Now Through Nov. 29, 2014
2760 Old Philadelphia Pike (Rt. 340) Bird-in-Hand • (717) 768-1500 www.Bird-in-Hand.com
$2 Off Any Adult Dinner Smorgasbord Mon.-Thurs. Nights Only, 4-7:30 pm Not valid with any other offer or discount. Limit 2 adults per coupon. Expires July 31, 2014.
Join the Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club in a musical journey of selfdiscovery, healing and renewed wholeness. Based on New York Times bestselling author Wanda Brunstetter’s The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, “six loose threads and an Amish widow” bind together like scraps of fabric stitched under the loving guidance of Emma Yoder. It’s an uplifting tale full of lifetime memories. Tickets $34 Lunch and dinner packages available Tickets at www.EnjoyBIHStage.com or (800) 790-4069.
Taste the Farm Fresh Difference!
ACN
FREE Noah’s Ark Kids’ Buffet with purchase of 2 Adult Smorgasbords
Sink your teeth into the delicious taste of Lancaster County! Fresh-from-the-farm goodness is the legacy of the Smucker Family. So, too, is our connection with the land and the neighboring Amish and Mennonite farmers whose vegetables, fruits, meats and poultry are featured on our Restaurant menu and smorgasbords and at our Bakery. Visit us again and again to savor the Seasons of Bird-in-Hand.
Offer good for one free Kids’ Buffet for a child 12 and under when accompanied by two family members buying adult smorgasbords or menu entrees of $8.95 or greater. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires July 31, 2014.
ACN
Kids’ Buffet: Mon. through Sat., 11:30 am-7:30 pm Lunch Smorgasbord: Mon. through Sat., 11:30 am-3:30 pm Dinner Smorgasbord: Mon. through Sat., 4 pm-7:30 pm
ACNewsJuly2014Full.indd 1
6/17/14 8:42 AM
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 • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 3
DOLL OUTLET
STOP IN TODAY & STAY AWHILE
"CELEBRATING 20 YEARS" IN BUSINESS
W
hile visiting Lancaster County, make sure you stop in at the DOLL OUTLET. It is located on Rt 30 east, one mile east past the Rockvale Outlets. Just look for the big white building, with bright purple awnings, surrounded by beautiful Amish farmlands.
The DOLL OUTLET is the largest doll store within 1,000 miles of Lancaster, Pa. Over 5,000 dolls in stock, from 2” tall, up to 42” tall. Prices range from $2.00 up to $1,300.00. A doll for everyone at a price everyone can afford. You’ll find dolls from a variety of different major doll companies. Their selection includes porcelain dolls, limited edition artist collectable dolls, vinyl play baby dolls and Amish dolls. You can even MAKE YOUR OWN 20” VINYL BABY. In 45 minutes or less, they will assist you in assembling your own baby doll, choosing your wig, diapering, and dressing him/her. Prices start at $55.00. Bring your camera when you visit the BABY DOLL ADOPTION NURSERY CENTER. You can peer through a real baby nursery window, with adorable life-like babies waiting to be adopted. Have your picture taken with your new bundle of joy. Meet the dolly nurse on duty who will give your baby a checkup with her stethoscope. Doctor’s coat is available for family members. Bring your own doll, and participate in a DOLL HAIR CARE SALON CLASS. This is a fun, hands-on activity as you learn how to properly
comb and style your doll’s hair. Hair brush and salon chair provided during class. $10.00 class fee per doll.
MAKING MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
You’ll also find miniature doll house furniture and accessories too. Need new doll clothes? This is the place to go with a variety of sizes and styles. Aimee & Daria's specialize in clothing to fit the American Girl Doll/Bitty Baby and other 18” dolls. Are you looking for AMISH COUNTRY SOUVENIRS? They have lots of Amish vinyl dolls dressed in locally handmade clothing, wall hangings, cloth dolls, and more. When you arrive at the DOLL OUTLET, you will be greeted by some of the friendliest people in Lancaster, PA, and you’ll hear great praise and worship music. This is a store that began 20 years ago in a tiny room. It was opened only on the weekends where they sold their own personal doll collection to raise money for children in need. Now, they have expanded to three buildings! Brenda and Aimee Sheaffer (Mother & Daughter duo from the DOLL OUTLET) invite you to stop in today and plan to stay awhile. Don’t forget your camera!!
