WE ABSOLUTELY OFFER YOU MORE 7 DIFFERENT ROUTES, MORE MILES, MORE SCENERY. ALL IN THE COUNTRY in ALL AMISH AREA
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Visit a real Amish farm. Get off and see the cows and Clydesdale work horses.
Tours & Pricing “The Cookie Run” Adults $10 Child $6 A 3 Plus Mile Thru an Amish Farm, with a Brief Stop for Drinks and Cookies. Feel the Country. (20-25 minutes) *Coupon
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Child $6
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Child $11
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Visit us first! Here’s what you can see and visit! • Amish Schools • Quilt Shops • Harness Shop • Amish Shoe Store
• Amish Farm Stands • Amish Horse Dealer • Amish Butcher Shop • Amish Buggy Factory
10% OFF Our Cookie Run Ride Expires August 31, 2013 Coupon Valid on Cookie Run Ride Only.
• Amish Hat Shop • Furniture Shops • Amish Grocery Store • Amish Bakery
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Plain & Fancy Farm 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike Ronks PA 17572
Visit a Real Amish Farm. Tour the Barn. See the Cows and Big Clydesdale Horses. America The Way It Used to Be. (50-60 minutes). Our Customer Preferred Ride!
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DUTCH HAVEN W hile driving along Route 30 in Lancaster County, you may see both familiar and unexpected sights. Certainly the Plain folk and their horse and buggy transportation will seem a step back in time. But one unique and unmistakable landmark is the Dutch Haven windmill. Its revolving arms have been drawing thousands of visitors each week ever since it first opened as a restaurant back in 1946. And while hungry visitors could satisfy themselves on any number of Penn Dutch specialties, it was Dutch Haven’s shoo fly pie that put it on the map…and in the record books as “America’s Best Shoo Fly Pie.” This is undisputedly Amish Country’s most famous dessert, and all you have to do is walk through the door at Dutch Haven to be offered a sample taste of this amazing treat, warmed and topped with whipped cream, just as it was served in the restaurant all those years ago.
T-Shirts
AMISH COUNTRY LANDMARK
Made with a secret recipe, some 40,000 pies are sold in the store or shipped via UPS all over the USA. Indeed, so popular and delicious are the pies that some faithful customers have been buying them for over 50 years!
The pie that was featured in TIME magazine still plays a feature role at Dutch Haven. But the windmill building is now home to an amazing selection of over 10,000 items. One of the area’s best selections of primitive Amish furniture includes
Souvenirs
corner cupboards, pie safes, chests, and shelves. Woodcrafts, souvenirs and collectibles of all kinds fill the former dining rooms. Also on the shopper’s menu would be everything from spice mats and Amish dolls to jams, jellies, and local honey. Who can resist buying a T-shirt, or maybe a bonnet or Amish felt hat. If you grow tired looking at all of the Dutch Haven gift items, relax in one of the Troutman Rocking Chairs, from the oldest rocking chair company in America. Also deserving of a trip home in your car are the colorful and decorative hex signs, a perfect reminder of a visit to Dutch Country. Dutch Haven is open seven days a week, 9am9pm. For more information about this Lancaster County landmark, call (717) 687-0111 or go to dutchhaven.com. A visit to Dutch Haven, “the place that made shoo fly pie famous,” will make your trip to Amish Country even more memorable…and tasty!
Hex Signs AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 3
Beverly Lewis'
The onfession Musical
Beverly Lewis’ Hit Musical
in its Final Weeks on the Bird-in-Hand Stage! Confession and The Reckoning. It’s clear why the Lancaster County native has been proclaimed “the queen of [Amish fiction]” by USA Today.
Special to Amish Country News
“’The Confession’ is a touching Amish love story and a keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat mystery, all wrapped up in one,” explains the musical’s director Wally Nason. “Men and women alike are eager to find out what happens.” As one theatergoer said, “It’s the right touch of humor with a message.” Lancaster Sunday News agreed that its “ready-for-prime-time voices…promise a happy ending and deliver.”
S
ince opening in the fall of 2011, more than 45,000 theatergoers have laughed, cried and left inspired by Beverly Lewis’ Amish love story, “The Confession” at the Bird-inHand Stage. With a host of sellout performances already on the books, the hit musical will close August 24.
The captivating story of a young Amish woman caught in the middle of secrets and scandal, “The Confession” shares a tale of love lost and found and personal heartache and healing. Pulling its story line from three books written by New York Times bestselling author Beverly Lewis, “The Confession” musical weaves the lives of characters she first introduced in The Shunning, The
"The Confession" musical takes its audiences into Beverly Lewis' stories of Hickory Hollow, a fictional Lancaster County town.
4 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
With the laughter that ensues when a New York actress tries to play a “Plain” woman and the emotions experienced when lies are uncovered and truth revealed, “The Confession” takes its audiences on a roller coaster of highs and lows as the Plain, the not-so-plain and the outright extravagant all meet.
Beverly Lewis’ book was adapted for stage by veteran writer Martha Bolton, who is best known for her work as a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan and with Bob Hope and Christian comedians Mark Lowry and Chonda Pierce. Nashville musician Wally Nason wrote the show’s soaring melodies, inspiring lyrics and directs the performance. Nashville-based Dan Posthuma produced the show. The Bird-in-Hand Stage is located on the lower level of the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord. “We couldn’t have christened our new Bird-inHand Stage with a better show,” said Bird-inHand Corporation’s co-owner John Smucker. “It’s proven to be a great way to introduce guests to our Amish neighbors and the lives they lead. ‘The Confession’ has given us a whole new way to entertain visitors to Lancaster County and tell the Anabaptist story.” “The Confession” musical first opened in 2010 at Blue Gate Theater in Shipshewana, Indiana. It premiered in June 2012 at a third venue at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
Banquets in a Cornfield, Too
T
he Smucker family built Bird-in-Hand Corporation’s fine reputation by steeping its restaurant, bakery, inns, motels and campgrounds in authentic Amish and Mennonite recipes and traditions handed down for generations. Two years ago they introduced a new, unforgettable experience: Banquets in a Cornfield on co-owner John and Myrna Smucker’s farm. Each evening begins with a hayride to their farm where they’ll treat you to barbecue chicken, freshly picked corn on the cob, shortcake with fresh berries, whoopie pies and more. The nights will close with an opportunity for you and your family to gather informally on hay bales around the Smucker’s fire pit. Seats are still available for Cornfield Banquets August 8, 15 and 22—but you need to act fast. Lock in your reservations by
contacting Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord at 717-768-1500. Tickets, including tax and gratuity, are $39.95 per person for adults, $24.95 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are free.
Tickets to “The Confession” are $33
Pre- and post-performance meal packages are $45 to $51
Tickets and meal packages may be purchased online at www.Bird-in-Hand.com or by phone at (800) 790-4069
Pictured Left: Bestselling author Beverly Lewis (fifth from left) joins "The Confession" musical cast.
Lodging packages also available
FINAL DAYS!
An Amish Love Story
Mar. 27-Aug. 24 hit musical Back by popular demand, the bestselling es adaptation of New York Tim ogy! author Beverly Lewis’ Amish tril with heartfelt Blending foot-stomping music ry line, ballads, it pulls its uplifting sto lyrics from soaring melodies and inspiring The Shunning, characters she introduced in ning. The Confession and The Recko
2760 Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) Bird-in-Hand • (717) 768-1500
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$2 Off Any Adult Dinner Smorgasbord Mon.-Thurs. Nights Only, 4-7:30 pm
Tickets $33 es available nch and dinner packag
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AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 5
Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop, An Education in Pies by Clinton Martin
T
o understand PA Dutch foods, you’ve got to know a little PA Dutch folklore. Food and folklore are so intertwined that polishing off a few whoopie pies, or slicing into a wet-bottom shoo-fly pie simply isn’t fully appreciated without some knowledge of the heritage of the foods. Today, PA Dutch cooking is closely associated with the Amish, though there are many groups that collectively make up the Pennsylvania Dutch (German) people.
However, whether “Plain” or “Fancy,” the Pennsylvania Dutch have been known as a hard working industrious people from the day they arrived in America. As the saying goes, “Them that works hard, eats hearty,” and the Amish table is traditionally topped with some of the heartiest dishes you’ll find anywhere. It is surprising to some visitors that regardless of the time of year or time of day, pies are a critical part of the PA Dutch table. There are pies for breakfast. Pies for lunch. Pies for dinner, and you guessed it… there may well be pies for a snack.
Whether it's pies, cookies, whoopies, or even cheese bread, the Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop delights both locals and visitors. With pies appearing on an Amish table throughout the day, you might expect that Amish bakeries are pretty skilled at preparing the delicious treats – and are you ever on the mark! One of the area’s most storied bakeries, now in its third generation of family ownership, is the Birdin-Hand Bake Shop on Gibbons Road. Just a little off the beaten path, yet easy enough to find, the “Bake Shop” as it is affectionately called by locals is famous not only for the traditional wetbottom shoo-fly pie, but also for its tasty fruit and nut pies in dozens of flavors and varieties, including both low-fat/no-sugar versions. The Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop truly enjoys welcoming visitors, and the “Plain” ladies that work the ovens and knead the dough happily prepare the shop’s famous recipes in front of your very eyes as you browse the vast selection in front of the open kitchen. Outside, there is a playground, shaded seating areas to enjoy your purchases, and a barnyard with cute and cuddly farm animals. So, whether or not you’re reading AMISH COUNTRY NEWS with thoughts of breakfast, lunch or dinner in mind, do consider yourself personally invited to the bakery goodness of the Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop. Take Beechdale Road north off of Route 340 in Bird-in-Hand. When you come to Gibbons Road, you’ll want to turn right. After you go around the bend, you’ll pass by a little red one-room school, and then you’ll arrive at the Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop. The Bake Shop is open daily except Sundays. Call or click for added information -- bihbakeshop. com or 717-656-7947.
6 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
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Through October! Limited Time! Visit the farm where the movie was filmed
Gettysburg Outlet: 1863 Gettysburg Village Drive, Suite 680 Gettysburg, PA 17325 • 717.398.2717
Visit us online at www.AmishNews.com where you'll find archived issues, Brad Igou's continuing Amish Series, recipes from dining issues and lots more! For information and to purchase raffle tickets call (717) 295-3900 Presented by: BRING LAWN CHAIRS!
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Lampeter Fairgrounds • Rt. 741, Lampeter, PA
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AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 7
Strasburg - A Town of Trains & Heritage To
30
BACHMAN TOWN RD.
Amish Village
Hershey Farm Restaurant & Motor Inn
HERR RD.
RON KS RD.
J & B Quilts & Crafts Country Creations
V FAIR
NORTH STAR RD
IE W
Lapp’s Quilts & Crafts
741
896 Iron Horse Inn Ghost Tour
DECATUR STREET
896
Choo
741
Choo
Strasburg Rail Road
Barn
STRASBURG
A
ll aboard! Strasburg is a destination all its own in Dutch Country, home to many well known attractions. To name just a few --- the Strasburg Rail Road, Living Waters Theatre, Ghost Tours of Lancaster, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, National Toy Train Museum, and the Choo Choo Barn. But you may not know much about the interesting history of "Train Town."
National ToyTrain Museum
Verdant View Farm B&B and Farmland Fun
PARADISE LANE
Parking
Lil Country Store & Mini Horse Farm
Bezaillion, who traded with the Delaware Indians. The story goes he came to the area in 1693, as French fur traders opened up the first path through this area from Philadelphia to the Susquehanna River. As early as 1716, when the first wagon was used for hauling goods, the path became known as the Conestoga Road, and the wagons that traveled them eventually became known as Conestoga Wagons. Main Street Strasburg was developed during the next half century as traffic on this road increased considerably and the first log houses appeared in the village about 1733.
Strasburg, named for the city in France, was actually “founded” by a Frenchman, Pierre
Strasburg continued to flourish in the 18th century primarily because of its location along the major wagon routes between Philadelphia, Lancaster, and the Susquehanna River. As Strasburg flourished, so did its neighbor to the east, Philadelphia. The commercial interests of Philadelphia pressured the State Legislature to improve the transportation network into their city. As a result, a series of canals along with the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Roads were constructed. Strasburg residents became alarmed Continued on Page 11
VillageGreens.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Please Call For Hours
8 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
The Only 23 Hole Golf Course in Lancaster County
Relax in First-Class comfort! Experience turn-of-the-century luxury: • Air-conditioned Parlor Car or Lounge Car. • Light food and beverages may be purchased separately on board. • Comfortable love seats and plush chairs. Rt. 741 East, Strasburg, PA • 717-687-7522 • StrasburgRailRoad.com
Backroads Bus Tour Embark upon a 90-minute guided farmland tour, off the beaten path and along scenic countryside in Lancaster County, PA. • A behind-the-scenes look at Amish life • Unique stops and shops • Breathtaking views and beautiful countryside
Route 896, Strasburg, PA 17579 717-687-8511 TheAmishVillage.net GPS: 199 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks, PA 17572
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 9
Do-It-Yourself or Already Done – It's All About Sylvia's Quilts by Clinton Martin
bedspreads, ranging from traditional earth tone arrangements to wild and whimsical multicolored motifs. But, Sylvia's is also a well-stocked fabric store, offering those who'd rather design, stitch and piece their own work of art from a supply store bearing little resemblance to a “JoAnn Fabrics.” Typical of authentic local Amish quilt and fabric shops, Sylvia houses her store at her home, in a sunny walk-in basement to be exact.
