Several years back Amish in Illinois made news when they moved the state’s oldest-known Amish home using horsepower (that is, at least part of the way):
This was originally the home of an Amishman named Moses Yoder, and dates to 1865.
Image: illinoisamish.org
The Moses Yoder house is joined by a second historic home, the Daniel Schrock house (1882), as a focus of preservation efforts in the state’s largest Amish community.
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center‘s website notes that the Daniel Schrock house (pictured below) “has unusual two-story porches typical of Somerset County in Pennsylvania where Schrock immigrated from.”
Image: illinoisamish.org
The homes are a part of the Center’s efforts in establishing its new location (this was formerly the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center and has experienced a couple of moves). You can see the progress made with the restored homes in this panoramic shot:
Image: illinoisamish.org
They have a conceptual plan for the center on the website. Interestingly, a third, even older house, appears on this schematic: the “1850s Helmuth House”.
Image: illinoisamish.org
It looks like they’ve made some pretty good progress. More here.
Other Historic Amish Homes
In learning more about the Illinois preservation efforts, several other historic Amish homes came to mind. First is the Nicholas Stoltzfus homestead, which bears the name of the forefather of around one million living descendants, including the vast majority of Lancaster Amish.
A second, also in southeastern PA, is the Zook House, originally home of Moritz Zug. This home served as “a haven for Amish and Mennonite travelers who were migrating westward to Lancaster County and Ohio.”
I suppose we could also mention the site of the home of “White” Jonas Stutzman, the first Amish settler in Holmes County, Ohio. However, that log home I am fairly sure no longer exists. At the original site, on which is located a more recently-built Amish home, you’ll find a historic marker.
Are there other historic Amish homes out there that I’m missing?
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Arthur Illinois community
Interestingly, we were in this area last fall. Unfortunately, they did not yet have the new interpretive center open. However, we did go to a group luncheon at a Schrock family in the area. We were able to have a nice conversation with both the Schrocks, who I think appreciated our interest. We especially enjoyed talking to Mr. Schrock, who answered many questions. I asked him a question which had been bugging me for quite a while. The Schrocks have running water (as do most in this community). I asked how they pumped it, explaining that our home has an electric pump and our motorhome has a battery-driven pump. Obviously neither would work in an Amish community with deep wells. Well, he said, we have a pneumatic pump. We run the diesel for a while in the morning to fill the air tank and that can run the pump all day. We discussed a few things about how our motorhome handles being off grid, and Mr. Schrock thoroughly enjoyed that conversation, seeing how some things are similar to the Amish way and others are not. Mrs. Schrock showed us her buggy. The one thing that caught my attention is that the metal wheels also had rubber rims. She said that it made the ride smoother and quieter. I assume it also helped keep the roads in better condition. I wonder if that was done at the request of the local government.
Another interesting thing was there were two Amish families staying in travel trailers at the state park campground where we stayed while in the area. I teased one of the men about how I would have loved to see how many horses were required to haul that out to the campground. He laughed and said that an English friend used his pickup to deliver it to the campground, I then asked him if he rented the trailer. He said, no, it was his father-in-law’s trailer. I asked if his father-in-law was not Amish. He said, no, he’s Amish. He did say that the only reason they hooked up to electricity was to keep the batteries charged (typical of RVs). They did not use any AC appliances like the air conditioner, microwave or TV. Also, it turns out that the second Amish family was his first cousin, and they didn’t even know they were there until they walked over to the other campground loop. The other trailer was owned by the two grown sons of the man and his wife. So, obviously RV ownership must be OK in this community.
Amish Homes
There is also John S. Yoder home in Sugarcreek. This would be my 2nd Great grandfather. Mose Yoder is also my 2nd. Great grandfather.
Marcus Yoder
Amish Homes
Marcus That is interesting because John S. Yoder and Moses Yoder are also my Great grandfathers.
Amish Homes
Meant to say 2nd Great grandfathers
By us in Europe
Daniel Schrock’s house reminds me of the style of houses we have in the south of Alsace, in the Black Forest (Germany) and in the northwest of Switzerland with their balconies on the side of the house and on two floors. Otherwise, the balconies are also on the front gable of the house. But with us the walls are half-timbered and in some corners of Switzerland in straight logs and not rounded like at in America.
Erik, I have a little history that I wrote, of one of the houses belonging to two Amish “Heftler” characters well known in Alsace. If this interests you? …
Moving
After hearing my Nephew’s stories of helping the Amish move buildings, the video makes me appreciate it more. Gosh, what could go wrong? People dodging in and out underneath? The house with porches was even a bit off center to balance the lighter areas. Those beautiful horses proved they could do the job in a pinch.
Amish Homes
Noah Yoder my dad was Enos Yoder, his parents were Noah C. Yoder and Eliza Yoder. Noah Yoder was a grandchild of John S. Yoder. Eliza was a grandchild of Mose Yoder. Noah’s father was Christian Yoder. Eliza’s father was Jeremiah Yoder.
Marcus Yoder
Amish Homes
Marcus Yoder, My mother was Maryann Yoder, her dad was John C. Yoder a brother to your grandfather Noah C. Yoder. My great grandfather was Joseph M. Yoder. a brother to your great grandfather Jeremiah Yoder. I live in Arthur,Il and I most your relatives that live in Illinois.
Amish Homes
We have a Noah C. Yoder reunion scheduled this July in Arthur but it has been cancelled. John S. Yoder was Christian Yoder’s father in law. There is also a Conestoga wagon at the Amish Mennonite Heritage center in Holmes County, Ohio that Christian Yoder and his sister Barbara came from Pa. to Ohio
Marcus Yoder