Inside An English-Built, Amish-Owned Brick Ranch Home (17 Photos)
If you drove by this home and this is what you saw, would you think it was Amish?
How about if you drove down the lane and came upon this view?
This home in the New Wilmington Amish community is described at its realtor.com listing as “English built – Amish Owned”. From both the outside and inside, many elements show us that this was not originally an Amish home. Next to nothing in the above photos suggests “Amish” (perhaps the absence of satellite dishes or visible electric lines might be the only thing). But those Amish who converted it added plenty inside the home to make it “Amish-friendly”, as we can see in today’s photo set.
The listing description gives details of interest:
3 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. Family room on the lower level and plenty of storage. Hardwood floors throughout the home. Home is heated with wood or coal in the included wood stove. Option also for oil heat. There is a porch and patio that will make enjoying the wooded view a pleasure. A cinder block barn with horse stalls and shed make storing your equipment a breeze. Integral garage with included opener.
And especially:
The house has electric throughout most of the home, except for two rooms, and there is plumbing throughout the home. Running water through the home currently via small gas motor to pump. These amenities were not being used. The bathrooms will need final touches.
The electric installation was left in when purchased by the Amish owners. The two rooms which don’t have electric perhaps were additions? There is also plumbing in the home. But we learn that “these amenities were not being used”. Bathrooms require “final touches”, though no photos of those bathrooms are included. Here you can see an electrical outlet and water pipes:
Another angle on the kitchen showing the sink better.
Cozy living area.
Heating stove with a full bucket of coal ready to go.
I suspect this could be one of the possible addition rooms, going by its feel. What do you think?
Two of the bedrooms. Nice quilts. I’m partial to the purple and blue tones in Amish quilts and fabrics.
Mini trampoline below the crib.
Let’s have a look downstairs in the basement.
Characteristic light greenish-blue tones show up in some furniture pieces in this home. You can see similar-colored cabinetry in this New Wilmington “granddaughter” settlement home.
And outside again, showing the lot:
And horse barn. The price of this English-built, Amish-converted ranch home?
While the listed estimate today is much higher, it was sold in October 2020 for just $65,000.
White curtains
Having been in many Amish homes over the years seeing white curtains instead of the more traditional blue or black, makes it look less Amish in my estimation. Years ago there was talk in the community about when there were white curtains in the windows, it meant they had a daughter that was old enough to marry. When I asked my ex Amish friends about said tradition, she laughed and said, white is what the bishop allowed! The white curtains make the house look more cheerful. 🙂
Related to your topic Terry, one thing that caught my attention in this home was the variety of window shapes and sizes. I count 4 or 5 different sizes here. That’s another thing along with the detail that two rooms are not wired for electric that made me think the home was added on to.
I think the darker curtains do make it look more like a plainer Amish home. In the bedrooms of one Amish friend they have the pull-down roller style “curtain”.
Running water
We have Amish relatives living in Texas. They moved here because of the climate and cousin’s arthritis, I think.
They have running water in kitchen and bath powered by a windmill. I don’t think the Amish have anything against running water.
Have a blessed day.
Interesting, so they would be in Bee County? And yes most Amish homes do have standard plumbing and water but some do not.
Inside an English-Built, Amish-Owned Brick Ranch Home
Every Amish person we know in our area (central Illinois) has running water.
Of course none of them that live within Amish built homes have electricity. We’re aware of Amish that live in English built homes that do not utilize the electricity. However, we have one acquaintance that’s shared when she was younger her family lived in an English built home, and they did use the electricity which surprised me.
I’m with you regarding the purples and blues. Gorgeous!!! We do have several predominately blue Amish quilts and are considering having a purple and green one made.
It’s an interesting quirk but sometimes they do use the electricity for awhile if they buy an English home, with the understanding that after some time will remove it. Did your acquaintance say if that was just a temporary situation?
Inside an English-Built, Amish-Owned Brick Ranch Home
She’d shared they lived there for a few years and utilized it the entire time. Their attitude was “it’s here so why not use it.” Also worth note is that the family was/is Old Order Amish. Interesting don’t you think?
Building a house
Hi again,
Amish friends were building a new house and said that when the inspector stopped in they were encouraged to wire the house. If they were to ever sell it, Amish as well as English would maybe be interested. They did not wire the house due to the expense. They did end up selling the house some years later and relocated to northern Minnesota. If they said who bought the property I’ve forgotten.