Reader Mike Sparks shares photos from a Sunday visit to Ashland County, Ohio. Most of these are from the Swartzentruber settlement, though you’ll see several from the nearby Old Order community. Note the unusual buggy triangle in the final photo. Ashland County has several distinct Amish settlements. Sunday afternoon in Amish communities is a peaceful time. There is an increased amount of buggy and foot…
In 2015 it was reported that Amish were moving to Vermont, to the area of Orleans County, part of a region known as the Northeast Kingdom. Vermont joined Maine to become the second New England state to currently have an Amish community. The Black Hills Pioneer (no longer online) updates us on the group three years later: BROWNINGTON — The yellow street signs showing a horse-drawn…
Don Burke is back with a visit to another Midwestern Amish community, that of West Plains, Missouri (Howell County). Don discovered several surprising things in this small and relatively young settlement, two of them having to do with the local Amish transportation. I hope you enjoy Don’s account and photos below. In the autumn of 2016 my wife and I decided to take a couple…
With Amish found in over 500 locations across North America, you have a decent chance of stumbling across a community while on the road (assuming you stay off the interstate). Don Burke had this happen on a recent road trip when he came upon an unexpected settlement in northeastern Ohio. He shares his passing visit to the Andover settlement, along with some photos in today’s…
Lancaster Online reports that a new Amish settlement has been founded in Lancaster County’s next-door neighbor, York County. Why is this news? It’s notable because it’s the first example of a new, more deliberate strategy of creating Amish settlements. Amish have actually lived in York County for quite some time. But these Amish have been considered a part of the greater Lancaster County settlement (which also…
The Winnipeg Free Press reports that Canada will soon have a fourth province with an Amish presence. Amish from Ontario are buying land and planning to settle in Manitoba, about 100 miles south of province capital Winnipeg, in the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn: Swidersky estimated about 100 Amish may settle there, mostly young families starting out. There are already highway signs featuring a horse and buggy…
Don Burke, who last month shared with us a visit to the Amish of Ethridge, Tennessee, is back with photos from the community at New Wilmington in western Pennsylvania. This time, Don’s wife Pam joins him for a little commentary on their visit. I’ve had the chance to visit New Wilmington a couple of times, the first time 10 years ago. I made it the topic of…
Don Burke, who’s previously shared photos from places like Kalona, Iowa; Jamesport, Missouri; and an Amish “ghost town”, today takes us to the Ethridge, Tennessee community. Ethridge is a conservative Swartzentruber community, and depending on how you define the region, the largest Amish settlement in the South. The people here are decidedly plainer than in communities like Lancaster County or those in northern Indiana. This shows up…
News of a wildfire in the vicinity of the Rexford, Montana Amish settlement (West Kootenai) began appearing over the past few days. Initial reports were that the Amish community was “OK”. Today brings different news. The Amish have in fact been hit hard – so far losing a total of 40 buildings – 10 homes and 30 outbuildings – to what’s being called the Caribou Fire. Another…
If you’d like a glimpse of Amish areas in the Empire State, newyorkupstate.com has posted 14 photos taken in Western New York. The article references Chautauqua County, which is home to several Amish communities, including the settlement at Clymer (10 church districts as of 2017). However, at least some of these photos may in fact be from neighboring Cattaraugus County, which includes the town of Leon, noted in a…