REBORN BABIES
AMERICAN GIRL BOOKS AMERICAN GIRL MINI DOLLS
♥ DOLL DAY SPA ♥ ♥ DOLL HAIR SALON ♥ ♥ DOLL TEA PARTIES ♥ ♥ DOLL EAR PIERCING ♥
CLOTHES TO FIT:
***AMERICAN GIRL DOLL** *BITTY BABY *MY TWINN* ** DOLL FURNITURE **
MAKE YOUR OWN VINYL DOLL Closed Mondays
4 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
20” VINYL BABY DOLL YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN VINYL BABY IN 45 MINUTES OR LESS STARTING AT $55.00 AND UP ADORA - LEE MIDDLETON - PLAY BABIES NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY CALL THE STORE FOR MORE INFORMATION
DOLL OUTLET
SO MUCH TO SEE & DO HANDMADE IN LANCASTER BY YOU!
BABY DOLL ADOPTION NURSERY CENTER
MAKE YOUR OWN BABY DOLL
CLOTHING TO FIT YOUR AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS DOLL HAIR CARE SALON
18” VINYL DOLLS
♥ ADOPT A PET ♥
PARTY INFORMATION WEBSITE
DOLLOUTLET.COM
AIMEE & DARIA'S DOLL OUTLET
AMISH COUNTRY SOUVENIRS
GRUMPY CAT
ADOPT A TOY PET FROM LANCASTER, PA DRESS UP LIKE A DOCTOR TO OFFICIALLY ADOPT YOUR PET. BRING YOUR CAMERA. ANIMALS PRICED FROM $5.00 UP TO $40.00 FUN FOR BOYS & GIRLS — PET ADOPTION —
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 5
The Ever Crafty Pennsylvania Dutch by Brad Igou
F
rom the earliest days of the arrival in the New World of those seeking religious freedom and fleeing from persecution in Europe, the artisan skills of the Pennsylvania Dutch became readily apparent. Moreover these special talents have endured the centuries that followed with designs and products gaining national and international recognition, as objects originally made for the home were eventually recognized as works of art. Museums everywhere exhibit Pennsylvania Dutch quilts, furniture and artwork, and it is not unusual for such objects to appear regularly on episodes of “Antiques Road show” on PBS. Who knows? You might even stumble upon a treasure of your own some Sunday at Renninger’s Antique Market, Shupp’s Grove, or in one of the many antique shops dotting our countryside. First, let’s clarify our terminology. Who are the Pennsylvania Dutch? Reminding us that the “modern state of Germany did not exist
before 1870,” Irwin Richman in his book PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN ARTS notes that... “Deutsch” is easily corrupted into “Dutch.” The term “Pennsylvania German” is a late nineteenth century phrase that a scholarly world introduced… The commonplace definition of who is considered Pennsylvania German or “Dutch” is that they are descendants of the complex,
Jacob Zook in the 1960s at his (now gone) original shop creating his famous Hex Signs.
mostly German-speaking peoples who arrived in this country before 1800. The Mennonites and Amish are only a part of this complex mix, which predominantly included Lutherans and members of the Continued on Page 46
Bestselling Author Suzanne Woods Fisher Takes You to Back to
The Inn AT EAgle Hill
I
Love does extraordinary things to people . . .
n a single, impulsive act, Naomi King chooses to follow her heart into unfamiliar territory, jeopardizing all that she holds dear. If anyone finds out what she’s up to, she’s in for trouble. But when it comes to Tobe Schrock, Naomi believes it’s worth it. www.SuzanneWoodsFisher.com
n 6• Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com 270578_AmishCountryNews_0714.indd 1
Don’t Miss Books 1 anD 2
AvAilAble Wherever books Are sold Also AvAilAble in e book formAt
6/14/14 8:12 AM
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 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
Bird-In-Hand Farmers Market
Abe’s Buggy Rides
To
30
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
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
WN
RD
HARVEST DRIVE Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies
LEACOCK RD
340
RONKS RD
US Hot Air Balloon Team
Bird-In-Hand Bake Shop
Bird-In-Hand Stage, Family Inn & Restaurant
BEECHDALE RD
GIBBONS RD
RONKS RD
O
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 signboaRoad
MONTEREY RD WEAVERTOWN RD
Welcome to the Village of Bird-in-Hand 340
To Gordonville Bookstore
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 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.
