I had never been in the Nickel Mines area until after the infamous school shootings of October 2006. Even later, I never sought it out. I guess because I knew I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing so. But over the past few years I have happened to pass by a few times. Usually it was hauling Amish friends to somewhere in the southern end of Lancaster County, our route taking us…
Lancaster County’s mud sales are in swing, with Bart Township Fire Company holding its event this past Saturday. One of our readers, Lauren Futch, attended, and shares some photos. Â The comments below are hers as well. Thanks Lauren! Outside auction activities. The quilt auction sold over 300 quilts throughout the day. The 50th anniversary quilt. I believe it sold for around $1,000. …
I got back from Pennsylvania over the weekend and have been trying to get caught up here. Â Maybe I am getting old but I always feel like I need to sleep for 2 days after these trips! Apologies to anyone who came looking for Friday’s post, which didn’t make it up in the hurry. We’ll have some more from last week coming up. I also…
Beth asked yesterday about recommendations for visitors to Lancaster County. I mentioned two of my favorite towns, Strasburg and Churchtown.  Strasburg is a bit more on the beaten path, Churchtown a bit more off. Strasburg in particular has a lot of beautiful historic stone and brick homes from the 1700s and 1800s (I lived here for a summer so got to know it fairly well).  A…
Pennsylvania Dutch markets thrive throughout the greater Philadelphia region If you live anywhere in the Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington DC corridor, you might have Amish nearer than you think–at least for a few days each week. Â Amish market stands are found scattered across the Eastern corridor, bringing Plain life into the cities and suburbs of America’s largest metropolitan areas. Market stands provide a pretty decent living for Amish….
I picked up a copy of the 2011 Lancaster County Business Directory on my recent visit to Pennsylvania. Â If you want to find a business in Lancaster County, this is the guide to have. The 448-page 2011 edition has a circulation of 60,000 and can be found at area businesses. Â Amish shops, especially retail stores, often have copies of the guide near the entrance, free…
I’m no pro when it comes to photos. In fact, I’m a big believer in the volume school of photography. Â Maybe you know it? It’s only become possible thanks to digital cameras. Volume school photographers know that the more photos you take, the higher the chances a few will come out alright. So I try to snap a bunch. Of course, it helps if you…
After yesterday’s look into the future, a glance at the past. These images of Lancaster County were adapted from 35mm slides, courtesy of Russ Glasson. Hex signs, as seen above, are commonly associated with Pennsylvania Dutch culture, though you won’t find them on Amish barns. These were apparently all taken in 1963. Â How different Lancaster County must have looked then. Â The county’s population has nearly…
Market stand businesses are particularly popular among Amish in Lancaster County. Amish owners are often able to earn enough during three days on-site, typically Thursday to Saturday, to make a decent living. Established Pennsylvania Dutch markets can be found within neighboring metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Other markets have appeared in recent years in less-populated areas.  The Markets at Shrewsbury, located in…
“It is very definitely a gray area, in fact it is nearly black.” An anonymous Amish friend from Lancaster County has offered candid answers to some questions on Amish life. In this first of two parts, he comments on topics such as the Amish presence in the media, Amish internet usage, friendships with non-Amish people, and the benefits and challenges of living life as an…