S
ylvia Petersheim's Quilts & Fabrics is one of the area's most beloved quilt shops. Visitors return year after year picking quilted pieces from pot-holders to king-size
There are three main rooms comprising the shop, two full of various quilts in many different designs and sizes. The third room is strictly reserved for fabric. Bolt after bolt of fascinating patterns and varieties dazzle the sewer-shopper. Always glad
Gigantic Model Train Layout For generations, our family has been bringing realistic detail and creative animation to our layout – expanding the artistry of model railroading and captivating visitors of all ages. • Huge layout –1,700 sq.ft. • 22 operating model trains • Over 150 hand-created, animated figures and details • See many local landmarks...in miniature
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to assist one shopping for a beautiful heirloom quilt, Sylvia is just as careful in assuring a large selection of smaller, unique quilted items – fit for any budget. Quilted postcards, greeting cards, key chains, pillows, and pot-holders are all handsewn, locally-crafted and reasonably priced at Sylvia's. Sylvia Petersheim's Quilts & Fabrics is located just east of the Route 340/896 intersection along Route 340. Visitors using a GPS can use 2544 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand PA 17505. For more information call 717-392-6404. On the web, it's www.sylviasquilts.com.
This is Lancaster County, PA... •PA Dutch Recipes •Modern Flavors •Made-To-Order Grill •Soup, Salad, Gourmet Bread & Potato Bar •World Famous Desserts •Menu Options •Smorgasbord Dining •On-site Bakery •Cozy Inn •Boutiques •Country Shops •Outdoor Market •Walking Trails & Gardens •Fishing Pond •And More!
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Strasburg
(Continued from Page 8)
Adult Lunch Grand Smorgasbord
800-827-8635 www.hersheyfarm.com
Not valid Holidays, on Family Style Dining, or on parties of 8 or more. Please show coupon. No other discounts apply. Exp 01/31/2014. ACN13
at the possibility of losing their commercial position and there soon emerged a charter for the Strasburg Rail Road to construct a rail line connecting Strasburg with the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road main line near Paradise. Finally in the 1850’s, trains were hauling freight and passengers. About 100 years later, business had dwindled, and a severe storm in 1957 destroyed much of the track. It seemed the SRR had reached the end of the line. To the rescue came a group of local train enthusiasts who began bringing the SRR back to life in a totally new way. They added passenger cars and buildings, and today’s Strasburg Rail Road was born, destined to become one of Dutch Country’s top attractions. Appropriately enough, the State decided to build an expanded Rail Road Museum of Pennsylvania across the street, the ideal place to preserve the history of railroading in Pennsylvania. With the other train attractions nearby, it’s little wonder that Strasburg has earned the title of Train Town!
800-827-8635 Dining • Shopping • Lodging
Rt 896 240 Hartman Bridge Road Ronks, PA 17572 • hersheyfarm.com AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 11
LN
AV E
.
Free Parking Welcome Center Train Station
772
To Lancaster and
T
30
Lititz Historical Foundation
CEDAR ST.
MAIN ST.
501
S. BROAD ST.
Lititz Springs Park
Free Parking
Moravian Church Square
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
LOCUST ST.
CO
LITITZ
WATER ST.
LIN
501
N. BROAD ST.
Brickerville Antiques
CEDAR ST.
TO BRICKERVILLE:
N. STURGIS LANE (Parking)
Historic Lititz • A Hometown Treasure 772
ORANGE STREET
here really is no place quite like Lititz, and visitors should plan time there while in Amish Country.
The Lititz story is tied to that of the Moravian faith in Bohemia. As was the case with other persecuted religious groups in Europe, many Moravians sought freedom in the New World, arriving in the early 1700’s, with settlements in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In 1755 the town actually took the name Lititz, the German spelling for Lidice, where European reformers had taken refuge in the 15th century.
Music and education were important to the Moravians. In fact, the Lititz schoolhouse erected in 1746 marked the beginnings of what was to be Linden Hall, the oldest continuously operating residence school for girls in the United States. For one hundred years, Moravian church members were the only people permitted to live in the town. It was not until 1855 that non-Moravians were allowed to own their own homes. The complex of buildings comprising the Moravian congregation is
12 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Just one of the many historic and charming houses to be seen on a stroll down Main Street in Lititz. well worth seeing, particularly the church built in 1787. One name is linked forever with the history of Lititz --- Julius Sturgis. It was Julius Sturgis who opened the first commercial pretzel bakery in the New World in Lititz. The year was 1861, and the site at 219 East Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. A tour of the bakery, still in operation, is unlike any other and well worth your time. Just recently, Lititz won Budget Travel's 2013 "Coolest Small Town in America" competition.
Dutch Haven, A Classic…and Certified Cool! by Clinton Martin
Visitors to Dutch Haven are greeted with a sample of the bakery's sought after shoo-fly pie.
I
f you’ve ever flipped through a copy of AMISH COUNTRY NEWS before, you’ve undoubtedly seen the swinging arms of Dutch Haven’s bakery and store beckoning you in for a free taste of Amish Country’s famous Shoo-Fly Pie. Now, there’s shoofly pie, and there’s shoofly pie! Dutch Haven’s happens to be credited with baking up “America’s Favorite Shoo-Fly Pie” in publications as renowned as TIME Magazine. For those of you who somehow have yet to set foot inside Dutch Haven, and never tasted a free fork-full of Dutch Haven’s warm, sweet, gooey delicious Shoo-Fly Pie, topped with a dollop of whipped cream, there are many who would look at you and just say, “Duh!” Others might say that you just might have bragging rights to the strongest “will power” in Amish Country! However, we’ve discovered yet one more reason to visit Dutch Haven now that STREET SCENES Magazine has taken pen in hand to extol the sweet treats and shopping delights that await under those iconic turning windmill arms. STREET SCENE, produced by the National Street Rod Association, recently published a guide to road-side attractions, eateries, and boutiques in Lancaster and the surrounding countryside. Much like the popular “Diners, Drive-Ins…” show on TV, this editorial piece sought out the coolest, most classic American stops along the region’s best road-trippin’ and cruisin’ routes.
44
Number of different options offered in Blue Ridge Furniture's Mission line.
As anyone who’s traveled the “Lincoln Highway” coming or going into Lancaster County knows, you simply can’t miss Dutch Haven along Route 30 east surrounded by our bucolic Amish countryside. So when the hotroddin’ editors of STREET SCENE happened to cruise by Dutch Haven, they stopped in for a visit. They noted (kinda doing my job for me), “Since 1946, Dutch Haven has been famous for America’s Best Shoo-Fly Pie and today it’s still produced from the original recipe. Come in for a free sample of pie, or for a hand-rolled soft pretzel and homemade Amish root beer. All baking is done on the
premises and they specialize in shipping pies and other delectables. The souvenir store features Amish pine furniture, souvenirs, jams and jellies, and other arts and crafts.” It appears Dutch Haven is now not only America’s favorite source for Shoo-Fly Pie, but is also certified cool and classic by the people who’d know. So, my suggestion -- put your diet on hold, throw your “will power” in the back seat for an hour, and drive on over (no hot rod needed) to Dutch Haven to try (and, my guess, buy) a pie. You can even ship pies to anyone on your “nice list” too .
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Memories “Made In” Amish Country by Brad Igou
W
hen my parents moved to Lancaster over 50 years ago, Amish Country looked very different. Certainly, twolane Route 30 East with Amish buggies sharing the road with Nash Ramblers, Studebakers and our old Desoto didn’t resemble anything like the busy highway it has become today with its myriad hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and outlets. As would be expected, our family, then new to Lancaster, made a practice of setting out regularly to explore the area. I remember riding the Strasburg Rail Road and our family taking a buggy ride there. The Amish were something I knew little about. Looking back, it now seems surprising to me that we didn’t learn anything about local Amish culture in school. There were very few Amish businesses to visit. As tourism increased, a handful of Amish stops became “musts” for most visitors and tour groups. I remember our shopping at the Ebersol Chair Shop at 101 Centerville Road many times. The handcrafted chairs, and especially the children’s furniture pieces, became well-known and recognized for their colorful hand painted decorations. Ebersol furniture included chairs, rockers, settees, footstools, and tables, available in six different colors, and three designs --acorn, fruit, and flowers. As a little boy, I looked forward to our visits to this shop where the machinery ran without electricity, as is the case with Amish furniture businesses to this day. I also possessed a somewhat morbid fascination with the fact that Jake Ebersol had lost portions of a couple fingers. My parents had their eye on the “grandmother clocks” made there and after several years finally purchased one. My mother still has the receipt dated 9/8/62, and the clock cost $270. (Well, it was 1962, remember). As the years went by the clock pricing rose to over $400. A number was always inscribed on the back of your clock. Ours was #124. I’m fairly certain I had heard they had ended up making over 300 clocks before the shop closed. Many years later, my parents visited one of the then more numerous Amish furniture shops and bought a brand new, brightly polished bedroom suite. Indeed, as farmland became more scarce, furniture-making became an important outlet for employment in the Amish community. These woodworking skills soon led to new businesses making storage sheds, play sets, and other wooden items. The increasing numbers of visitors made for a ready and eager market for these new cottage industry entrepreneurs. Amish furniture is now known nationally for its exceptional craftsmanship. The ads of several excellent stores, both large and small, offering
many different styles of Amish made furniture will be found throughout the pages of this issue of AMISH COUNTRY NEWS. I find it somewhat ironic watching a movie on a large flat screen TV as it sits conspicuously on an Amish handcrafted entertainment center. Clearly, the Amish have learned to adapt what they make to meet the demands of the “English” world around them. As is true with quilts, about which I will write shortly, antique Pennsylvania Dutch furniture has become prized by collectors and can be seen on display in museums around the world. The story of Lancaster Amish furniture maker Henry Lapp is especially interesting. According to Wikipedia… “…it is his designs that most closely resemble the furniture we think of today as Amish-made. He was one of the first to abandon the painted, Germanic-style influence in his furniture and opted for an undecorated, plain style, following more the styles of Welsh furniture making of the time. The order book he offered to his customers contained watercolor paintings of his pieces and is now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.” Just as the skills of wood-working have been continually refined and passed on from generation to generation in Amish communities, so too has the “art” of the quilt. In reality, the old traditional designs are no longer made and purchased all that much anymore, but their story is equally of interest. Some experts on this topic have something essential to say about quilts and Amish traditional crafts in general which I want to share with you… In their book DECORATIVE ARTS OF THE AMISH OF LANCASTER COUNTY, Daniel and Kathryn McCauley write that “the Amish skepticism toward art did not result in rejecting beauty, but led instead to its refinement and simplification. The result has been the evolution of a decorative material culture that is neither over-designed nor austere.” I think this is one reason we find Amish crafts such as furniture and quilts, even foods, so appealing. In our current age, much of our culture seems focused on excess. Super Size Me! Songs, movies, TV, and fashion are often about being spectacular, fast, excessive,
14 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
loud. But for the “Plain people,” even t h e i r clothing speaks to the appreciation of simplicity, a life that values peace and taking time to listen to the quiet. But this does not mean the Amish don’t like color. Indeed, the world of color is all about them. Look at the flowers in the yards and gardens of Amish homes, for example. With quilts, it was in the late 1800’s that the Amish started to move from a solid colored cloth that was quilted, to patterns made up of pieces of different colors. The shapes were basically geometric --- squares, circles, triangles. But as any quilter knows, the key is having an eye to picking and arranging the colors. In many ways, their simplicity makes them universal and timeless. My favorite pattern is “Sunshine and Shadow,” of which there can be many combinations as the blocks are arranged to contrast and flow between the colored squares, which are basically the same solid colors used in Amish clothing. After the 1970’s, when these old quilts first became “recognized,” perhaps because of their similarity to modern painting and “Pop Art,” there were incidents of Amish quilts being stolen off wash lines and robbed from homes. I remember going to a museum displaying modern art at this time, and noting that some of the paintings seemed like little more than the basic “bars” quilt design rendered in oil rather Continued on Page 34
Enjoy An Authentic Lancaster County Dining Experience.