Wanda Brunstetter Hit Musical Packing Houses at the Bird-in-Hand Stage for Beverly Lewis’ “The Confession,” has “Beautiful music, great story, so relevant…
Special to Amish Country News
Cast Members posed with Wanda Brunstetter.
O
pen windows into the Amish world when the Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club returns to the Birdin-Hand Stage at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant. In an entertaining tale only New York Times bestselling author Wanda Brunstetter could spin, “six loose threads and an Amish widow” bind together like scraps of fabric stitched under the loving guidance of their Amish instructor, Emma Yoder.
A lifetime memory, so fun…”
“Half-Stitched” is appearing on the Bird-inHand Stage through November 29. Showonly tickets and meal packages are available, with most theatergoers treating themselves to Grandma Smucker’s farm-fresh lunch or dinner smorgasbords before or after the show. This original musical introduces its audiences to the Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club as their lives unfold around Amish quilts in a delightful, musical journey of self-discovery, healing and humor. There’s a young woman yearning for stability, a couple at odds in their marriage, a young widower seeking solace, a roughand-tough biker doing community service, a preacher’s wife escaping parish problems—and an Amish widow teaching her first quilting class. The “Half-Stitched” musical is pulled from Wanda Brunstetter’s first story about the Amish quilting club. You’ll find plenty to make you laugh and perhaps shed a few tears. And the music? Oh, the music! Nashville musician Wally Nason, who composed the powerful music
certainly done it again. He wrote this show’s soaring melodies and lyrics and directs the performance. Wanda E. Brunstetter’s “Half-Stitched” musical was adapted for the stage by Doveand Emmy-nominated writer, Martha Bolton. Award-winning, Nashville-based Dan Posthuma produced the show. “Half-Stitched” premiered in Lancaster County last fall and welcomed more than 13,000 people to its sold-out shows. “HalfStitched” first opened in 2012 at Blue Gate Theater in Shipshewana, Indiana. It also premiered last year at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek, Ohio. The Bird-in-Hand Stage is located on the banquet level of the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord. Tickets to the “Half-Stitched” musical are $34. Pre- and post-performance meal packages are $47 to $52. Tickets and meal packages may be purchased by phone at (800) 790-4069 or online at www.Bird-in-Hand.com. Lodging packages are also available.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 7
At Lapp’s... They’re Just Toying With Us by Brad Igou
This charming kitchen is “kid-sized” by the Amish craftsmen at Lapp’s Toys.
In Business In Bird-in-Hand For 99 Years!
For more information, call 717-768-7112 or visit KauffmansFruitFarm.com
Voted Best. Again.
I
am not sure exactly when I became fascinated with marble rollers. I probably saw one for the first time years ago in the movie WITNESS. For me, they have always seemed the quintessential Amish toy. When I started working in the hospitality industry, I learned about and visited Lapp’s Wooden Toys, which back then was located not far from my office. Besides marble rollers, there were other delightful wooden toys and miniature kitchen sets, just like the big fridge and stove Mom had, except the Lapp’s kid version was made of wood. I remember toy animals sized perfectly for the mini-barn, and the trucks, and the trains.
Fight Obesity.
Homemade Apple Butter No Sugar Added
Homemade Sweet Apple Cider Drink Away Your Apple-A-Day!
One day when I walked in the door, I spied an amazing marble roller that was intricate and stately in design and stood over three feet high. It beckoned me (I’m not kidding) to drop in a marble and watch it effortlessly hop and spiral, and even ring a bell on its journey to the bottom. Sold! Today, re-named simply Lapp’s Toys, this fascinating Amish owned and operated shop for children of all ages is located north of Route 340 near Smoketown at 2220 Horseshoe Road. Of course, all the toys are made here. One of the sons, John, now runs the business, although Mom or Dad often make an appearance. When I asked Mom about all the hours John puts in, she said she just wants him to be happy, and making this amazing collection of beautifully crafted toys and doll furniture seems to keep him happy indeed. My only problem with this shop is that I forever find it difficult to leave without buying something. The Noah’s Ark is amazing, the small chests elegantly crafted, and all the wooden toys are clever and classy. The number of marble rollers seems to grow with each
visit. The latest model is about four feet high and designed so two “players” can “race” their marbles simultaneously on two complex matching tracks. What fun! Currently in my office I proudly possess what I call the racing car roller and the self contained roller. Oh, and a wooden duck that waddles down a ramp. I do have my eye on a clickety-
8 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
clack rocking horse toy. Everyone who comes into my office can’t resist playing with the toys. You can visit Lapp’s Toys Monday through Saturday. See if you don’t find these wooden miniatures and toys as irresistible as have I, whether as a gift or for yourself. For hours, phone 717-945-5366. Online at www. lappstoys.com.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 9
AMISH FARMLANDS • SUPERSAVER TOUR • VISIT-IN-PERSON
Tours Since 1959
Amish Farmlands Tour
YOUR BEST VALUE!
