I’m happy to introduce Jim Cates, author of Serving the Amish: A Cultural Guide for Professionals, as a new contributor here at Amish America. I know many of us enjoyed reading about Jim’s experiences working with the Amish as a clinical psychologist. You’ll be able to read Jim’s writings here regularly now, in upcoming posts on topics including non-resistance, women’s issues, and the Amish family. But, to start at…
The Geauga Amish Historical Library recently opened in the heart of America’s fourth-largest Amish settlement, in the town of Middlefield, Ohio. John Gingerich is the only non-Amish member of the five-person board, which by default also makes him the library’s internet liaison. You might remember seeing John on this site a few years ago discussing his translation of History of the Bernese Anabaptists. John, who is of Amish…
An Amishman in Custer County, Colorado is seeking a permit to build a commercial dog breeding facility. Animal welfare activists are speaking out against the idea, fearing the planned business to be a “puppy mill“. Amish have received a lot of bad press for some egregious cases involving members of Amish churches. This has helped foster a perception that the Amish do not treat their animals…
In another example of Amish taking a public stand, over 100 Amishmen occupied the Cashton, Wisconsin village hall to register opposition to high-voltage power lines potentially cutting through their community. From the LaCrosse Tribune: Wisconsin’s top utility regulator heard dozens of people explain why they don’t want or need high-voltage power lines running through a community that is home to the state’s largest Amish population and wind turbines…
Sometimes small details make a world of difference. In today’s guest post, David Arment of armentphoto.com tells the story of a favorite photo. — Perry Miller was in the gallery and he saw the picture of the Amish buggy in the snow. The picture is “black and white” with a fence row down each side of the picture taking your eye to the Amish buggy…
Sarasota Magazine is featuring photos of a tiny bungalow that’s just gone up for sale in the Sarasota-area neighborhood of Pinecraft, popular with Amish and Mennonite vacationers and retirees from around the country. The magazine says this is “unusual as most are sold to friends and neighbors, unadvertised.” You’ll see a couple of photos below, and more at the link. Below, the exterior shot. The 2-bedroom, 1-bath property…
A reader just shared this delightful video of Amish schoolchildren singing for the Ohio House of Representatives in November. In the video you’ll see and hear Marvin Wengerd speaking on behalf of the Amish. Before singing begins, Marvin holds up a 2015 Ohio Amish Directory and addresses the House: “On behalf of the 32,262 people, Amish people in this directory, we want to thank you for allowing us…
A fitness coach with connections to the Amish has put together a list of four things the Amish do – which she says make for a healthier life. Now, sometimes “learn from the Amish” media pieces idealize the Amish – and gloss over nuance. But at the least, I think each of these ideas has a good basis. And “health” of course can have a…
In more turbulent times, Amish parents have been fined, pressured, and even arrested, all in defense of their preferred manner of schooling. The Wisconsin v. Yoder decision of 1972 helped preserve Amish control over classroom education, leading to hundreds of Amish schools across North America. Regulations and Guidelines for Amish Parochial Schools of Indiana shows how seriously Amish take their hard-won schooling privileges today. The booklet, seen below in…
Chances are you’ve read a book or two to try to better understand the Amish. In today’s post, Richard Stevick shares his experiences with the people who write those books, starting with John Hostetler, through some of today’s authors. — Growing up in a working class community and in a family from which nobody had ever gone to college, I never imagined that I would write a book,…