Good ’N Plenty Restaurant is proud to serve a unique dining experience since 1969. At Good ’N Plenty, we are pleased to offer our guests family style dining, menu dining, a takeout program, an award-winning bake shop and an extensive gift shop. At Good ’N Plenty Restaurant, we have something for everyone. We offer three ways for guests to enjoy our delicious food.
Family Style Dining
Our traditional all you can eat family style dining is our most popular dining option. Guests are seated at large tables, often with other restaurant guests and all the food is brought to the table by our experienced and friendly servers.
Menu Dining
Our menu dining option is perfect for guests with a smaller appetite who would like to dine at individual tables. In addition to all the Pennsylvania Dutch favorites, our menu features fresh-made soups, garden-fresh salads and made-to-order sandwiches.
Take-Out
Good ’N Plenty’s takeout program is ideal for busy people who want a delicious meal in a hurry. Place your take out order and we will have a tasty meal waiting for you.
Stop By Our Bakery & Gift Shop
Our world famous Good ’N Plenty bakery, located on the lower level, is filled with traditional PA Dutch favorites, seasonal treats and award-winning delights. Customers near and far comment on the incredible variety available at the Good ’N Plenty Gift Shop with something for everyone!
Serving Monday – Saturday 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM on Sundays (Seasonally)
Rt 896, Smoketown 717-394-7111 goodnplenty.com
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MARKET OPEN ON DAYS MARKED
Route 340, Bird In Hand, PA • 717-393-9674 AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 15
Judge This Zook By Its Cover by Clinton Martin
H
ere in Amish C o u n t r y , Chicken Pot Pie traditionally comes in its comfort-food, stewlike consistency. Delicious to be sure, but among the many, there is only one true flaky crust-contained chicken pot pie. That would be the wonderful Zook's Homemade Chicken Pie. Well into the second generation of family stewardship, Zook's has grown steadily winning fans near and far with its ever-so-good homemade chicken pot pies.
Since chicken pot pie here has always received the stew-like chicken-and-dumplings treatment, the Zook family was actually quite daring when they set aside kettles and ladles and began rolling out pie crusts. If you're among the Zook un-tested, you're thinking Amish Country just doesn't do chicken pot pies-in-the-crust, all I can say is, look at the package and know that “You can judge this Zook by its cover!” You've got to try a Zook's Pie to understand why visitors are packing a cooler or two in their car trunks prior to arriving in our rolling hills. The Pies are available in various sizes, frozen for easy
take-home preparation. Pick some up today at Zook's convenient retail shop located adjacent to the Zook's bakery. 3194 Harvest Drive, Ronks PA. Call 717-768-0239. Stop by any day except Sunday, when, like all our Amish businesses, the shop is closed.
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Summer is here, and great things will be showing up at...
August 3 & 4 • Postcards, Paper & Books August 10 & 11 • Tools, Railroad & Transportation August 17 & 18 • Dolls, Bears,Toys & Games August 24 & 25 • Native American, Fossils, Rocks, Gems & Minerals August 31 & Sept 1 • China, Glassware & Silver
2013 Yard Sale • August 3
Yard sale in the grove has become immensely popular with participants from several states!
Set-up tables (3’ x 12’) are only $5 each.
Rent additional tables from us or bring more of your own! Special themes or shows every weekend. GPS: 607 Willow St. • Reinholds, PA 17569
16 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
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N. HARVEST DR.
CHURCH RD
Plain & Fancy Farm Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides Amish Country Homestead Amish Country Tours Amish Experience Theater Amish View Inn & Suites Plain & Fancy Restaurant
Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market
Mt. Hope Wine Gallery
d
Bird-in-Han
IRIS
HTO
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f the many unique village names that dot the Amish Country map, one of the more interesting is Bird-in-Hand. William Penn, an English Quaker, had founded the colony of Penn’s Woods, and settlers began arriving from Europe in the early 1700’s, moving westward from Philadelphia. The trip by stagecoach, or Conestoga wagon with freight and merchandise, lasted several days. Inns were built every few miles, identified with signs held by an iron pole or attached to the side of the building. The reason for the signs was so that they could be understood by all nationalities. Further, since many teamsters or wagoneers were poorly educated they could not read. Given orders to stop at a certain inn, they were able to do so by recognizing the artwork on the signboard. The legend of the naming of Bird-in-Hand dates to the time when the Old Philadelphia Pike was being laid out. By 1734, surveyors at McNabb’s Hotel were discussing whether they should stay
WN
RD
HARVEST DRIVE Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies
LEACOCK RD
To
Bird-In-Hand Farmers Market Bird-In-Hand Family Inn & Restaurant
340
MONTEREY RD WEAVERTOWN RD
Bird-In-Hand Bake Shop
RONKS RD
GIBBONS RD
RONKS RD
BEECHDALE RD
Welcome to the Village of Bird-in-Hand 340 Leacock Coleman Center To Gordonville Bookstore
at their present location or return to Lancaster to spend the night. One of them said, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The sign in front of the inn, which became known as the Bird-inHand Inn, is known to have once "portrayed a man with a bird in his hand and a bush nearby, in which two birds were perched." Variations of this sign appear throughout the town today. McNabb’s Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1851. By the following year, a three-story hotel was built to replace it. More recently, it was Bitzer’s Hotel before becoming the present Village Inn of Bird-in-Hand, a beautiful bed and breakfast property. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County states that the existing brick building “may be one of the few 19th century inns in the context of a small town in Lancaster County, which survives with a high degree of architectural integrity.” It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When referring to their bird in hand symbol, some residents say that the bird nestled in the
Local Shopping Experience In Bird-in-Hand Along Rt. 340, a AAA-Designated Scenic Byway
• Homegrown Fruits in season • Homemade Apple Butter: lower sugar than jams & jellies • Working beehive & local honey • Cider Donuts on the weekends
717-768-7112
3097 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505
KauffmansFruitFarm.com/FarmMarket 18 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
human hand indicates friendship, comfort, and hospitality, all of which you’ll discover in this perfectly delightful little village of shops, farmers markets and eateries.
10,000 Items available at Dutch Haven other than their famous Shoo-Fly Pie.
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 19
Hershey Farm Means Whoopie Pies… And, A Whole Lot More! by Clinton Martin
W
here do I start? Is Hershey Farm a rustic farm-stay? A plush, comfy hotel with a go-to family-friendly restaurant? Perhaps a farm market and country store? Maybe one of Amish Country’s most sought after bakeries? Well, truth be told, Hershey Farm is more than a little of each. The focal point for most visitors, whether day-trippers or over-nighters, tends to be the justifiably famous grand smorgasbord and buffet, long considered
one of the top PA Dutch dining destinations in Amish Country. The smorgasbord features both classic PA Dutch dishes and modern American flavors. Everything is made from original recipes, including the many hot entrées, freshly prepared daily grill items, carving station specials, crisp salads, homemade soups, gourmet breads and a fix-it-yourself potato bar. Last and certainly not least, there’s an endless variety of desserts from Hershey Farm’s own bakery.
717-768-GOLF Buy One Round of Mini-Golf Walking Path * Gazebo Get One 1/2 Off Snack Bar * Picnic Area
Birthday Parties * Open Daily
230 N. Ronks Road ~ Bird-in-Hand, PA (Located behind Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant)
Not valid with any other discounts or offers!
acn
Expires October 31, 2013
The bakery’s reputation has grown over the past few years and is now known as the place in Amish Country to sample the area’s most authentic and original dessert creations. Specifically, thanks to Hershey Farm’s skilled confectioners, the humble, yet oh-so-delicious, whoopie pie has gone from locally treasured treat to now nearlyworshipped culinary icon. While Hershey Farm bakes whoopie pies yearround, they’ve chosen to pay homage to Amish Country’s wonderfully sweet treat with a grand, family-friendly festival one day out of each year. In 2013, the aptly named Whoopie Pie Festival will take place on Saturday, September 7th. If you haven’t done so already, mark your calendars to visit and enjoy all the fun and festivities at this must-do Amish Country Happening. After all, who can resist sweet, creamy icing spread lovingly between two soft, freshly baked cakes that you caress in your hands as you devour bite by bite? See WhoopiePieFestival.com for details, but perhaps the best news of all is that admission is free, as is parking. The festival features over 100 different flavors of whoopie pies, and fun activities abound proving there is so much more that one can do with whoopie pies than simply eating them (checkers, anyone?), though that is certainly reason enough to attend. If you’ve chosen to stay overnight in Amish Country, and have made reservations for the Inn at Hershey Farm, you’ve chosen wisely. Hershey Farm encompasses 23 acres, all surrounded by either scenic countryside, or some of the most popular attractions Amish Country has to offer. A winding on-site walking trail provides for beautiful views, and restful shaded spots along the way beckon for even the busiest visitor to “slow down the hurry” a bit. Friendly farm animals including goats, chickens, and even pheasants are always eager to greet you, but half-pint visitors usually find splitting their time between the barnyard and the playground the best way to go, especially after becoming members of the Clean Plate Club inside the restaurant! Whether you are here for the day, or for a few restful nights, Hershey Farm must definitely be included in your itinerary for food, fun, or shopping – and, most likely, all three. Hershey Farm is open daily in season, including Sundays. Call 800-827-8635 or visit www.HersheyFarm. com for further details.
20 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Introducing The Inn at Eagle Hill, a Brand-New Series from Bestselling Author
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Rose Schrock is a simple woman with a simple plan. Determined to find a
way to support her family and pay off her late husband’s debts, she sets to work to convert part of her Amish farmhouse into an inn. Not everyone is happy with Rose’s big idea, but her friend and neighbor, Galen King, supports the decision and he helps with the conversion. Rose could never imagine the changes that await her own family—and her heart—at the Inn at Eagle Hill.
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Available Wherever Books Are Sold Also Available in Ebook Format
: Deadline
261681_AmishCountry_0813.indd 1
7/11/13 2:16 PM
December 31st, 2013
Calling All Photo g 2013 Amish Co
untry News Ph
raphers!
oto Contest
Ours is one of the most photographed areas in the world. With so much beauty and variety around us, it’s no wonder! If you think you’ve got a great photo, why not send it to us? The winner will recieve free tour and attraction tickets. In addition, you will see your photo in the pages of Amish Country News! Other prizes will also go to the first, second, and third runners-up. All submitted photos become the property of Amish Country News and the Amish Experience. Photos may also be used in upcoming issues, in other publications, and/or for other promotional purposes. Photos will be judged on quality, color, subject matter, etc. Keep in mind that these photos are for publication, cannot be returned, and should depict a scene, aspect, event, or activity typical to Lancaster or the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: December 31st, 2013 We will accept photos via email, and request that no more than 10 photos by the same person be submitted, so pick your best! Each photo submitted should contain the name, address, phone # and email address of the photographer, so they can be contacted. Any details on the location, date, or subject matter of the photograph should be included.
To enter, send photos in .jpg or .tiff format to: editor@amishnews.com (Please put “2013 photo contest” in the subject line) AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 21
AMISH SERIES 2013 AMISH TECH: Plain Meets Modern Part 4
by Brad Igou
From June 6-8, an international conference titled “Amish America: Plain Technology in a Cyber World” was held at nearby Elizabethtown College. Presenters ranging from academia to members of the Plain community examined technology, its use, and its influence on religious and cultural life. Several presenters looked at the impact of the internet, Smartphones, and social media on the Amish. Some went so far as to say the cellphone was the biggest threat to the Amish way of life, greater than anything that surfaced in the 20th century. In two separate presentations, Charles Jantzi and Richard Stevick looked at the “Use of Social Media by Amish Youth.” Following is my summary of their presentations.
Interesting information on activities of the youth came from the posts. Facebook was used for the announcement of youth gatherings. One young man noted he was watching a movie on his laptop on the way to a “hop” (party). Northern Indiana users seemed to enjoy having “limo parties.” There were stories and photos from road trips made between communities in different Amish states. (Obviously, many of these teens owned cars.) However, some also made religious comments, such as noting that the Bible is “meant to be bread for daily use not cake for special occasions.” There is clearly widespread knowledge of movies and TV, with tastes in some ways not unlike other American youth. Perhaps most revealing were the top Amish “likes” of TV shows, with Family Guy and Chicago Fire the current top two. It appeared that some youth have watched Amish “reality” TV shows like BREAKING AMISH and AMISH MAFIA, but mainly to laugh at them, as they especially know how ridiculous they are. As for movies, the top two were Fast & Furious and Step Up. In the Lancaster community, main “likes” were sports and going to the beach. Two popular cover bands the Amish mention on Facebook are “Noyz Boyz” and “Lonesome Highway.” Other music “likes” appeared to be similar to those of non-Amish evangelical youth.
