Wisconsin Amish

Wisconsin Amish won’t play games to avoid smoke detector fines, possible eviction

ByErik Wesner
20 Comments

A conflict over smoke detectors and building permits is unfolding in an Amish community in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.  From the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram: Four cases involving a conflict between traditional Amish ways — particularly when it comes to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors — and modern society are slated for a scheduling conference at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday before Judge Kristina Bourget. The crux of…

Amish teen drowns cutting ice

ByErik Wesner
17 Comments

Over the weekend an Amish teen in Vernon County, Wisconsin died while cutting ice. In light of today’s topic of Amish and self-sufficiency, it seems tragically coincidental to now hear of an accident like this one. In more conservative communities, Amish use ice houses to keep food cold.  In cold-weather areas Amish harvest their own ice.  In some sense these Amish are further along the…

Amish Quilts in Wisconsin

ByErik Wesner
12 Comments

Amish quilts in a shop in Monroe County, Wisconsin. Natural light, no bulbs, means this is in all likelihood an Amish-operated shop, though I don’t know which one.  The settlement in Monroe County (Wilton/Tomah area) is one of the largest in the state, at 8 church districts. I quite like this photo.  Quilts will come in handy soon in much of the country, if not…

|

National Geographic Amish specials–another look

ByErik Wesner
32 Comments

Since I’ve been back in the US I’ve finally had a chance to watch the National Geographic Amish specials (on ex-Amish, and Amish courtship and marriage) in full. You may recall a couple of posts on these last fall: Leaving the Amish and Amish dating.  I didn’t comment too much at the time, having only seen the short excerpts available online. Leaving other issues aside, I found…

|

The ex-Amish community

ByErik Wesner
85 Comments

Why do people leave the Amish? Charles Hurst and David McConnell identify two main reasons in An Amish Paradox, their study of the Amish in Holmes County, Ohio.  According to the authors, these are “the desire for fewer lifestyle restrictions”, and “the desire for a more intense religious experience.” Ex-Amish have created a number of venues which provide support to former members. The Former Amish…

|

Leaving the Amish

ByErik Wesner
126 Comments

“It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff with nothing but darkness…you don’t know what’s down there.  But you just know you’re gonna jump.” National Geographic is currently airing “Amish: Out of the Order”, a program about leaving the Amish.  I’ve posted a clip below.  Curious to hear your comments. I’ll make two of my own:  it’s not made clear, at least in this…

Wisconsin Amish barn-raising

Byerik
9 Comments

This recent barn-raising shot was sent in by a reader living near a Wisconsin Amish community.  In the accompanying story in the Westby Times, an Amish old-timer explains some of the ins-and-outs of barn-raising, including this interesting technical detail: ‘Yoder added that it is customary for families involved in a barn raising to provide a dish to pass at lunch, but it is the responsibility of the family…

Amish growing like mushrooms after a rain shower

ByErik Wesner
13 Comments

An AP story has just hit the wire on population growth among the Amish.  This coincides with the release of additional information on trends in Amish growth and migration from here at the Young Center. The Amish studies site now lists trend data for the 1992 to 2008 period as well as the 2007 to 2008 one-year trend. The most surprising statistic:  according to the…

|

The sporting Amishman

Byerik
4 Comments

A quick diversion from the middle of a pile of Lancaster posts (I’ve left Abe’s and am currently en route to Poland, but managed to file a few away while on the farm)… Eric shares an interesting photo of a Wisconsin Amish teenage fisherman. The two boys Eric spoke with were out all day on a local lake.  This shot was taken while they made…

|

Reader photos and links

Byerik
1 Comment

I’ve been getting some interesting photos and information from you guys and am really enjoying it–keep it coming! On the ongoing topic of Amish phone booths, here is a photo of one from a Wisconsin Amish community, sent in by Eric: Eric says that phone booths in his area of Wisconsin tend to be larger than ones in places like Pennsylvania, with room for a…