Visit-in-Person Tour
Journey along back country roads, deep into the Amish Farmlands to discover sights rarely seen. Under the watchful eye of your certified guide, you’ll gain insights into the “how” and “why”of an everchanging culture, and see at-the-moment activities of the Amish. If you’ve seen the Amish portrayed on the various “Reality” TV shows, and you wonder what really is true and not true about the Amish, this is the tour you won’t want to miss! We’ll debunk myths about the Amish and provide accurate, respectful, and authentic information, just like we have done for over 50 years. Plus, now through November 30, 2014 we’ll provide each guest who purchases the Amish Farmlands Tour, when combined as part of your SuperSaver Tour, with a voucher for a FREE BUGGY RIDE at Aaron & Jessica’s, plus a free autographed Amish Cookbook.
The SuperSaver Tour includes the Amish Farmlands Tour, the acclaimed “Jacob’s Choice” at the Amish Experience F/X Theater, and a tour of the Amish House & One-Room School. As a bonus, receive an Amish cookbook and a voucher for a FREE BUGGY RIDE from Aaron & Jessica’s on property.
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 of Lancaster. 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. Includes FREE BUGGY RIDE voucher.
Duration: 1 1/2 hours. April 1 - November 30 Mon-Sat, 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm. Sun 10am, 12pm & 2pm.
This is your Total Amish Experience!
Duration: 3 hours April 1-November 30 Mon-Sat, 5pm.
3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Rte. 340 Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505-0414
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, at the Amish Experience Theater Box Office, of a regularly priced Supersaver, Theater/House Combo, or Amish Visit-in-Person Tour.
at Plain & Fancy Farm
One voucher for each adult or child ticket purchased with this coupon. Not
(717) 768-8400 Ext.210 AmishExperience.com
valid with any other offer or with group tours. Offer expires 11/30/14. Valid 10 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com up to six people. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. BUGAN
Advance Tickets, including Free Buggy Ride Voucher, by Phone or Online:
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. Today Plain & Fancy is a destination all its own, featuring the acclaimed “Jacob’s Choice” at the Amish Experience Theater, Amish Farmlands and Visit-in-Person Tours, the Heritage Site Amish House & One-Room School, 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, has a brand new extension with great views and luxurious lodging surrounded by stunning Amish countryside.
A Lancaster Original Amos, Ben, Manny and Elmer are some of the Amish farmers who supply the 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 horse-and-buggy’s drive. These neighbors, and the neighbors before them, have helped Plain & Fancy 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 AwaRoad
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, sweet shoe peg 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, where he went behind the scenes in the Plain & Fancy kitchen for one of his popular show’s episodes.
The New “a la carte” Menu The restaurant also offers a new a la carte menu featuring mouth-watering appetizers, signature soups and salads, charbroiled burgers and sandwiches, and made-from scratch entrees and platters, including several PA Dutch specialties. Guests can “build a platter” with items from the family-style menu or choose one of the daily specials starting at $10 or less. You can do it all at Plain & Fancy, so why not come and “spend the day!”
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 11
Wooden Toys Made on Premises • Childrens Playsets • Marble Games • 18” Doll Furniture • Trucks & Trains • Toy Chests • Farm Sets
Lapp’s Toys
OPEN
Mon. to F 7-5 ri. Sat. 84
(717) 945-5366
Visit our website
www.lappstoys.com
2220 Horseshoe Rd • Lancaster • PA 17601
Esh Quilts – Handmade, Hand-Stitched by Caleb Bressler
E
sh’s Handmade Quilts is a genuine example of the Amish quilt-shop experience that so many seek. The store is adjacent to the Esh dairy farm, and is one of the few quilt shops situated on a working dairy farm. The shop is small, but full of quilts, all handmade. However, the quilts sold at Esh’s have another dimension. They are not only handmade, but hand-stitched. A hand-stitched quilt is becoming a rarity, unlikely to be found even at quilt shows and, sadly, is becoming a lost art. Quilt connoisseurs will be able to recognize the tender loving care and time invested in each and every quilt sold at Esh’s.
