Pennsylvania Amish

One of the more remarkable interactions between Amish and civic society occurs in Lancaster County, in the form of Amish and other Plain People volunteering, at a quite high level, on local fire crews. This article details that involvement, as well as Plain participation as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).  These aren’t just a few token […]

Continue Reading Do you volunteer?

My friend Mose Smucker was in the news over the weekend. Mose is an Amish father of 8 (and grandfather of more) who currently runs a meat shop and sandwich stand at bustling Reading Terminal Market in downtown Philadelphia (grab a sandwich from Mose if you’re ever in the neighborhood, if he’s not around his daughters […]

Continue Reading Mose Smucker on being Amish in public

I got back from Pennsylvania over the weekend and have been trying to get caught up here.  Maybe I am getting old but I always feel like I need to sleep for 2 days after these trips! Apologies to anyone who came looking for Friday’s post, which didn’t make it up in the hurry. We’ll […]

Continue Reading Amish Photos – Lancaster County

So far: Seeing the Christian Aid meatpacking operation in action. A mobile canning station in a converted tractor trailer travels across North America (13 states and 2 provinces, I was told) stopping in communities (often Plain) where volunteers contribute labor and supplies to prepare and can meat for humanitarian aid purposes. The program has heavy […]

Continue Reading Lancaster Amish Highlights

The horse and buggy is the obvious transportation icon of the Amish but the scooter must be the runner up. Though not all Amish use them they are the classic horseless vehicle among the Amish in Lancaster County (where bikes are not really seen) and a number of other communities. Scooters were big a few […]

Continue Reading The Amish Scooter

If you’re in the vicinity of Kutztown University in Berks Co, PA next Wednesday, you might enjoy this: Comparing the Old Orders Featuring James Weaver & Benuel Riehl Wednesday, February 22 · 5 p.m.· Academic Forum – Room 200 (signage will be posted) James Weaver, a member of the Old Order Mennonite community and Benuel […]

Continue Reading Comparing Old Order Amish and Mennonites

I recently heard that a number of Amish in the Lancaster County community have begun using regular electric washers (like any English home might have, except powered by the diesel generator). With the widely-used wringer washers (ie, the old Maytag style), the clothes are still pretty wet when you finish.  Using a regular washer, the […]

Continue Reading Amish and electric washers

The New Wilmington, PA Amish community numbers 19 church districts, and around 2,500 souls. It is quite a recognizable group by its brown-top buggies and powder-blue doors on everything from homes to schools to milkhouses. I thought I’d share a few photos you might enjoy from last summer’s visit. Which one makes you miss summer […]

Continue Reading 10 views of the New Wilmington PA Amish

This photo was taken in the New Wilmington PA Amish settlement. I’ve mentioned before how I’m no big fan of cell phones.  That said, they sure are handy to have on hand when you actually need to talk to someone. The pay phone is one of those things, like the roadside diner and the family […]

Continue Reading When was the last time you used a pay phone?

Using a Kindle to post for most of the past week meant I couldn’t upload photos. Here are a few I’d like to have included, mostly from Lancaster County.  It was an overcast week, or at least it seemed to be whenever I pulled out my camera. There’s a story behind each of these photos, […]

Continue Reading The missing photos