J
ustine Sharrock on the BuzzFeed blog has questioned whether “what happens in rumspringa stays in rumspringa.” This may or may not be the case any longer as some Amish youth, by means of social media, actually record their activities during this “running around” time before Amish youth decide whether or not to become baptized and join the Amish Church. In the three largest Amish communities (Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana), there are approximately 12,000 total Amish youth, and it is estimated that some 800-900 of them are on Facebook, with an even larger number of perhaps 20-25% making use of the internet. Perhaps more surprising is the estimate that 40-60% of Amish youth in the Lancaster area have cellphones, of which 60-70% are Smartphones. It was difficult to be sure of exact numbers since the researchers had to largely base their conclusions on “Amish names” and what they
have learned from informants. Nevertheless, this information is what leads them to believe that more than half of Amish youth have Smartphones. More are coming online all the time, with the number of Facebook friends increasing, even including some non-Amish friends. In this study, the presenters identified 360 Amish Facebook members and, surprisingly, 68 of them were church members. Many of them had both an Amish and a non-Amish (“English”) profile and cover picture. Their comments and photos often reflect their straddling of the two worlds. When using Facebook, Amish youth tend not to have private settings for pictures, and show a lack of sophistication in blocking their personal information, unlike the English world where parents or adults may be offering advice or even monitoring such activity online. This lack of tech savvy, however, aided the researchers in gathering information, especially when a few Amish youth had as many as 200 or more “friends” on Facebook.
22 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
The researchers believe that these youth have more discretionary income, with trips to Ocean City, MD and Siesta Key, FL being popular, along with going hunting. Photos on Facebook included a few girls in bikinis along with other pictures enjoying themselves on their trips. Surprisingly, some are even turning to professional photography studios for group photos with their friends. For the researchers, the obvious question raised by their studies is whether the growing internet use by Amish youth is a phase or a potentially fatal blow to the culture. Most Amish parents say the internet is their #1 concern, with its seductive and addictive nature, the ease with which “the world comes in” along with the inevitable contact with more “worldly people.” This is all a clear conflict between Amish and American mainstream values. Another way of posing this question is whether this is simply a youthful dalliance or something that is ultimately corrupting to the youth and church values? Not surprisingly,
most Amish adults admit their knowledge of the internet is minimal, but more are now making efforts to be better informed. A Lancaster organization called Life Counseling Ministries actually attends Plain youth group gatherings to talk about the use of the internet and its consequences. During the question and answer period that followed, someone asked whether these rebellious youth are simply more visible now, or whether there is a qualitative difference from the past. Stevick replied that he thinks there will be increased “casualties,” and that use of the internet may be a “game-changer” for the Amish. One person in the audience commented with great concern on the vulnerability all young people face on the internet. It was noted that while Facebook accounts can be deleted, the information is “still there” and images can be downloaded and used in many ways by anyone now and in the future. Indeed, many American teens and adults have learned this reality to their dismay. Finally, Stevick noted that there are many depictions and much talk of the “Amish me” and the “worldly me.” Will these young people eventually become confused about “who they are,” or can they hold their identity together better than we think? For myself and my colleagues, as daily observers of every day Amish life, we do bear witness to the many pushes and pulls modern life exerts upon the community. Count on us through future writings in AMISH COUNTRY NEWS to give you our thoughts through our observations.
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 23
Wolf Rock… Where American Royalty Buys Furniture by Clinton Martin
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olf Rock Furniture is home to the American Royal Ensemble, a collection of finely crafted, hand-tooled, exceptional solid-wood furniture – all made inhouse by a hardworking crew of Amish men. While the folks at Wolf Rock fully know there is no King or Queen in America, they fortuitously saw fit to provide the average American household with furniture fit for a monarch! Royalty for most of us is simply a state of mind, but more accurately here, a state of room! The ensemble offers pieces to grace every room of the home. From living rooms, to kitchens, to bed- rooms, to home offices, your castle deserves to be outfitted in such finery. Of course, let us not lend the perception that this exceptional furniture is out of reach of the average household budget. To the contrary, the show-room floor at Wolf Rock Furniture boasts great quality, without unreasonable prices.
Lancaster’s ONLY Officially Designated Heritage Tour
Amish
Visit-In-Person Tours
The Personal Encounter So Many Seek… But So Few Experience! Limited to 14 People
On the Farm
Visit an Amish farm at milking time
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Years of Strasburg history providing ghost stories on the Ghost Tour offered nightly.
Talk with an Amish craftsman
At Home
Visit with Amish at home
V.I.P. stands for “Visit In Person,” for you will have the unique opportunity to meet three of our Amish neighbors. Traveling in a comfortable shuttle bus, this exclusive tour is limited to 14 people to allow more personal contact, as we visit the Amish on the farm, at work, and at home. Stop 1: Amish Farm at Milking Time. Observe the milking process. Discover “Amish electricity” as you learn that the Amish do not milk cows by hand.
Stop 2: Amish “Cottage Industry.” As land for farming shrinks, more Amish turn to home businesses to balance work and family. We may visit a carriage-maker, carpetloom shop, soap-maker, or cheese-maker for a personal talk and presentation.
Choose the simplicity of their Shaker style or the hearty features of the Mission collections. Perhaps the graceful curves of Wolf Rock’s Classic designs or the traditional look of their Chesterfield and Colonial Harvest collections are more your style? Stop in. You’ll be inspired as you discover which look is perfect for your lifestyle. Wolf Rock Furniture is located along Route 30 east of Lancaster in the village of Kinzers. Open daily except Sundays, you can call (717) 4428990 or explore royalamericanensemble.com for more information prior to seeing this memorable selection first hand.
At Work
Stop 3: Visit An Amish Home. We’ll go to the home of one of our Amish neighbors for friendly conversation…a chance to sit, chat, and visit the Amish way. It's not surprising that strangers soon become friends.
Tours from the Amish Experience Theater at Plain & Fancy Farm RT 340, between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse.
Departs 5:00PM Monday - Friday June 10 through October Advance Reservations Recommended Call: 717-768-8400, Ext.210 Online: AmishExperience.com In Person: The Amish Experience Theater 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505
24 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Intercourse Canning Company… Where it’s Good to be “In A Pickle” by Clinton Martin
to say that many of the products I’ve seen in research and development are now part of the store’s daily selections. I recall especially the pickled watermelon rind as a taste that was both
surprising and especially refreshing and yummy for any summer gathering. Intercourse Canning Company is open daily, including Sundays. The store with its vast selection of tempting morsels is located on Centre Street in the village of Intercourse. Call ahead for hours and directions (717) 768-0156, or visit intercoursecanning.com for more delicious details.
Daily demonstrations for visitors are an ideal way for Intercourse Canning Company to test new recipes for jams and relishes in small batches.
A
n imponderable…Is Amish Country better known for preserves or perishables? Pickles and Chow Chow or Pies and Cakes? Well, at Intercourse Canning Company they’ve made it their mission to pickle, cure, preserve, and can the best that Amish Country has to offer, having long ago concluded that cakes and pies just don’t have that lovely crunch of a perfectly dilled cucumber! To taste how Amish Country saves and sets aside the bounty of the harvest for the months ahead, a visit to Intercourse Canning Company is a must. The fact that there are plenty of free samples to test before you decide what to take home with you is, of course, a big bonus. The Canning Company also happens to have a test-kitchen used for small-batch, unique, interesting flavors, creating new goodies from whatever is in season. On my various visits to “the Cannery” (and they are a regular part of my routine), I’ve tasted the many creations of the industrious Amish and English chefs who clearly enjoy meeting visitors and describing what they are “putting up” that day. I’m proud
Guests love to observe the "canning process" from start to finish in the demo kitchen.
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 25
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Amish Country News August Event Sampler
August 3 - October 27 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Mount Hope Estate & Winery
*Camp Store *Pavilion *Laundry *Bathhouses
Now Through August 24 Beverly Lewis’ THE CONFESSION Bird-in-Hand Stage
August 14 & 17 Thresherman’s Reunion Rough & Tumble
Now Through August 24 MARRIAGE GO ROUND Rainbow Dinner Theatre
Now Through August 17 SOUTH PACIFIC Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
August 29 & September 2 Hospice Labor Day Auction Lampeter Fairgrounds
Now Through October 25 Amish Visit-in-Person Tours Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm
Now Through November Wine & Cheese Train Strasburg Railroad
August 22 – October 5 MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
Now Through October 26 WITNESS Movie Covered Bridge Tours Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm
26 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Furniture in Your Future? Country Home Furniture Has Just Become a Must-Visit by Clinton Martin oing on vacation is a chance to get away from the daily routine and housekeeping. But sometimes it can be difficult to get thoughts of home off your mind. Some visitors to Amish Country might be thinking “I really need more room at home,” while others might have “down-sizing” on their minds. Whichever end of the spectrum you find yourself, Johnny Carson’s “Carnac the Magnificent” (and I) see a furniture purchase coming soon in your life.
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So, while you might be on vacation, that’s no reason to pass up an opportunity to purchase the perfect piece of Amish-made furniture at a price you can afford with the quality you can be assured of. If you’ve spent any time learning about the Amish, you’ve almost assuredly heard about the craftsmanship and quality of the area’s numerous Amish woodworkers. The very good news is that it’s even better than you imagined. Now, if you’re like me (two children under the age of 2) you’re starting to think about all the transitions that come in moving from cradles, to cribs, to toddler beds. It can be somewhat
overwhelming! But, not only is Amish Country blessed with dozens of exceptionally skilled furniture makers, but we’ve also got some of the best furniture galleries you’ll find anywhere. I never worry about where to find quality, hard-wood, hand-crafted, sturdy, and affordable (thank goodness) furniture for my growing household. Amish Country abounds with options. One of my favorites and always reliable is Country Home Furniture.
To not include Country Home in your shopping plans would be a mistake indeed. On two floors covering 30,000 square feet of display space, Country Home Furniture offers all-American-made sofas and recliners, solid wood dining, bedroom, office, and occasional furniture, plus entertainment centers --- the area’s largest selection of Amish furniture. Now for me, I’ve got my eye on their solid oak, hand-crafted, bunk-bed from a local Amish craftsman’s workshop, designed in the Mission style that is so popular today. Country Home Furniture is located on the campus of the world famous (I’m really not exaggerating) Shady Maple complex in the
Simplicity, quality, and beauty of Amish Country craftsmanship are the hallmarks of Country Home Furniture. original smorgasbord building. Browsing their enticing selection will help you understand the difference between fine handcrafted Americanmade home furnishings and the very best Amish builders have to offer as compared to what you might find stacked sky-high in massproduced mediocrity at your local big-box store. At any one time, Country Home Furniture might have hundreds of sofas, loveseats, chairs, gliders, rockers and recliners on display from as many as ten or more carefully hand-picked vendors. Whether the furniture Continued on Page 41
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 27
Amish Mafia on the Run! What's the Big Secret? In a May 25 article, Julia Hatmaker noted that cast member Esther was hosting a comedy show June 1 at the Comedy Depot in Lancaster, with proceeds going to help a needy family. The club owner said of the TV series, “I knew ahead of time that it was kind of not real. But it is a great show regardless, just not what I would call a reality show.”
by Brad Igou
I
’ve written quite a lot about the AMISH MAFIA series, and I hope you have picked up a copy of our tongue-in-cheek “expose” tabloid about the show. With a Mafia viewership of over three million, we continue to talk to visitors (and even some locals) who ask us, “Is it for real?” It’s no secret -- the answer is “NO!” Julia Hatmaker at Harrisburg’s Patriot News and pennlive.com has written several articles on the “scandalous show.” In a February 28 story she says: Someone involved in the show, who had prior experience in reality series production, mentioned that the first season shooting of the production was unusual due to its hit-and-run nature. More than one source close to the original production referred to it as rushed… There did not appear to be a solid script involved in the production. The premise of each scene was explained to the actors, who were encouraged to improvise their own dialogue, the source said. ‘They felt like they were in over their heads,’ said another source close to the production. When Season Two begins in August, I’m betting that the mispresentations, misconceptions, outrageous claims and preposterous staged incidents only get worse. Brett Hambright, a staff writer for Lancaster Newspapers (lancasteronline.com), did some digging in May to see where in the area the second season series was being filmed. We knew that the production crew would not be returning to their principal location for Season One, the beautiful Silverstone Inn & Suites and that other locales would be needed. He reported that “show characters were seen constructing a chicken coop at a farm on Route 741 in Paradise Township, by the Strasburg Rail Road tracks.” He listed the following location information from local residents:
• A film crew and “Amish” actors were spotted at an East Lampeter beer distributor. • A party was staged near Strasburg with some local “English” being offered parts as extras. • Two New Holland sites: a vacant apartment building at Grant Street and Brimmer Avenue and at New Holland Sales Stables.
