also observe how the rest of us talk about them. The Amish certainly generate a lot of discussion across the web and elsewhere. But since they are not the most accessible group, sometimes – often – the discussion is not what it could be….
Do Amish people go on vacation? Yes, but the meaning of “vacation” varies. For some, a vacation means a trip to relatives in another settlement or attending an out-of-state wedding. But also popular are more traditional vacation destinations of natural beauty or historical interest. Today we have a look at one Amish family’s vacation from the perspective of Rebecca Miller. I hope you enjoy Rebecca’s account…
From newsnet5.com: KIDRON, Ohio – The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department believes they have identified the man who accidentally struck an Amish boy in the head with a bullet who was plowing a field. The 34-year-old told police he was shooting pigeons at the time of the incident. The man fired one shot into a group of pigeons and then fired a second shot when the…
From newsnet5.com: KIDRON, Ohio – A 17-year-old Amish boy was shot in the head while plowing a field Thursday morning in Kidron. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department reports John Hershberger was struck with a .22 caliber bullet just after 9 a.m. Investigators said it’s possible the stray bullet was fired by someone hunting squirrels and it just happened to come down on top of John’s…
Do Amish women work? Sounds like a silly question, with their full-time jobs as mothers, homemakers, and all the other roles they take on. What I mean is, do Amish women ever work away from home in an “outside job”? The answer is yes. Younger or unmarried Amish women are more likely to have away-from-home jobs. Generally, those married women with young children are going…
In July we shared news that the smoke detector issue in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin had been resolved. Amish who did not wish to install smoke detectors were given the option of applying for a religious waiver, which also covered plumbing requirements. The exemption was signed into law by the governor in mid-July, and it seemed that the dispute, which had gone on for a…
The Slow Moving Vehicle triangle is just another part of the scenery in most Amish communities. The majority of Amish people willingly use the warning insignia and probably give it little thought. In most places they are such a standard part of the buggy’s appearance, that it is odd to see a vehicle without one. Some Amish object to the SMV sign however, on grounds including…
For the start of the school term a few weeks ago, Rebecca Miller shared with us 5 things children learn in Amish schools (not found in books). Today she compares Amish schools with their public counterparts, and shares 15 ways they are different. It’s worth noting here that quite a few Amish parents do choose to send their children to public schools. Some Amish parents prefer public…
The Amish have been around for over 300 years, with a history spanning both Europe and North America. Here are five important events in the story of the Amish. Source: Steven Nolt’s A History of the Amish. Five Landmark Events in Amish History These aren’t the only important dates in Amish history, of course. But these are among the most important happenings in the Amish…
Over the past week, gunshots were fired at two Amish homes in the community in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. There was also a third reported incident involving a school in the settlement. There’s not a lot of information in this article, but there are a few more details, including on a fragment of bullet found in between panes of glass in one home. Eau Claire…