Male teachers are a rarity in the Amish school. Primarily an occupation for young unmarried women, one father, ‘Robert’, estimated that there were only about a half-dozen male teachers in the Holmes County vicinity, out of approximately 170 one-room schools. A quick count in the 2005 church directory actually turned up closer to 20, but with many schools having more than one teacher, males still…
Last night there was a frolic at ‘Ivan’s’. Ivan is a jolly father of six and one of my favorite people to spend time with here in Holmes County, Ohio. If he were southern, we might call Ivan a ‘good ole boy’. Always a blast to hang out with. When he flashes his trademark grin at you, you know he’s up to something. So I…
Sitting on the lawn around the firepit last week with some Amish friends, talk turned to ‘White’ Jonas Stutzman, who once lived just a few miles away. Stutzman was one of the first Amish settlers in Holmes County. He was also one of the oddest. photo: behalt.com ‘White’ Jonas is portrayed in a local attraction, Behalt–a huge cycloramic painting of Anabaptist history, done about fifteen…
I really enjoyed church service today. This is the second weekend in a row I’ve gone with this group. Church in any particular district is normally held bi-weekly, the two consecutive Sundays in this case being due to a special situation. Many Amish are conscious of the differences that exist among their own people. I spent some time discussing this with church members today. Very…
WHEN I was in college, I read a book by Sherwood Anderson called Winesburg, Ohio. I remember it as a mostly downbeat collection of vignettes of small town life. As I recall it was firmly entrenched in the university Lit canon. Inspired Hemingway or something like that. This is not that Winesburg. Anderson’s town was fictional. The real Winesburg, Ohio also happens to be a…
I just sat down this evening with a beaming blacksmith, a new father of his first little boy after many girls. I’m doing interviews for a research project/book on Amish businesses. ‘Eli’, my seventh stop of the day, graciously shared his wisdom with me. After our short talk I flipped off the voice recorder and we continued chatting over a 9pm black coffee (I’ve noticed…
I have a friend here in the Amish settlement at Holmes County. He’s relied on a wheelchair for some years. Whenever I stop by ‘Aden’s’,I get a fresh dose of perspective. I don’t think I know a more positive person. ‘We have so much’ Aden tells me. ‘You can’t walk’, I think to myself. ‘How can you be this upbeat about life?’ Aden makes a…
I’d actually planned to post this photo today anyway. As I drove to an appointment this morning I came upon a slowdown on Highway 39, the main thoroughfare through Holmes County. Turns out it was caused by a head-on car-buggy collision. The remnants were still in view by the roadside. As I arrived at my 9 am meeting at the home of an Amish business…
Amish, at least the ones I run into, always seem to like sharing. Besides the stick-to-your-ribs meals and cool drinks of water, I always seem to be getting takeaways from Amish friends–homemade wine, books,gourds, inspirational CDs for the car. Yesterday’s haul comes in the middle of canning season, following a bumper crop of tomatoes–a jar each of homemade ketchup and salsa. ‘Ervin’, my friend and…
My two-month excursion in Lancaster County is over. I’m back in Ohio now. Lancaster was a fantastic experience but now that I’m back here, I’m reminding myself why Holmes County is perhaps my favorite of all Amish settlements. Holmes County is more diverse, (much) more rural, arguably a smidgen more beautiful, and I guess I just have known more people here for longer so that…