In July we shared news that the smoke detector issue in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin had been resolved. Amish who did not wish to install smoke detectors were given the option of applying for a religious waiver, which also covered plumbing requirements. The exemption was signed into law by the governor in mid-July, and it seemed that the dispute, which had gone on for a…
The Slow Moving Vehicle triangle is just another part of the scenery in most Amish communities. The majority of Amish people willingly use the warning insignia and probably give it little thought. In most places they are such a standard part of the buggy’s appearance, that it is odd to see a vehicle without one. Some Amish object to the SMV sign however, on grounds including…
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…
The Amish have been around for over 300 years, with a history spanning both Europe and North America. Here are five important events in the story of the Amish. Source: Steven Nolt’s A History of the Amish. Five Landmark Events in Amish History These aren’t the only important dates in Amish history, of course. But these are among the most important happenings in the Amish…
Over the past week, gunshots were fired at two Amish homes in the community in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. There was also a third reported incident involving a school in the settlement. There’s not a lot of information in this article, but there are a few more details, including on a fragment of bullet found in between panes of glass in one home. Eau Claire…
Rumspringa is often exaggerated in the media, to be a wilder time than it is in reality for most Amish youth. But the fact is, some adolescents test limits during this transitional period, in ways others do not. Acquiring and illicitly owning a television set may seem like a light offense from an English perspective, but for Amish families, this can be a great concern. Jim Cates…
Reader Jerry often attends Amish auctions around the Keystone State. Today he shares an account and photos of an event which took place last month, a medical benefit for an injured Amishman. The community here is a Nebraska Amish group, a small affiliation traditionally considered among the most conservative (though there are more liberal factions within the larger group). There aren’t many Nebraska Amish settlements, but this…
What colors will you find in a “true” Amish quilt? When I attended Amish quilt expert Janneken Smucker’s presentation on the topic, I was surprised to learn that the use of color by Amish quilters was much more flexible than I’d assumed. These weren’t just the bold reds, blues and dark tones we often associate with Amish handiwork. Today Janneken explains how Amish quilters of another era incorporated popular…
What do members of Amish churches believe? Ohio Amish church member Rebecca Miller addresses that question below, with 20 belief statements of the Amish, along with Scriptural sources. Here’s Rebecca. Amish Beliefs This is a common question and quite complex to answer. So this list was compiled from “Tagliches Manna” (a daily devotional published and written by Amish and Old Order Mennonites) and other sources….
Don Burke today shares photos from a little visit to the Belle Rive/Opdyke, Illinois Amish community, taken last autumn. This is a small community in southern Illinois (Jefferson County), two church districts in size. As a state, Illinois ranks #10 in its total Amish population, which is dominated by the large Arthur settlement. Don gives you a tour around the settlement below. You can also think of it…