You’ll discover more than quilts, too. Handmade pillows, as well as home-made jams and relishes, all from the kitchen of the Esh family. There are over 20 varieties of jams, including hot pepper jam, the most popular. Often eaten on crackers with cream cheese, these jams travel as far as Philadelphia, where eager shoppers await their arrival at the Reading Terminal Market.
Fun for Everyone!
Two Beautiful Golf Courses • Petting Zoo Fish and Duck Pond • Hand Dipped Ice Cream
717-768-GOLF
230 N. Ronks Road Bird-in-Hand, PA (Located behind Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant)
Visit Our Ice Cream Parlor!
Buy One Round of Mini-Golf
Get One 1/2 Off Not valid with any other discounts or offers!
acn
Expires October 31, 2014
Esh’s Quilts doesn’t change much with a philosophy “why fix what isn’t broken?” Yet subtle changes will be observed. For example, the Esh family is considering selling homemade cold drinks to visitors. With homemade quilts, homemade jam and a homemade drink, how can you go wrong? Esh’s can be found at 3829 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville, PA 17529, just east of Intercourse on Route 340.
Eleven Shops. 72 Parking Spaces. Shopping Splendor at the Stagecoach by Clinton Martin
T
he Stagecoach Shops have been a worthwhile stop for shopping-minded visitors in Amish Country for years, but a fresh renaissance of merchants and managers means that the stalwart standby in Intercourse is fresh, new, open and ready to welcome visitors with exuberance the grand place hasn’t felt for some time. If you’re in the neighborhood you owe it to yourself to stop by and browse the eleven different shops
carrying anything from American-made to Amish-made, from custom-made to just-foryou-made. The merchandise is varied, unique, different, unexpected, and simply quaint. There are fine things, and simple things. Things that go, and things to stay put. It’s a joy to shop here because everything’s close, parking is free and plentiful, and the restrooms are clean. It’s rather like Amish Country’s own locally inspired version of a “mall.”
12 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
All the shops are open daily except Sunday. As for driving directions, just look for the intersection of Routes 772 and 340 in the village of Intercourse.
Dutch Haven – Shoo-fly Heaven by Brad Igou
I
t’s been around long enough that folks tell their grandchildren about it. It’s the “place that made shoo-fly pie famous.” It has a legitimate claim as the area’s oldest visitor landmark. For years, travelers approaching Lancaster on Route 30 from the east have looked for that huge windmill and sign reading “Dutch Haven.” With a history that goes back to the very beginnings of tourism in Amish Country, it is a building rich in memories both for visitors and local residents. Dutch Haven opened, without the windmill, in the early 1920’s, as a small luncheonette. When Roy Weaver, purchased it in 1946, Dutch Haven’s life as a “restaurant” officially began. The fame of the restaurant grew with his wife’s delicious shoo-fly pies, an unusual dessert that was new to most people who stopped by to eat. Indeed, shoo-fly pies were virtually unknown until Dutch Haven opened, and served the pies warm, topped with whipped cream. Meanwhile, Roy topped the building with its landmark windmill. As tourism traffic grew, so did the restaurant, with 100’s of buses paying visits into the
Visitors to Dutch Haven are greeted with a sample of the bakery's sought after shoo-fly pie. 1970’s. The restaurant featured such items as the “Distleburger,” named after the “distlefink,” the Pennsylvania Dutch bird which is a symbol of good luck, and perhaps the favorite dish on the menu --- Amish-style turkey filling. But the gooey shoo-fly pie was still “the thing,” and was even mentioned in a TIME magazine article. The menu encouraged diners to “Take one for yourself or send one to someone nice.” But then business started to decline, and so did the property. Saving it from an uncertain future and with a vision in mind, Paul Stahl, the current owner, purchased it and by 1993 the interior had become a craft cooperative,
with many of the original restaurant decorations artfully preserved inside. Gradually, the store expanded to what it is now, specializing in Amish furniture and over 10,000 unique gift items and collectibles, including T-shirts, hex signs, and other souvenirs. And right up to today, the irresistible pies continue to be baked and sold on site. One local who has a warm place in her heart for Dutch Haven is Lois Schrock, who has worked at Dutch Haven for many years. She talks about the place as she would a family member, glad that the building has been preserved, and that the shoo-fly pies are still being made! (Although you can’t get the secret recipe out of her.) Lois passionately feels that Dutch Haven’s really is the best shoo-fly in the area. She stresses that even people who say they don’t like shoo-fly pie discover that Dutch Haven’s pies are delicious. Apparently so, since some 40,000 are baked there annually. And you can send a pie to yourself or a friend virtually anywhere in the USA. They hold up quite well, and taste like they’re hot out of the oven after a little warming in the microwave. I decided to put the above comments to the test. I took a pie to some friends who are not fans of shoo-fly pies, but I encouraged them to give it a try. All three of them did, and told me in great surprise, “This is the first shoo-fly pie I’ve eaten that I really like” So, whether you visit Dutch Haven for some serious shopping, or to sample the pie, or just to see the historic building itself, you’ll be discovering a part of Amish Country’s history. When you walk in, as Lois reminded me, you’ll still be encouraged to try a free sample of “America’s best shoo-fly pie.” And like many visitors before, you will probably decide to “Take one for yourself or send one to someone nice.” After all, it IS the place that made shoo-fly pie famous! Open seven days 9am-9pm. Stop in at 2857 Lincoln Highway East, Ronks, call 717.687-0111, or visit www. dutchhaven.com.
