In today’s Slice of Amish Life, an Amishman approaches the End Of The Commons General Store in the Geauga County, Ohio community, with what looks like his daughter in tow.

This is not an Amish business, and has more of a touristic feel. But I would suppose it’s one that Amish living nearby would visit as well. It is in fact the oldest general store in the state.

It’s located in the township of Mesopotamia, one of my favorite place names in Amish communities (“Mespo” for short). Here’s a wider view shot from the store’s website:

The township carries a historically grand name, and The Commons is a historically significant area. The photographer, Jack Pearce, provides some background:

The center of Mesopotamia, better known as The Commons, is surrounded by 28 buildings, 21 of them built before the Civil War and included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The End of the Commons General Store, the oldest general store in the state of Ohio, has been in continuous operation since the 1840s, sits at the south end of the town’s center. Today this area is part of the fourth largest Amish settlement in the country and the second largest in Ohio.

Across from the General Store on the east side of the Commons sits the worlds’s largest Amish horse and buggy which stands 14′ high and 32′ long.

Photo by Jack Pearce/flickr (cropped image)

We see the store advertises penny candy, popcorn, and other goodies. A quick stop for a treat for a little Amish girl?

Update: two shots of the giant wooden buggy on The Commons, also courtesy of Jack Pearce (photo 1|photo 2):

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