“Lebanon Levi” signing autographs at Matthews Public Library on March 24, 2013. PHOTO CREDIT: The Patriot News, Paul Chaplin | pennlive.com Amish settings in one location as was done in Season One. Reader responses have been interesting. One wrote online that the Discovery Channel “should admit that there is no Amish Mafia. They did this indirectly by their threats against the ‘Amish Mafia’ tour operator [the Amish Experience on RT 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse], by claiming the phrase ‘Amish Mafia’ to be their intellectual property. You cannot copyright news. You can only copyright things you thought up yourself.” Another reader asked, “Isn’t their fifteen minutes [of fame] up yet?” and got the response from someone else that “When America loves you, your minutes aren’t up yet.” Indeed, cast members have appeared here for autograph signings at various events as their onscreen personas. Gone is the pretense that these characters are real and depict any semblance of actual Amish life here. I guess it would be difficult to run a super-secret organization when you’re appearing regularly on a network TV show and advertising photo and autograph opportunities (for a price of course). Mafia “boss” Lebanon Levi has been especially busy, appearing at the Matthews Library in Fredericksburg (Lebanon County) on March 24 and the Pineapple Closet at Myerstown Farmers Market May 17. Selling autographs helped raise money for the library in the first appearance and for the volunteer fire company he is a member of in the second.
• Farms on Bowman Road in Strasburg and on Route 741 between Strasburg and Gap.
It was also announced he would help launch Wolfgang Candy’s Pennsylvania Dutch style Farmer’s Fair line at their booth at the 2013 NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago on May 22.
To me, it’s Amish Mafia on the run as producers keep cast and crew moving about the Amish farmlands as opposed to fictionalizing actual
Two other cast members appeared signing autographs at the Amish Stuff store on Route 30 in July.
• At the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg.
28 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Cast members’ criminal records have also made the news. Incidents and arrests that happened during the filming of Season One were actually woven into the series. For example, Alvin, Lebanon Levi’s #1 man, while in Sarasota, Florida filming part of an episode was arrested for DUI, speeding, and attempting to elude police. Alan, who may well have introduced the idea for the series to Discovery’s production company, was filmed being released from Lancaster County Prison as part of the show’s two-hour finale. He apparently got himself into yet more trouble involving a wild high speed car chase in July, 2012. According to Joe Elias of the Patriot News (pennlive.com), the police tried to stop him after noticing an expired registration on his Jeep. But he took off driving against traffic and “after five near collisions with vehicles driving in the correct direction, the chase ended when one of the state troopers crashed, suffering a mild concussion… Fortunately, police were able to catch up with Beiler at his home using his license plate number.” Beiler is scheduled for final sentencing this month in Perry County. It has been rightly said that there may well be more cast member drama off-screen in real life than that staged for the series! Discovery Channel’s Amish Mafia’s “realism” extends to the show’s official website. Take a peek and click on GAMES. You will be taken to the Cow Patty Bingo page where you pick a numbered landing zone and bet against the Mafia as to whether any of the six animated cows will poop on your square. The high score I saw was from someone named Croqueta with 11,160 points. Finally, in the words of Michael Shank, adjunct professor at George Mason University, “There is nothing in ‘Amish Mafia’ that remotely ranks as redeemable. There’s much to tell about the Amish and Mennonite communities. The stories are voluminous and varied and an American audience would enjoy the telling of them. Too bad Hollywood won’t be there for the discovery of it, nor America for the learning of it.” Count on me debunking Season Two as the shams and mockeries unfold.
A New ”Twist” On An Old Standby
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by Clinton Martin
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A freshly twisted, piping hot Sturgis soft pretzel is a true Amish Country delicacy.
America’s Only
O
ne of the best ways to make the most of your visit to Amish Country is to make a stop at Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery in the picturesque town of Lititz. The Sturgis family has been baking pretzels to satisfy the appetites of customers near and far since 1861, a long time by any standards! To our good fortune, their many years of baking passion can be witnessed today as we are all welcomed to stop by and learn of their craft first-hand. A stop at the bakery means a fascinating tour and a fun lesson in twisting your very own pretzel. At the end of the tour, you’re awarded an official “twister’s” certificate, and a snack-sized bag of pretzels to munch on.
All-Comedy Dinner Theatre!
3065 Lincoln Hwy. East Paradise
For Reservations 800.292.4301
RainbowDinnerTheatre.com
AMISH TOUR TEE-SHIRTS In Bold Mafia Black
The bakery’s oven turns out delicious, fresh, soft pretzels delectable with a nice zesty mustard for dipping, if that is your preference. The gift shop has many items you’re not likely to find elsewhere and tour-goers can peruse the selection before or after their tour. Pressed for time? Just stop by and pick up some pretzels for the road. Tours are available every day the bakery is open, except August 10th. While the store is open on August 10th, tours will not run that day. Call ahead for tour times and pricing, (717) 626-4354 or visit juliussturgis.com. Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is located along Main Street in Lititz, easily identifiable from the road by the giant pretzel decorating the entrance. For GPS users, 219 East Main Street (Route 772), Lititz PA.
33,000 Square feet of space at Killer Hats in Paradise.
Price: $20.00 includes shipping and handling. Call 717.768.8400 ext. 211 with your Visa or Master Card. Specify quantity and size: small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large, or xxx-large. Online: AmishExperience.com. In person: Amish Experience Theater at Plain & Fancy Farm, RT 340 between Bird-In-Hand and Intercourse. AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 29
AMISH FARMLANDS • “WITNESS” MOVIE • VISIT-IN-PERSON
Tours Since 1959
Amish Farmlands Tour
Journey along back country roads, deep into the Amish Farmlands to discover sights rarely seen. Under the watchful eye of your guide, you’ll gain insights into the “how” and “why” of an everchanging culture, and see at-themoment activities of the Amish. If you’ve seen the Amish portrayed on the Discovery Channel’s “Reality” TV Show, and you wonder what really is true and not true about the Amish, this is the tour you can’t afford to miss! We’ll debunk myths about the Amish and provide accurate, respectful, and authentic information, just like we have been for over 50 years. Plus, now through October 31, 2013 we’ll provide each guest who purchases the Amish Farmlands Tour, or one of our combination packages, with a voucher for a free buggy ride at Aaron & Jessica’s.
“Witness” Movie Tour
Visit-in-Person Tour
Harrison Ford in the movie WITNESS lived as an Amishman on this Amish farm. Our exclusive tour is your only chance to visit the farm, hear legendary tales of the filming, and take photos inside the barn and summer kitchen of this picturesque property seen on movie screens by millions. Marvel at the historic covered bridges we cross making our way through unexplored parts of Amish Country.
Rare is the opportunity to meet with Amish families willing to share their traditions and beliefs with you. In a group whose size is never more than 14, this is the only Amish Tour to be designated an official “Heritage Tour” by the County. Visit an Amish farm at milking time, stop at a Cottage Industry, and finally gather round a living room in an Amish home for an informal conversation with the family.
Duration: 2 1/2 hours. Sat Only 4:30pm.
Duration: 3 hours June 10-October Mon-Fri, 5pm.
Duration: 1 1/2 hours. Mon-Sat, 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm. Sun 10am, 12pm & 2pm.
FREE AMISH BUGGY RIDE
Receive a voucher for a free “Cookie Run Buggy Ride” just a few steps away at Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides with the purchase of a regularly priced Supersaver, Theater/House Combo, or Amish Farmlands Tour.
One voucher for each adult or child ticket purchased with
coupon. Not valid with any other offer or with group 30 • Amish Country News • August this 2013 • AmishNews.com tours. Offer expires 10/31/13. Coupon must be presented
at time of purchase.
BUGAN
at Plain & Fancy Farm 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Rte. 340 Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505-0414 Purchase advance tickets:
(717) 768-8400 Ext.210 AmishExperience.com
Plain & Fancy — Farm to Table Since 1959 Where It All Began Over 50 years ago, Plain & Fancy Farm opened to provide delicious, authentic Amish meals to visitors from all over the world, the first family-style restaurant in Lancaster County. Since then, Plain & Fancy Farm has become not only a PA Dutch culinary delight, but has also added fun and interesting attractions such as the Amish Experience, Amish Country Tours, the Amish Country Homestead, and Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides. The onsite Country Store offers excellent country shopping, and the newest addition to the property, Amish View Inn & Suites, welcomes visitors with luxurious lodging amidst all that Plain & Fancy has to offer.
A Lancaster Original Amos, Ben, Manny and Elmer are some of the Amish farmers who supply Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant with the farm-fresh produce it serves on a daily basis. Depending on the season, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, squash, peppers and onions are all sourced from farms within a horseand-buggy’s drive. These neighbors, and the neighbors before them, have helped Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant go “from farm to table” for over 50 years. The restaurant is AAA recommended, a PA Preferred and ServSafe award winner, and the Pennsylvania recipient of USA Today’s Great Plate Award.
The Amish Farm Feast Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant is best known as Lancaster County’s original family-style restaurant. The all-you-can-eat Amish Farm Feast includes your entrees, side dishes, starters, desserts and beverages. Enjoy fried chicken, roast beef, chicken pot pie, baked sausage, real mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, green and yellow string beans, dried sweet corn, chow chow, cole slaw, raisin bread, rolls and apple butter, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea, coffee, sour cream apple crumb pie, shoofly pie and vanilla ice cream. It was this very meal that drew Man Vs. Food’s Adam Richman to Amish Country, who went behind the scenes in the Plain & Fancy kitchen for one of his popular show’s episodes.
The New “ala carte” Menu The restaurant also offers a new ala carte menu featuring mouth-watering appetizers, signature soups and salads, charbroiled burgers and sandwiches, and made-fromscratch entrees and platters. The ala carte
menu is also a great value with daily specials starting at $10 or less.
AmishView Inn & Suites
While you’re at Plain & Fancy Farm, you’re invited to stroll up and visit AmishView Inn & Find books, DVDs, candles, souvenirs and Suites, a classically beautiful hotel that features local handcrafts, and more. Explore The elegant accommodations and incredible views. Country Store’s collection of traditional Amish If time permits, a front desk representative can clothing, straw hats, bonnets, toys and dolls, provide you with a quick tour of the hotel. The and discover new treasures to adorn your indoor pool, fitness center, arcade, whirlpools kitchen and home. You’ll find seasonal items and fireplaces make AmishView perfect for an as well as Christmas decorations, available intimate getaway, family vacation, or corporate year round. The store also features Kauffman's retreat. Complimentary hot country breakfast, Fruit Farm jams and jellies, bakery fresh items wireless internet, HBO, DVD players, special from Miller’s Bakery, and Plain & Fancy chow amenities and kitchenettes come with every AmishNews.comroom. • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 31 chow and apple butter.
The Country Store
Welcome to Intercourse PA INTERCOURSE 772
To Country Knives
Zook’s Old Fabrics Candle Store Barn
Dutchland Quilt Patch
340
Esh Handmade Quilts
Intercourse Pretzel Intercourse Canning Co.
HARVEST DRIVE
P
erhaps no other town in the entire country can claim its fame on just one simple thing --- its name. Harrison Ford drove a buggy past the road sign on a memorable visit in the Hollywood blockbuster hit of the movie "Witness." For years people have postmarked “Intercourse” on envelopes, and the jokes from visitors who travel through Bird-in-Hand to Intercourse are endless. There are several theories for the name, but that which we find most plausible follows. Around 1730, the Old Provincial Highway (now Route 340) was laid out to connect Philadelphia with Lancaster. Conestoga wagons hauled freight back and forth between the two cities. Providing rest for travelers and horses, taverns sprouted along the way, becoming centers for news, gossip, and commerce. The construction of a log tavern in 1754 at the intersection of Newport Road and the Highway took “Cross Keys” as its name.
QUEEN RD.
CENTER ST.
340
Best Western Intercourse Village Inn
OLD PHILA. PIKE
Factory
772
To Gap
30 41
It remained such until 1814, when the name was changed to Intercourse as part of a failed real estate scheme of a Mr. George Brungard, who had acquired 48 acres of nearby land and attempted to lay out a town site and divide it into sections for sale by a lottery, advertising “151 handsome building lots of $250 each to be drawn for by number.” Renaming the town made sense, as intercourse had a common usage referring to the pleasant mutual fellowship and frequent intermingling which were so common in the informal atmosphere of the quiet country village. Over time, Brungard’s scheme begat others. As recently as 1971, an enterprising soul tried to take advantage of the town’s name by selling deeds for one-inch square plots of Intercourse to visitors. Creative, but nonetheless a failure. By 1880, Intercourse had a population of 280 with a post office that actually moved among stores or restaurants as owners hoped visits by residents would increase their business.