14 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Escape the Ordinary with the Strasburg Rail Road™ Special to Amish Country News
Upon your return to the historic East Strasburg station, kids can run, jump and climb in a trainthemed play area while parents rest their feet and enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi at nearby shaded café tables. Explore popular Fun Extras such as the Pump or Cranky Cars or take a ride aboard the Pint-sized Pufferbelly, a miniature steam engine. To plan your train-sized adventure, please visit online at StrasburgRailRoad.com or call 866725-9666.
Besides riding the rails, there are many fun extras to enjoy on the grounds of the Strasburg Rail Road.
The conductor sees off some passengers on the “Hello Dolly” car, used in the famous movie musical.
T
his summer, take your imagination for a ride during a visit to the Strasburg Rail Road™. A 45-minute steam train ride through scenic Lancaster County is only the beginning for the entire family! Relax and cool off in luxurious comfort aboard the air-conditioned First-Class Parlor or Lounge Cars amidst plush chairs and comfortable love seats. Or, feel the wind blow through your hair and let the sunshine tickle your skin on the popular Open Air Car. As you ride to Paradise, Pennsylvania, picnic and play at one of two quaint groves. Don’t forget your picnic basket or, for added convenience, visit the Trackside Café to create an a la carte picnic lunch. Daily Lunch Trains are always available, and special dining opportunities are also offered on select dates throughout the month, including the new Farm & Brew, Seafood Express, and Prime Rib on the Rails events.
Lancaster's own US Hot Air Balloon Team lays claim to perhaps the finest view of Amish Country.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 15
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery's tour includes twisting your own pretzels.
210 The number of shows that have played at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre.
Quilty Pleasures at Smucker’s Quilts by Caleb Bressler
J
ust a few minutes from New Holland, Smucker’s Quilts is a country drive cutting through picturesque Amish farmland. Quilts are the main attraction at Smucker’s. On one wall, quilts of all colors hang on swinging racks, allowing easy browsing. On the wall opposite, a huge quilt with an amazing design might hang. It’s easy to envision what a quilt will look like when spread on your bed. Once a quilt is found, Rachel Smucker, the proprietor, will actually spread it over a display bed for you!
1-800-247-4784
Available at the Amish Experience, Plain & Fancy Farm, Lifeway, by phone and online at leading book web sites.
There is more here than gorgeous hand-made quilts. Smucker’s boasts distinctive pillows and home decorations. Quilted handbags, so popular nowadays, can also be found. Interested in Amish fashion? You’ll occasionally discover secondhand Amish clothing for sale. And, of course, we cannot forget the quillows. Quillows are a hybrid of a pillow and a quilt.
16 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Spread out, they look like a small blanket; when folded into themselves, they become a pillow with a quilted top. They make excellent two-inone gifts! Smucker’s Quilts is off North Groffdale Road, north of Route 23 near New Holland. Stop by for an excellent taste of the Lancaster quilt scene!
MUSIC MAN at Dutch Apple Hits All the Right Notes by Brad Igou
H
ere’s one for you - did you know the first “rap number” was in the 1957 musical THE MUSIC MAN? Well, on the live broadcast of Broadway’s Tony Awards on June 8, host Hugh Jackman half-jokingly made that claim. The opening number is indeed a “song” spoken to the rhythm of a train car as it approaches River City, the next town on con-man Harold Hill’s list.
