Nebraska Amish (ultraconservative group)

Following up 10 views of Lancaster County, here are 10 photos from another Pennsylvania Amish settlement. Big Valley, officially known as Kishacoquillas Valley, is home to the second-largest Amish community in Pennsylvania. Big Valley is located in Mifflin County in central PA.  Here you’ll find three distinct Amish groups–Nebraska Amish (white-top buggies), Renno Amish (black […]

Continue Reading 10 views of Big Valley, Pennsylvania

A grab-bag of thoughts and stories for the weekend.  Enjoy! Rhymemaster B “Full of action, traction and a lot of satisfaction.”  So replied Amishman “Rhymie Aaron” when asked how he was feeling.  “Rhymie Aaron” was the nickname of Aaron Beiler, who lived most his life in Lancaster County before passing away in 1964.  I recently came […]

Continue Reading Saturday brain dump: “Rhymie Aaron”, Big Valley Blues, and secrets of Amish heating

Just checking in having returned from Poland–feet planted firmly in the good old USA and enjoying the wonders of nacho cheese and air conditioning once again.  Other than that, am finishing up the final draft of the Amish business book among other things, which I’m afraid has made for slim pickings on the blog lately.  […]

Continue Reading Lancaster visit; Ohio Nebraska Amish

Nebraska Amish buggies are among the simplest.  In the photo you can notice the lack of a back window, the open front, and roll-up canvas sides.  The back canvas can also be opened and rolled up to let a nice breeze through.  The hook which you can see jutting out on the right (just above […]

Continue Reading Nebraska Amish buggy

Continue Reading Nebraska Amish schoolhouse

Big Valley, Pennsylvania is home to three main Amish groups–the Byler Amish, Renno Amish, and Nebraska Amish. They’re often known by the color of their buggies–yellow, black, and white, respectively. The somewhat fancy dash of a Byler Amish buggy.  Yes, those are keys hanging on the right.  You’ve got to start the horse somehow. Some […]

Continue Reading Comparing Big Valley buggy ‘dashboards’ of the Byler, Renno, and Nebraska Amish

From today’s Amish auction in Belleville, Pennsylvania.

Continue Reading Patiently waiting

Across America in places where the Amish have set up shop, local businesses and government authorities have had to adapt some practices to accommodate the preferred Amish transportation. Traffic Jam off County Road 77 in Holmes County, Ohio Sometimes an Amish group showing up in an area can lead to disputes with locals over horse […]

Continue Reading Buggy-friendly America

Many people have seen photos of the fairly well-known ‘white-top buggy’ Amish.  This group is based mainly in Pennsylvania’s diverse Big Valley region.  They are most commonly known as the Nebraska Amish, named after a Nebraska-based bishop who helped the group get started in the late 1800’s .  Referred to by Steven Nolt as ‘the […]

Continue Reading Ohio’s “Nebraska” Amish (Andover, OH)

Diversity in the Amish world is a common theme of this blog.  Ever wonder how different Amish groups use technology? Judging by the chart, it can be seen that the most conservative groups include the Swartzentruber Amish, Nebraska Amish, and the Buchanan County, Iowa Amish (the three of which Amish historian Steven Nolt groups together […]

Continue Reading Amish Technology Use in Different Groups