The local stagecoach service started around 1898 as “a single horse conveyance similar to a market wagon, with a roll-up curtain and double set of seats.” When the stagecoach driver knew of passengers beforehand, their comfort on cold days was added to with the placement of hot bricks heated in the oven, and wrapped in newspaper to preserve their warmth. As the days of the dirt road drew to a close, so too did the stagecoach era. In 1923 a transit company was organized and bus service initiated to and from Lancaster. While “many of the Amish residents of the area were eager to see the line started, they did not want to invest in stock of the Company. Instead they bought books of tickets which were really prepaid bus
The colorful hand-dipped and scented candles have made the Old Candle Barn in Intercourse a favorite stop for visitors.
32 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
LOCALLY MADE
• Quilts • Fabric & Patterns • Primitive Country Decor & Lighting and much more!
2 LOCATIONS Village of Dutch Delights
Rt. 30, 1/4 Mile East of Miller’s Smorgasbord 717-687-0534
Intercourse Store (No Fabric)
Look for the green sign on Rt. 340! 3453 Old Philadelphia Pike 717-768-3981
Mon-Thur 9-6 ∙ Fri 9-8 ∙ Sat 9-7 ∙ Closed Sunday Shop On-Line at www.DutchlandQuilts.com
fares.” Enough money was raised to buy a Mack Auto Bus for $6,800. It held 25 passengers and even had solid rubber tires! Today Intercourse has been recognized as a “foodie” town by the PA Dutch Visitor’s Bureau. You'll soon discover why walking the streets of this tiny hamlet is an absolute mustvisit for everyone.
100
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Years ago that we heard, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" for the first time. Learn the history at the National Christmas Center.
COUNTRY KNIVES Over 8000 Items of Fine Cutlery on Display!
4134 Old Philadelphia Pike 2 Miles East of Intercourse on Rt. 340
717-768-3818 Hours: Monday - Saturday 9-5
www.countryknives.com AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 33
Memories "Made In" Amish Country
(Continued from Page 14) than cloth. Now, of course, these antique quilts made by Amish women a hundred years ago may be treasured as much as the work of those modern painters.
$2.00 • Live demonstrations Wed. through Sat. 11am-3pm • Ample samples throughout the store • Video from our old manufacturing facility
13 Center Street Intercourse, PA 717-768-0156 IntercourseCanning.com
Monday thru Saturday 9:30am to 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm
s-
Sh o
p
on l
in
e
at
Th i
Mon-Sat 8am-5pm
s.
Easily found, however, is the final element of my “made in Amish Country” memoir --- food. You can read a little about my food favorites in this month’s Publisher’s Message, and if you are a loyal reader, you also know of my fondness for shoo fly and whoopie pies.
br
n-
Th
• Fabric • Books • Batting
A Simply Irresistible Celebration of 16 Years of Canning!
at Fa
(717) 768-8153 3535 Old Phila. Pike
Limit one coupon per family. Cannot be combined with any other offer. May not be used on sale items and not valid on mail orders. Offer ends 12/31/13.
ic
IN THE VILLAGE
OF INTERCOURSE
At Intercourse Canning Company
co m
ZOOK’S FABRICS
OFF
ANY $10 PURCHASE
But museum pieces aren’t what most visitors today are looking for here. Savvy Amish Country quilters try to appeal to the changing tastes and fashions of the shoppers who frequent their farm shops. Techniques have become elaborate and new designs have been created with patterned cloth, floral designs, and intricate quilting and appliqué techniques. The Amish know well the law of supply and demand. While you can still find the traditional patterns, they are far less common.
• Fabric • Sewing & Quilt Suplies Mon, Tues, Thurs 8-8, Wed, Fri, & Sat 8-5
(717) 336-2664
A Sunshine and Shadow Quilt
Sauder’s Fabrics
681 South Muddy Creek Rd. Denver, PA 17517
Fantastic articles! Money saving coupons! A guide to Amish Country! For an Amish Country News annual subscription, complete this form and send a check or money order for $30 to:
Amish Country News is printed 7 times per year. Please check an issue to start your subscription.
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34 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Recently, at a benefit auction, I felt overwhelmed with the options. Under the tent were Amish making donuts, soft pretzels, and “fry pies.” An unfairly tempting selection of homemade bread, pies, cookies, and other home-baked wonders were arrayed on a table. I opted for a “vanilla pie,” something you don’t see, let alone have the chance to devour every day. If you think shoofly pie is sweet, try a vanilla pie! Whoopie pies are now made in a dizzying number of varieties and are even the subject of a fabulous festival coming up next month at Hershey Farm. Whether you stop at one of our local bake shops, a roadside stand, a benefit auction, or a non-chain restaurant, I suggest that, just this once, you allow dessert to become the highlight of your meal. Indeed, some desserts, including a freshly baked apple Continued on Page 47
23
N. GROFFDALE RD.
LEOLA
Riehl’s Quilts & Crafts E. EBY ROAD
Smucker’s Quilts
NEW HOLLAND
MAIN STREET Witmer’s Quilt Shop
Country Lane Quilt Shop
322
897 23 RANCK AVE.
This entire century had been one of continued misery for the peasants of the Palatinate (western Germany). The Thirty Years War had raged across the area with barbaric ruthlessness. The peasant inhabitants fled to nearby Holland for refuge. And within a decade of the end of that conflict, King Louis XIV of France started a new religious war in the same general area. These Palatinate peasants were exhausted by war’s desolation, and were ripe for a new start. Traveling land agents for William Penn’s new colony found listening ears. In addition to religious freedom and a peaceful existence, Penn offered cheap land. The stated price was 100 English pounds for 5,000 acres. (At today’s rate exchange, this would be less than $.04 an acre). By the year 1702, a goodly number of Palatinates had immigrated to Pennsylvania, and Queen Anne, newly reigning in England, was delighted that Penn was colonizing his immense grant without drawing off the population of Britain.
To Ephrata
S. GROFFDALE RD.
he instability in Europe in the late 1600’s spawned and nurtured the pioneer interest in the deep forest lands of Pennsylvania — 60 miles inland from Philadelphia. In 1681 William Penn received his 40,000 square-mile land grant to settle King Charles’ debt to his father. Himself a Quaker, Penn had experienced religious persecution firsthand, and decided to establish his American colony based on complete religious freedom.
RAILROAD AVE.
T
Welcome to New Holland • Blue Ball BLUE BALL
Country Home Blue Furniture Ridge Furniture
To September Farm Cheese
The area today called New Holland was practically covered by virgin forests—sturdy timbers of oak, ash, chestnut, and walnut. By 1728, William Penn had been dead for 10 years and his American colony, called Pennsylvania, was being administered by a proprietary governor while the sale of land was formalized by patent deeds. In 1802, when a post office was established and an official name was necessary, there was no objection to naming the town New Holland. These grateful people remembered how extremely kind the inhabitants of Holland were to them, and the assistance that included funds to cover the cost of the refugee German immigrants’ ocean voyage. This was no small matter when the alternative was indentured service for a period of years. For adults, indenture frequently meant four to seven years of labor without pay. Minors served until their 21st birthday. But still, William Penn’s Quaker Pennsylvania was liberation compared to the Europe they fled seeking freedom of religion, assembly and speech for all, hopefully, none of which we take for granted today.
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 35
This Olde Mill Restaurant Embodies Heritage and Hospitality by Clinton Martin
T
he village of Intercourse hasn’t always been laid out specifically with the comfort of visitors in mind, but it has always been a place working hard to preserve values such as hard work, innovation, and friendly townsfolk. At the turn of the 19th century, Elmer K. Denlinger purchased land and built a flour mill powered by a steam engine. In 1908, he continued along the path of innovation when he installed a generator in the flour mill. The mill’s steam engine drove the generator, which supplied the little town of Intercourse with electricity for the
first time. Located on the exact spot where this mill once served the community, the Olde Mill Restaurant now captures the history, heritage, and hospitality that have been a part of this town whose name visitors forever snicker at for more than 250 years. Lest you think I’m ignoring the food served up here, let me tell you that it’s long been a locals’ favorite and you won’t walk in without sharing the experience of freshly made local specialties with folks who have traveled just minutes, not miles to enjoy their meal.
This historic photos shows the old mill that the restaurant has been named for.
The restaurant is on the same property as the newly expanded Best Western Intercourse Village Inn. The restaurant is open daily except Sundays for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Call 717-768-3636 for specific hours. Get there by taking Newport Road (772) east out of the village of Intercourse (bear right the “Y.”)
NEWS FLASH! by Brad Igou Just as we were going to press, I learned that the brand new expanded hotel and pool had opened. So after breakfast there one day (two eggs, scrapple, and toast for $3.09), I walked over to see the new building, which adds 49 rooms to the original 40. Workers were still bustling about putting finishing touches on the place, but the inn was definitely open for business. I was immediately impressed by the spacious lobby with its stone and woodwork, fireplaces, comfortable furniture, and many touches that remind you that you’re in Amish Country. I particularly liked the swivel stools that are made of the iron seats that farmers often used to sit on (some still do) when plowing the fields with their horses. The new two-room guest suites that are now part of the Best Western Plus Intercourse Village Inn will be winners with visitors, too. In the hallways there are panels that resemble sliding barn doors, which add that extra touch. This was also an extra (and unnecessary) expense, but it gives a special feel to the place. While walking down the hallway, one of the housekeepers (many of whom are Amish or Mennonite) gave me a cheery “Good morning!” The exterior of the hotel, with its stone and wood barn look and cupolas (another unnecessary expense) create a majestic entrance to the property, where there is a lot tucked away in this little corner of Intercourse. Here, too, are the indoor pool and whirlpool spa, new features of the hotel. The Thomas family has achieved what I feel only a few hotels have --- a truly contemporary feel, but without losing your soul and the sense of place that make Amish Country special. But then, this has always been their home.
36 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
13 Years Strong!
V
isitors to Lancaster County love to experience the serenity of days gone by.
Part of this experience includes the delicious foods of the area and the handcrafted products of furniture artisans, including the still very much in demand Amish furniture. One place that offers both is the world famous Shady Maple complex. When Shady Maple Smorgasbord moved into a larger building across the parking lot a decade ago, the former restaurant building became home to one of the largest and best furniture stores in the area, Country Home Furniture. The store is now celebrating its 13th anniversary in business. According to management, "We like to think we're helping to preserve a little piece of America's furniture making history. Our craftsmen are steeped in tradition. They deeply care about their work." On two floors and 30,000 square feet of selling space in their retail store, you will find eight manufacturers of Americanmade sofas and recliners, made in North Carolina, Ohio and Mississippi, in addition to over 30 manufacturers of solid wood dining, bedroom, office, occasional and entertainment… and the area's largest selection of Amish furniture. The hardwood pieces come from American handcrafters and Amish builders in Ohio, Indiana and right here in Lancaster County. With hundreds of stylish products in traditional, transitional, modern and country looks on the floor, there is something for everyone. Unlike other stores where your only choices are what you see, at Country Home Furniture, you can have a hand in every facet of your design. That's the beauty of shopping there. Customers love the flexibility of having a piece made for them by selecting the wood, stain, hardware and fabric. If beautiful, quality, brand new, solid wood, American handcrafted furniture are important to you, then you owe it to yourself to explore Country Home Furniture. As they like to say, it's "worth the drive to the countryside" to come see the craftsmanship first hand, then enjoy your meal at Shady Maple Smorgasbord - two great things that make Lancaster County famous. Country Home Furniture is open Monday and Friday 10-7, Tuesday through Thursday 10-5, and Saturdays 9-5. The entire complex at Shady Maple is closed on Sundays.
For more information, call 717-354-2329, go online to www.chfs1.com or email sales@chfs1.com. GPS address is 1352 Main Street, East Earl Township, PA. 2 • Amish Country News • Spring 2013 • AmishNews.com
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 37
Shady Maple Complex Shines Ever-Bright! by Clinton Martin
There’s always been something special about Shady Maple. Although it’s big to be sure, there’s nothing “complex” about this Complex. I wanted to highlight a couple of my favorite Shady Maple haunts. It wasn’t easy choosing just three, but here goes...
Good’s Store While this store may define dictionary definitions for the word “good,” such as bountiful, agreeable, attractive and considerable, it’s called “Good’s” simply because that’s the founder’s last name. And after 50 years, locals and visitors alike know the name does indeed describe the shopping experience. The family has even grown the business to include three other locations in addition to the flagship Shady Maple store. Good’s Store carries clothing for the entire family including hats and plain suits for the Amish and Plain comunity, plus brand names like Carhartt, Wolverine, Dickies, and Skechers. Then there’s Kitchenware, Giftware, Toys, Fabric, Home Living, Hardware, Lawn and Garden, and crafter’s supplies such as thread, batting, and fabrics. A variety of Quilt Kits are also available at many skill levels. Stop in today and experience Good Country Shopping at Good Family Prices.
