Gassing up the buggy

ByErik Wesner July 8, 2010November 4, 2010

The usual summer gas hikes have yet to materialize this year. But when they do, we’ll all be thinking how good the Amish must have it, right?

This shot from the Ethridge, Tennessee community is a little reminder that Amish use fossil fuels too.

It’s been a little light on blogging lately because I have been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work on the blog.

The blog will still be here but Amish America will be expanding in scope with some new additions that I hope will add a lot to the site experience. More to come.

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Amish Culture

Holmes County to host Amish Mud B-ball Tourney

ByErik Wesner April 1, 2011

23 Comments

I just got off the phone with an Amish friend, “Alvin”, from Holmes County. I like to call Alvin, a furniture maker, from time to time, to check up on things in Amish Ohio. The big news? March Madness, or I suppose the Plain equivalent, is apparently heading to Holmes County. I’ve written a number of times about Amish and sports. Sports and games are…

Amish Culture

15 Ways Amish Schools Differ From Public Schools

ByErik Wesner September 15, 2015December 18, 2015

24 Comments

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…

Amish Culture

Amish Group Known For Unusual Safety Triangles Expected To Add New Safety Enhancement

ByErik Wesner November 11, 2019March 3, 2020

11 Comments

Leaders of a sizeable Amish community in Ohio have accepted a new safety enhancement on their buggies. These are not the Swartzentruber Amish living in Ashland County (though that group has been open to buggy safety changes as well). A second group of Amish living near the city of Ashland are one of the more recognizable communities for their unusual safety-triangle design. Here’s a photo…

Amish Culture

The Amish and Halloween

ByErik Wesner October 31, 2010October 31, 2016

14 Comments

Do Amish celebrate Halloween? While Amish do grow a lot of the pumpkins that become the Jack-o-Lanterns adorning homes across the nation today, the Amish themselves do not have a tradition of carving or displaying their own. The most you might see are some uncarved pumpkins and gourds festively arranged at some homes (though I suppose that could just as easily fall under the category…

Amish Communities

The Amish at Arthur, Illinois (10 Photos)

ByErik Wesner September 8, 2011April 1, 2017

44 Comments

Alice Aber shares a pile of pics from a trip to the Arthur, Illinois Amish community. A special thanks to Alice; I think you’ll enjoy these photos: FavoritesThe 10 Biggest Amish Communities (2023) See Alice’s photos of the Roselen’s Amish coffee shop at Arthur. Read more on the Arthur Amish and Amish furniture in Illinois.

Amish Culture

Randall Persing Amish Photos

ByErik Wesner April 11, 2007September 19, 2023

3 Comments

Following up the great Amish photos from Bill Coleman last week, here is a new, no-less impressive batch from Randall Persing. Randy says that he feels fortunate to have developed friendships with the Amish. This also allows him to freely move about the community, attend events, and document Amish life. Like Bill Coleman, Randy has been able to photograph perhaps the most conservative of all…