Several years ago we hosted a giveaway for the book Northkill, based on the Jacob Hochstetler massacre, famous in Amish lore. Authors Bob Hostetler and J.M. Hochstetler have returned with the conclusion to that story, The Return. I hope you enjoy today’s interview with Bob and Joan, in which they explain why this story is important to Amish and Mennonites, the historical basis of The Return, and…
David and Emily (no last name given) are an Amish couple living in the Holmes County, Ohio settlement. In 2006, they sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey, and made a claim that surprised the famous talk show host. Asked if they are content, David replies, “one hundred percent.” “That is one of the nicest feelings,” Emily adds, without hesitation. “I don’t know anybody, who’s…
When reading of the Amish buggy accidents that seem to happen so frequently (a second Amish woman died Wednesday following last week’s accident in Ashland County, Ohio), my thoughts eventually but inevitably go to the vehicle driver. Hard to fathom what it must be like to have someone’s soul on your conscience, even in a situation where you’re not at fault. Of course, if it turns out drugs…
Why are we fascinated by stories of people both joining – and leaving – the Amish? Over the ten years I’ve run this website, stories on those topics have consistently gotten a lot of attention here. We could point to several reasons. For one, I believe entering or exiting a community with firm boundaries contains its own built-in potential for drama. Amish-born writers like Ira Wagler and Saloma Furlong have penned memoirs revealing the pain…
Samuel Girod’s federal trial began this week. The Kentucky Amish farmer made and sold several homemade products, some of which suggested bold curative properties, in a business running for over 20 years. These include a “black salve” called “To-Mor-Gone” (with a sales pamphlet claiming it to be “very good at removing tumors”), and a “Chickweed Salve” which had the words “Cures Cancer” on the container. This WKYT article summarizes…
Where have the Amish been settling lately? How rapidly are they growing? Where are the Amish “hot spots” on the map? Over the past half-decade or so, the Amish have boosted their presence on the US (and world) map by adding communities in new, often never-before-settled places. These include four new states (Vermont, South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho), a pair of Canadian provinces (New Brunswick and Prince Edward…
Levi Shetler is a member of the conservative Swartzentruber Amish. This group is known for a very low-tech lifestyle. Even other Amish comment on the austerity of their lives and aversion to technology. Last month, Shetler’s buggy was hit by a vehicle in his northeastern Ohio community, resulting in the death of a passenger. As it turns out, this is the 54-year-old Amishman’s 14th buggy accident….
On my recent trip to the Amish community in Lancaster County, I had a chance to visit with Freida Stoltzfus, creator and editor of a new publication called Rainbows and Sunshine. Today I’ll share a bit about that visit, some words from Freida, and then you’ll have a chance to enter to win a year’s subscription (to enter, simply leave a comment on this post)….
Don Burke shares some photos from a visit to the Amish community at Canton, Missouri (Lewis County). This nearly four-decade-old settlement was three church districts in size as of last year (2023). Canton is one of many Amish places in the Show-Me State. Today Amish live in over 60 locations in Missouri. These photos were actually taken in early 2015. I hope you enjoy this…
A fun culinary event enjoyed by Amish youth at Belle Center, Ohio, is the “mystery supper”. Participants receive a menu of creatively-named items to riddle through, and have a time limit in which to make their picks for each of three courses. Guess poorly, and you can end up with, for example, only utensils and water for one of your courses. A few years ago, Belle Center…