Martin’s Trailside Express While Martin’s Trailside Express has been open to the public since 1998, the story of this convenient quick stop for food, fuel, and a shine goes back a number of years. The company’s patriarch, Earl Martin, had originally allowed a few close neighbors to come and purchase gasoline from his trucking company at a lower bulk rate. New regulations for underground tanks gave him the incentive to expand his location and open a retail gas station type facility.
Today, it’s much more than just a place to top off the tank. Martin’s has all the necessary trappings to refresh your automobile, from a wash to your basic essentials such as oil and windshield washer fluid, to those little niggling “wish-Ihads” like chrome goodies, CB accessories and much, much more! If you need a personal fuel up, Martin's stocks a coffee island of Baronet brand beverages, plus a huge assortment of snacks, sweets and sides. Better still, when the friendly staff at Martin's tie on an apron and fire up the grill to make you a delicious burger to-order, fry up some kickin' chicken, or prepare a delicious sandwich, you know you'll soon be primed to hit the road again in style. They are a great stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack-time! Also try their soft ice cream, flavor-burst, shakes and “razzles.” Yes, Martin’s Trailside Express is a truck stop, but trust me, you’ll find the experience goes far beyond simply moving the needle from E to F!
Shady Maple Smorgasbord Shady Maple Smorgasbord is arguably the most famous of the all-you-care-to-eat restaurants in Amish Country. Interestingly enough however, the namesake restaurant of the property near Blue Ball was not the seed that grew to be the mighty complex it is today. That honor belongs to the Shady Maple Farm Market, a simple roadside stand at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Z. Martin, parents of current owners, Miriam and Marvin Weaver. The Martin’s called their produce stand “Shady Maple,” as it was situated directly underneath a towering tree.
38 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
But they soon outgrew their roadside surroundings. With every addition to the market, more locals and visitors were finding their way and filling their baskets. Today it’s the largest grocery market in Lancaster County, in both size and selection. You probably don’t often visit grocery outlets when on vacation, but you owe it to yourself to set foot in Shady Maple’s foyer and have your idea of the super market forever altered. Of course, the restaurant was a natural evolution of operating a market that specialized in fresh country meats, just-off-the-boat seafood selections, and a produce department seemingly as big as the farms supplying it. Thus, Amish Country’s must-try gastronomic “event” is today the Shady Maple Smorgasbord where unending delicious selections are displayed in steaming trays arrayed along “bars” for you to peruse at your leisure. The sense of being in Amish Country is very real, as the food options reflect the surrounding countryside, from a dozen ways to prepare corn to a hot batch of chipped beef gravy to pour over oven-fresh buttermilk biscuits. Suffice it to say there is an amazing variety along the 200-plus feet of buffets. And each night at the Smorgasbord sports an additional theme with the chefs’ take on seafood, steaks, chops, and ribs. Hungry yet? Believe me, whether Amish Country is your destination, or you’re just passing through, Shady Maple is a great way to spend a few hours, whatever the season, whatever the reason!
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 39
33 Years of Mirth and Merriment At the Glorious Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Special to Amish Country News
Grace O’Malley dares to interrupt the celebration, confront Her Majesty, demand the release of Red Hugh and state her case for Irish freedom.
As the drama unfolds, non-stop entertainments continue throughout the day with performances upon Shakespeare’s Globe Stage, displays of music, dance, kids’ activities, and lifelike actionpacked stunt shows.
A
s the castle gates swing wide to usher in the 33rd season of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, visitors leave the 21st century behind and prepare to step into the role of a 16th century villager celebrating a royal visit by Good Queen Elizabeth. The year is 1588 and Her Majesty’s favorite Shire of Mount Hope is abuzz in anticipation of her grande arrival. While her beloved England is enjoying a period of peace, there is unrest outside its borders in Ireland. The capture of Red Hugh O’Donnell, leader of the Irish rebellion, has calmed the countryside. But a yet greater force is soon to set foot in the Shire. The Pirate Queen
Delectable tastes originate from twenty-four Royal Kitchens dotting the Shire. Each kitchen has its own unique culinary offering and brandish names like Fiele - The Celtic Kitchen, Tutberry’s Tuber Tavern, Die Deutsche Kuche, New World Inne, Rustico Italiana, Dark Knight Café, Sir Williams Hall and The Queen’s Confectionary.
The exciting Human Chess Match, played on a massive 40’ x 40’ chess board, is a stunt-filled show full of swashbuckling sword fighting and, of course, comedy. The day’s events culminate in the action packed Ultimate Joust, a premiere blending of equestrian skill and hand-to-hand combat. Pyrotechnics light up the sky and harrowing stunts create the drama of an Elizabethan joust. Knights, steeds, villagers, nobility and the Queen herself, each play a role in this breathtaking spectacle.
Refreshing Swashbuckler ales and Mount Hope Wines are available at eight pour houses throughout the Shire. Bacchus’ Retreat invites guests to sample Mount Hope Wines, free of charge, before purchasing for pick-up later in the Wine Tower upon exiting this village of yore.
The wondrous fantasy that is the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is held Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day Monday for 13 weekends, 11 AM - 8 PM, August 3 through October 27. Adult admission is $29.95 and child admission, ages 5 to 11, is $10.95. Parking is free. Visit PaRenFaire. com for complete show details, advanced clickto-print discount tickets, and helpful tips for a funfilled Faire day. Information is available through the Faire Box Office by calling (717) 665-7021.
Comedy, drama, and mischief unfold on each of the 11 open-air stages with over 90 shows daily. Thrilling performances of magicians, jugglers, dare-devil tumblers, and other street performers leave audiences smiling and looking for more.
The Faire is set amidst the splendor of the formal gardens of Mount Hope Estate & Winery, Route 72, ½ mile south of PA Turnpike Exit 266, 15 miles north of Lancaster and 14 miles east of Hershey.
SEPTEMBER FARM CHEESE
Where Cheese is Made and Sold
SAMPLE from 30 varieties of cheese made from fresh pasteurized milk from our award winning dairy.
OBSERVE cheese making with state of the art equipment in country store charm.
VISIT our sandwich shop for toasted cheese sandwiches, delicious hoagies, hand-dipped ice cream, and more!
SHOP for cheese, smoked meats, fresh deli meats, produce, groceries, and much more in our country store.
Open Year Round * Mon-Fri 8-6 * Sat 8-5 Ext. Summer Hours * Memorial Day thru Labor Day Mon, Tues 8-6 * Wed, Thurs, Fri 8-8 * Sat 8-5 5287 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344 (610) 273-3552 * www.septemberfarmcheese.com 40 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Country Home Furniture (Continued from Page 27)
Critics Confirm Amish Country News Kudos
I
by Clinton Martin
f you’re a regular reader, you know that the Union Barrel Works is one of our favorite eateries. We've opined as to menu items we considered particularly special as well as the hand-crafted beers made on site with care and passion. This time around, we’ll let the popular web site and the Yelp community tell the tale.
is crafted in a local Amish shop, or is sourced from one of the Country’s most respected manufacturers in North Carolina, Country Home Furniture is sure to have all the latest styles in the market. Contemporary, classic, traditional, transitional or their signature country styles are all part of the daily selection. Country Home Furniture is open daily except Sundays, on the Shady Maple complex, at the intersections of Routes 322, 23, 897, and 625. As a tip, from Lancaster take Route 23 East. You’ll pass through Leola and New Holland, but when you reach Blue Ball, you’re nearly there. Continue on Route 23 and Shady Maple will be off to your right. For GPS directions, use 1352 Main Street, East Earl Township, PA. For a sneak preview, visit chfs1.com and with questions call 717-354-2329.
“…Exceptional dinner service in the dining room, perfect waiter who knew when to whisk things away and when to leave us alone. Saturday night, not all that crowded. Pleasant airy and high ceilings, rustic. Olive tapenade starter was perfectly chopped, intelligently composed, with pita triangles. Onion soup was as good as this gets. Lots of cheese, deep beef flavor. Smoked trout chowder was incredibly good ... would love to have the recipe. I could have eaten nothing but that. Tender bits of trout, not a hint of gumminess or overkill with thickener. Superb. Seared ahi tuna arrived with a faint wasabi drizzle, perfectly cooked, very fresh flavor, generous portion. Same vegetable medley cooked to al dente but more than just waved over steam. Tried two craft beers, and couldn't tell you what they were other than very good...” This is but a sampling of the Yelp comments. This place is not just very cool, but the food and the brew never fail to satisfy. Make the worthwhile short trip to Reamstown, just off RT 272 between Ephrata and Adamstown. The pub is at the intersection of Church Street and Reamstown Road. Call 717.335.7837. by Clinton Martin
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 41
Dutchland Quilt Patch
Miller’s Smorgasbord
RONKS RD.
Welcome to Our Paradise PARADISE Dutch Haven & Jakey’s Amish Barbeque LINCOLN HWY. EAST
Jake’s Country Trading Post
V
isitors to Lancaster from the east on RT 30 travel through Paradise, which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2012. The town’s story traces back to Europe over 300 years ago, to the area of the Palatinate in Germany where Protestants had settled following the declaration of King Louis XIV that all Protestants in France would be persecuted. Fearing a French invasion, many accepted the invitation to settle in the New World in William Penn’s colony of Penn’s Woods. By 1712, they had secured land in Lancaster’s Pequea Valley as the area’s first white people, living peaceably with local Indians.
741
30
Killer Hats
Strasburg Rd.
S. Vintage Rd.
30
Historic Revere Tavern
To Wolf Rock Furniture To National Christmas Center Rainbow Cackleberry Dinner Theatre Farm Antique Mall
The origins of RT 30, also known as “Lincoln Highway,” date back to Lancaster’s Colonial days when the frontier county needed a highway to connect it with the provincial capital of Philadelphia. The first road that was constructed is now RT 340, still referred to as the “Old Philadelphia Pike.” Soon, it was apparent that this road was insufficient to handle the increasing traffic, and in 1790, a commission to survey a new route was created. Since the cost was too much for the state to undertake, the company charged with building it was given the power to demand “reasonable” tolls from users. Investors received dividends earned from tolls collected along the gates of the turnpike. (As the toll was paid, the gate or “pike” was turned, hence the term “turnpike”). The Act described the construction of the highway, which was to be a bed of small crushed stones on top with, rather than dirt, larger stones underneath to prevent carriage wheels from cutting into the soil. This revolutionary system of road construction is credited to a John McAdam, whose name became the term for paved or “macadam” roads. The "Lincoln Highway" (RT 30) opened in 1795 as the first long-distance, hard surfaced road in the country. Taverns and stagecoach stops grew up along the turnpike for weary travelers. Of these, the Revere Tavern, dating back to 1740 and originally called the
42 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
“Sign of the Spread Eagle”, still proudly stands today. In 1841, the tavern became the residence of Reverend Edward V. Buchanan and his wife Eliza Foster Buchanan. Eliza was the sister of Stephen Foster, whose immortal songs will always be a part of Americana. Foster not only penned music at the tavern, but sent many of his manuscripts to Eliza, also a talented musician, for her approval. On the banks of the Pequea Creek, Eliza and Stephen played many of Stephen’s 200 songs, including “Way Down Upon the Swanee River” and “Oh, Susanna.” Wherever you happen to call “paradise,” we hope that a little bit of our own Paradise won’t do you any harm!
Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall Special to Amish Country News
L
ooking for an experience, not just another antique mall? Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall is home to 26,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles, items such as furniture, glassware, sterling silver, advertising, jewelry, toys and much more displayed by over 125 dealers. For the nostalgic shopper, housed inside the antique mall is an Old Time General Store, full of vintage barber shop, ice cream parlor, hardware and drugstore memorabilia which will take you back to the Mom & Pop stores of years ago. Not Just Baskets, located next door to the Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall, carries a huge selection of
baskets, quilts, luxury gifts and everyday items to choose from. You can fill a basket with any assortment of treats from pottery to spice mixes, quilts to candles, cookbooks
Only Minutes Away From Everything Amish Country Has To Offer! to spa items – and have it all wrapped up in cellophane in a beautiful basket for a perfect gift. Or gather pet treats, dip and spice mixes and PA Dutch candies for your family, friends – even yourself.
Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall is located at 3371 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, on Route 30, only minutes away from everywhere and everything Amish Country has to offer.
With $15.00 purchase or more and this coupon. Only at: Not Just Baskets Limit one coupon per purchase. (Expires 9/30/13.)
