If you’ve ever searched for photos of the Amish, chances are you’ve come across the work of Bill Coleman. Bill has spent decades capturing images of Amish in a remote Pennsylvania community. Many of the photos–of buggies, weddings, and the changing seasons–are simply stunning, while others–such as his portraits of children–reveal a closeness Bill has achieved with his many subjects over the years. I had…
I recently heard that a number of Amish in the Lancaster County community have begun using regular electric washers (like any English home might have, except powered by the diesel generator). With the widely-used wringer washers (ie, the old Maytag style), the clothes are still pretty wet when you finish. Using a regular washer, the spin cycle forces a lot of that extra water out,…
You might remember my review of the Connection Amish magazine from earlier in the year, in which I described it as “one of my favorites” and “pretty packed with information and material”. While in Topeka, Indiana this summer I was heading down main street and glanced over at a pleasant-looking but otherwise non-descript little building on the south side of the avenue. Looking closer, what…
Continuing our look at relics of the past, the one-room schoolhouse. I think the country schoolhouse definitely fits the category of cultural items that have come and gone in North America (but for a few pockets here and there). The Amish are probably the most obvious example of a group maintaining the small rural school tradition. I love old one-room school buildings. You still see…
Some Amish companies spend a good bit of cash on advertising. But for many, the simple roadside sign is the furthest extent of their self-promotion. I’ve collected a few examples from around the country here. I wonder if you can tell which communities these are from. There are 7 states represented in the 10 photos below. These images give you a sense of the range…
Amish found guilty of abuse Two Amish horse owners have been fined $300 each for leaving their beasts in the heat at a Lancaster Costco. You hear a lot of stories of Amish treating horses poorly. These cases bring out strong reactions to the Amish as a whole (if you can stomach pure bigotry, check the Facebook comments on this story). That noted I think…
Need a ride? Message board inside an Amish bent-n-dent store in Ohio. By the look of that torn-up ad on the left, old fashioned advertising still works. Besides the many Amish taxis, you could also find an ad for child care by an Amish woman. Message boards are still a fixture in some places, for instance country stores. Do you still have anything to do…
It sounds like a parody, but it isn’t. An Ohio Amish man was arrested Monday for shaving off the manes and tail hair of an Amish neighbor’s horses. Apparently there was bad blood between them (the two men, not the man and the horses). He also left a threatening message on the other party’s answering machine. Inspired by the Bergholz group? I don’t think horses…
The New Wilmington, PA Amish community numbers 19 church districts, and around 2,500 souls. It is quite a recognizable group by its brown-top buggies and powder-blue doors on everything from homes to schools to milkhouses. I thought I’d share a few photos you might enjoy from last summer’s visit. Which one makes you miss summer most? The New Wilmington Amish community, located an hour north…
This photo was taken in the New Wilmington PA Amish settlement. I’ve mentioned before how I’m no big fan of cell phones. That said, they sure are handy to have on hand when you actually need to talk to someone. The pay phone is one of those things, like the roadside diner and the family radio, that seem destined to become a quaint relic of…