JUNE 26 - AUGUST 9
March right up to see the All- American family hit! Join us for a summer filled with fun and music!
The number “Rock Island” involves banter back and forth between salesmen on the train (“but he doesn’t know the territory”) which is indeed not unlike the same beats and rhymes of rap music today. To prove his point, Hugh Jackman (or Wolverine to those following the X-Men movies), was joined by rappers LL. Cool J and T.I. who got it on to this iconic number from MUSIC MAN to the roaring delight of the Tony audience. You can check it out on YouTube. This, my friends, is simply another way of showing that Meredith Wilson’s THE MUSIC MAN is a true American classic, a one-of-a-kind musical that has been very much a part of our culture for over 50 years. High schools routinely perform it, as it has one of the great male roles in musical theater, originally brought to life on stage and in film by Robert Preston. And, we simply love stories of con men whose lives are redeemed following confrontations with a strong-willed woman with whom they eventually fall in love. Everyone certainly can sing a few lines of “76 Trombones.” It’s difficult not to hum along to “Gary, Indiana” if someone mentions that city. And whenever I drive into my bank’s parking lot I feel like singing “The Wells Fargo Wagon.” You know a musical has entered the American psyche when it is parodied or referenced on popular TV shows, be it “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy, “Boston Legal,” and “Ally McBeal,” to name just a few. And what songs there are to sing straight or to parody… “Ya Got Trouble” “Goodnight, My Someone” “Shipoopi” “Lida Rose” “Pickalittle, Talkalittle” “Marian The Librarian” “Till There Was You”
Any dinner theater worth its salt will perform THE MUSIC MAN. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and a musical people enjoy seeing time and again. And so it comes as no surprise that our very own Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre is bringing this classic to its stage June 26 – August 9. If I reviewed my theatrical calendar correctly, Dutch Apple last did the show in the years 1991 and 2003. For those unfamiliar with the plot, THE MUSIC MAN takes place in 1912, and “Professor” Harold Hill travels from one small Iowa town to another, posing as a band leader, using the threat of vices such as the billiard parlor to rally the townsfolk around the idea of organizing a marching band to keep the kids out of trouble. Hill’s aim is to sell the instruments and uniforms and then skip town. Marian is the town librarian, who also teaches piano lessons. She rejects Hill’s advances and learns he is a fraud, but seeing the positive effect that the excitement over the band is having on the children, she eventually warms to Hill, and they fall in love while a barbershop quartet and gossipy ladies add to the narrative. At the end of the show, Hill is exposed as a fraud and is to be put in jail, but the kids arrive
in the school gym in their bright red uniforms, marching to the irresistible “76 Trombones,” as Hill is released into Marian’s arms. Some interesting bits of trivia… • “Goodnight, My Someone” is the same tune in waltz time as “76 Trombones.” • The show beat out WEST SIDE STORY as Best Musical at the 1958 Tony Awards. • Conan O’Brien was offered the role of Harold Hill during the second Broadway revival. • The Beatles sang “Till There Was You” on their 1963 LP “Meet the Beatles!” and it is said that Meredith Wilson’s estate made more money in royalties from that recording than from the musical itself! So whether you have never seen THE MUSIC MAN (is that possible?) or have enjoyed the show many times, Dutch Apple’s highly polished, always professional musical is sure to lift your spirits and have your toes tapping. Bonus - Dutch Apple theatergoers never fail to enjoy the extensive and appetizing buffet prior to the performance, along with the theater’s famous desserts and custom cocktails. Dutch Apple is Amish Country’s premiere dinner theatre and is well-known for its performances of both contemporary and classic musicals. THE MUSIC MAN is just that – an American classic!
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 17
Strasburg - A Town of Trains & Heritage
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
30
BACHMAN TOWN RD.
Hershey Farm Restaurant & Motor Inn
HERR RD.
V FAIR
NORTH STAR RD
IE W
Lapp’s Quilts & Crafts Parking
896 Ghost Tour
741 To Village Greens Mini Golf
896 STRASBURG
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 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 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.
VillageGreens.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Please Call For Hours
RONKS RD.
J & B Quilts & Crafts Country Creations
DECATUR STREET
Strasburg, named for the city in France, was actually “founded” by a Frenchman, Pierre 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.