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 43
On Route 30 in Paradise • 2954 Lincoln Highway East
(717) 687-8980 • www.jakesctp.com
FREE COOKBOOK
with $20.00 purchase or more and this coupon. Limit one coupon per family. (Expires 09/30/13) Cookbook valued at 2.00.
44 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
How Would You Like to be a Farmer for a Day?
DINING ROOM • BEDROOM • LIVING ROOM
style. craftsmanship. durability.
by Clinton Martin
JUST A FEW OF THE OUTSTANDING QUALITIES YOU’LL FIND.
3533 Lincoln Highway East Kinzers, PA 17535
717.442.8990
royalamericanensemble.com
Children love giving milk to the calves and experiencing a real-life operating dairy farm at Verdant View.
V
erdant View not only describes the physical characteristics of the Ranck family farm along Route 741 just east of Strasburg, it’s also a picture postcard image of a picturesque country bed and breakfast set in the midst of a working farm. Here, the verdant fields and views of our beautiful Amish Country landscape include the massive chugging “iron horses” of the Strasburg Railroad. Together they make the backdrop at this unique hub of agricultural activity a stop that you simply have got to find time to fit into your schedule. Staying overnight? Make no mistake, Verdant View accommodations are definitely on a truly working farm. But even if you’re not spending the night, there’s still plenty to do down on the farm. Verdant View offers many paths to becoming “A Farmer’s Apprentice.” From collecting eggs, to milking a cow, feeding a calf, or even husking some corn, there are plenty of fun ways to earn your bib overalls. Of course, if you’d rather just cuddle with the farms bunnies, catch a few fish out of the farm pond, or even better, make some cheese and butter with your very own hands using milk from the farm’s own herd of cows, Verdant View remains your destination. For details, call (717) 687-7353, or visit www. verdantview.com.
300 Hours of "Burn Time" for the new LED taper candles from The Old Candle Barn in Intercourse
1-800-247-4784
Available at the Amish Experience, Plain & Fancy Farm, Berean Bookstores, by phone and online at leading book web sites. AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 45
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Our Advertisers
An (S) after the name denotes Open Sunday
ATTRACTIONS Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides (S)......................2 Amish Country Homestead (S)........................ 51 Amish Country Tours (S).........................7, 24, 30 Amish Experience Theater (S).......................... 51 Amish Village (S).....................................................9 Cherry Crest Adventure Farm............................ 10 Choo Choo Barn (S)............................................ 10 Crystal Cave (S)..................................................... 41 Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (S).........................6 Ghost Tour.............................................................. 11 Hershey’s Chocolate World (S)........................ 41 Hospice of Lancaster Auction..............................7 Intercourse Pretzel Factory................................ 33 Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.............................. 12 Mennonite Information Center........................ 25 National Christmas Center (S).......................... 45 National Toy Train Museum (S)...........................9 PA Renaissance Faire (S).................................... 52 Rainbow Dinner Theatre (S)............................. 29 Refreshing Canopy Ziplines Tour (S).............. 13 Rough & Tumble................................................... 16 Strasburg Rail Road (S)..........................................9 Turkey Hill Experience (S).................................. 17 Verdant View Farm............................................... 10 Village Greens Mini Golf (S).................................8 Waters Edge Mini Golf......................................... 20
Country Creations....................................................8 Country Home Furniture.................................... 37 Country Houseware Stores................................ 40 Country Knives...................................................... 33 Countryside Road Stand..................................... 18 Dutch Haven (S)......................................................3 Dutchland Quilt Patch......................................... 33 Esh Handmade Quilts......................................... 32 Esh Valley Quilts.................................................... 42 Gish's Furniture & Amish Heirlooms .............. 25 Good's Store........................................................... 39 Gordonville Bookstore........................................ 34 J & B Quilts and Crafts............................................8 Jake's Country Trading Post (S)........................ 44
Kahn Lucas Outlet (S)............................................7 Kauffman's Fruit Farm......................................... 18 Killer Hats (S)......................................................... 42 Lapp’s Quilts & Crafts.............................................9 Leacock Coleman Center................................... 26 Li’l Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm.....................................8 Old Candle Barn................................................... 33 Omar & Sylvia Petersheim's Quilts & Fabrics... 17 Renninger's Antique Market (S)....................... 16 Riehl's Quilts & Crafts.......................................... 19 Sauder's Fabrics..................................................... 34 Sam's Man Cave.................................................... 23 Shupp's Grove....................................................... 16 Smucker's Quilts................................................... 36 Witmer Quilt Shop................................................ 36 Wolf Rock Furniture.............................................. 45 Zook's Fabric Store............................................... 34
What's Coming Up In September 2013! September is the popular Family Owned Business Issue. Our profiles of the people behind the businesses have made this one of our most anticipated issues, and a real eye-opener for visitors. The number of Amish family owned businesses including quilt, craft and furniture shops are unique to Lancaster county.
LET'S EAT Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop........................................6 Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord.....................................................4-5 Good 'N Plenty (S)............................................... 15 Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn (S)............ 11 Intercourse Canning Company (S).................. 34 Intercourse Village Olde Mill Restaurant....... 32 Iron Horse Inn (S)................................................ 10 Loxley's (S)................................................................6 Martin's Trailside Express................................... 39 Miller's Smorgasbord (S).................................... 23 Mount Hope Wine & Beer Gallery (S)............ 46 Plain & Fancy Farm (S)........................................ 31 Revere Tavern (S)................................................. 42 September Farm Cheese.................................... 40 Shady Maple Smorgasbord............................... 39 Union Barrel Works (S)....................................... 41 Zook's Homemade Chicken Pies..................... 20
LODGING Country Inn of Lancaster (S)............................. 26 Flory's Cottages & Camping (S)........................ 26 Fulton Steamboat Inn (S).................................. 27 Lake in Wood Camp Resort (S)........................ 26
SHOPPING Aimee & Daria's Doll Outlet (S)....................... 16 Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market........................... 15 Blue Ridge Furniture............................................ 35 Brickerville Antiques (S)..................................... 13 Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall (S)................. 43
Perhaps competing for attention with baked treats are our PA Dutch meats. I remember stories my mother told me of my grandparents’ butchering days when she was a little girl. I also recall as I was growing up our visits to the neighborhood butcher shop in the “Cabbage Hill” part of the city.
Finally, mention must be made of ice cream, for that brings my story fill circle. Back in those early days of my youth, we loved to go to the Moses Stoltzfus farm. That’s where this Amish family made ice cream and it soon became so popular that tour buses often had to wait their turn just to park. While Moses may be gone, we now have several farms and dairies that provide us with milk and ice cream. Turkey Hill has exploded on the national scene with its iced tea and ice cream brands, “Imported from Lancaster County.” It’s great fun learning more about their story at the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia.
Over the years, you can be sure that our family dinner table was adorned with everything from country smoked sausage and cured ham to bologna and scrapple, not to mention the occasional beef tongue… a body part that totally freaked me out when I came home from school one day and saw it pointing at me from the kitchen countertop!
Guess what? Writing this has made me hungry, so I am about to make myself a root beer (Amish-made, of course) ice cream float, sit in my handmade rocking chair, snack on a whoopie pie, and admire the grandmother clock and quilts in our house. These “things” have been part of my life, and each evokes special memories.
Today, those who cure and smoke meats are well-known names for locals who look for their stands at farmers markets or for their products in the larger supermarkets. Stoltzfus Meats in Intercourse is a favorite for visitors and locals. Clyde S. Weaver and Kunzler are just two local brands that will be found well beyond Amish Country.
Perhaps uncommon, unique and unusual to visitors, they are just part of growing up and everyday life for us locals. But we do delight in the fact that you are here to enjoy them with us. And, we are happy to share the special meaning these foods and objects d’Amish Country have in our lives so that you might make them a part of yours as well.
Memories "Made In" Amish Country (Continued from Page 34)
dumpling, could well be an entire meal unto itself!
AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 47
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AmishNews.com • August 2013 • Amish Country News • 49
August 2013 COVER STORY Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Stage ............3-4
FEATURE ARTICLES Amish Mafia on the Run ......................................28 Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop ........................................6 Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall .............................43 Country Home Furniture ......................................27 Dutch Haven........................................................13 Hershey Farm ......................................................20 Intercourse Canning Company ..............................25 Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.................................29 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire ............................40 Petersheim’s Quilts and Fabrics ............................10 Plain & Fancy ....................................................31 Shady Maple Complex .........................................38 Theme Article “Made in Amish Country” ..............14 Union Barrel Works .............................................41 Verdant View Farm ..............................................45 Wolf Rock Furniture ............................................24 Zook’s Chicken Pies .............................................16
REGULAR FEATURES Brad Igou’s Amish Series .....................................22 Dutch Haven Lancaster Landmark ..........................3 Publisher’s Message ............................................50
AREA MAP & GUIDES Amish Country Map .............................................48 Bird-in-Hand .......................................................18 Intercourse ..........................................................32 Lititz/Brickerville .................................................12 New Holland/Blue Ball .........................................35 Paradise ..............................................................42 Strasburg ..............................................................8
"An Ode to Summer"
by Brad Igou
F
or me, it was a memorable couple of weeks as summer began this June. Of special interest was the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. One little known incident relating to Gettysburg was the burning of the longest wooden covered bridge in the world that spanned the Susquehanna River between York County’s Wrightsville and Lancaster County’s Columbia. General Lee’s Army had intended to cross the Susquehanna on its drive to Philadelphia, perhaps expecting to raise the Confederate Flag at Independence Hall on the 4th of July! Desperate to stop them, town residents decided to destroy a section of the bridge, but in the end the entire structure was consumed in the “flames across the Susquehanna.” Supposedly, many townsfolk even hid their buckets to frustrate any attempts by the army to put out the fire. Thus, the Confederates turned back and ended up in the little town of Gettysburg. To observe this famous event, that may very well have changed the outcome of the Civil War, residents of these two river towns build fires on the pylons remaining from the original mile-long bridge, with these blazing bonfires glowing in the night beside the more recent bridges spanning the River.
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And then a few days later the legendary “Corn Wagon” south of the city opened for the season. Hordes of people come here to get their corn at the bargain price of $3.00 for thirteen ears! So that Saturday I was one of many digging through the flatbed wagons brimming with corn to find my lucky thirteen. Boil them, butter them, salt them, eat them…perfection! And, with all due respect to our neighbors in Jersey and Maryland, and even elsewhere around the Keystone State, there simply is no better corn than Lancaster Corn!
Thoughts of the burning bridge 150 years ago led me to ruminate about the various 4th of July celebrations around Amish Country that truly kick off the summer season for me. Whether it’s one of the nation’s oldest observances in Lititz, or the Long’s Park celebration with its always anticipated “1812 Overture,” real cannons, and fireworks, you can’t help but feel patriotic all over at one of these events. Another indicator of summer for me is corn. Driving along a back road in early July, I came across a sign that announced “local corn.” I made a u-turn and pulled up to the stand. There in a wheelbarrow was the “bi-color” variety, with both white and yellow kernels. I told the Amish girl that this would be my first corn-on-the-cob of the season, and she told me that it had also been hers earlier in the day.
50 • Amish Country News • August 2013 • AmishNews.com
Summer beverages? At my house, the mint tea an Amish friend gave me years ago still comes up aplenty every year. A tall glass of fresh “meadow tea” chilled with ice cubes remains my perfect complement to any summer meal. To compound my pleasure, I like to pick up some homemade root beer at an Amish stand and enjoy a root beer float for dessert. Mmmmm! Finally, one night I went out to deliver some brochures to a few of the campgrounds in the southern part of the county. I must admit, I am not into camping, and therefore had never been to Pequea Creek Campground, Tucquan Park Family Campground, or Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort. That summer night’s drive was great fun, what with winding roads through the woods, farmland scenery, the occasional horse and buggy, and even a covered bridge. At one campground, a family was floating on inner tubes down the Pequea Creek --- nothing says summer quite like that! My mother and I guessed a lot of these families came from the city and especially enjoy this wooded beauty and change of scenery. We drove by several campfires as we left the last campground and headed north to our home in the city. But wait! On the way, we had to stop at a local dairy for freshly made ice cream. As we relaxed in front of the farm store on the glider, we watched the cars, buggies, and eventually the sun disappear into the night. In a little over two hours we had enjoyed a wonderful drive and appreciated anew the special place, the unique blend of people, and the delicious foods that make Amish Country our beloved “summer place.” I hope you’ll make your own memorable explorations and experiences each time, and every season, you visit!
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Receive a voucher for a free “Cookie Run Buggy Ride” just a few steps away at Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides with the purchase of a regularly priced Supersaver, Theater/House Combo, or Amish Farmlands Tour. One voucher for each adult or child ticket purchased with this coupon. Not valid with any other offer or with group tours. Offer expires 10/31/13. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. BUGAN
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