To
The Only 23 Hole Golf Course in Lancaster County
18 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Choo
741 Choo
Lil Country Store & Mini Horse Farm National ToyTrain Museum
Strasburg Rail Road
Barn
PARADISE LANE
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, Ghost Tours of Lancaster, Village Greens Mini Golf, National Toy Train Museum, and the Choo Choo Barn. But you may not know much about the interesting history of "Train Town."
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!
RELAX IN FIRSTCLASS COMFORT! Air-conditioned luxury aboard the Parlor and Lounge Cars. UPCOMING EVENTS: Wine & Cheese Train: Various dates July and Aug. Rolling Antique Auto Event: July 19 Farm & Brew: July 4, 18 & 25; Aug. 1, 8 & 22 Great Train Robbery: July 26 Route 741 East, Strasburg, PA 866-725-9666
StrasburgRailRoad.com
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For over 50 years, visitors of all ages have enjoyed the realistic detail and creativity of our layout. • A work of art for the entire family to enjoy… so much more than “just trains”! • Huge layout with 22 operating model trains • Over 150 hand-created animated figures & scenes
Family
50+ owned for
YEARS!
Visit Traintown, U.S.A® at choochoobarn.com Route 741 East, 226 Gap Road, Strasburg, PA (Two blocks from the Strasburg Rail Road) 717-687-7911
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! AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 19
Witmer’s Quilts – A Kaleidoscope of Colors by Caleb Bressler
W
Kids Eat
Free Breakfast & Lunch Smorgasbord. Everyday.
R O$3 OFF
*Exclusions Apply
Adult Dinner Grand Smorgasbord or
$2 OFF
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 01/31/2015 ACN14
800-827-8635
Dining • Shopping • Lodging Rt 896 240 Hartman Bridge Road Ronks, PA 17572 www.hersheyfarm.com 20 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
itmer’s Quilts is one of those special off-the-beaten-track establishments that one often discovers by chance. However, once you stop in, you’ll almost assuredly return. Witmer’s is small but full to the brim with quilts piled about everywhere. Purple, white, and all kinds of colors mix together, splashing all about the store. The ticking clock adds another layer of atmosphere to this cozy quilt shop. Ironically, though, time seems to stand still in this quilt hideaway. The many customers who come year after year find Witmer’s a haven of comfortable familiarity. But this doesn’t mean you’ll find the same merchandise. On the contrary, many different style quilts appear all the time. The shop is conveniently located a few minutes west of New Holland on Route 23 at 1076 W. Main Street.
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Sam May has been in business for over 40 years in Lancaster County; and his daughter and business partner, Samantha, has been helping out since she was tall enough to sweep the floor! Over the years, this dad and daughter duo have amassed, in the store and online, one of the largest assortments of barware in the country! A true Lancaster County treasure you shouldn’t miss! Call (717) 394-6404. (See ad on page 28.)
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AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 21
Welcome to New Holland • Blue Ball 322
897 23 RANCK AVE.
RD.
NVILLE VO G A
To Ephrata
Flower and Home Marketplace
BLUE BALL
Country Home Blue Shady Furniture Ridge Maple Furniture Complex
.
RD
Riehl’s Quilts & Crafts E. EBY ROAD
MAIN STREET Witmer’s Quilt Shop
RS TE PE
S. GROFFDALE RD.
23
N. GROFFDALE RD.
LEOLA
NEW HOLLAND
RAILROAD AVE.
Smucker’s Quilts
Country Lane Quilt Shop
HILL RD. / WALLACE RD. To September Farm Cheese
T
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.
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. 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.
22 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Gish’s Furniture Stands By Their Reputation by Clinton Martin
O
n a recent summer day, a visitor who’d stopped by various Amish furniture purveyors asked the folks at Gish’s to prove their solid hardwood Amish-made furniture could stand up to years of daily use. Joshua Gish was happy to oblige, and hopped up on a nearby table to prove a point. He perched comfortably on the leaf extended out from the side of the table to the amazement of his would-be customer, while nary a creak or snap was heard.
not every Amish furniture maker is of the same talent. The fact is that some Amish craftsmen simply have that next-level knack for creating truly inspiring designs. Gish’s doesn’t showcase furniture from just any Amish wood worker since they source their selection from only a very few of PA and Ohio’s most skilled Amish craftsmen. It’s why Joshua Gish didn’t come tumbling down, and neither will your tumblers of punch at your next party. No matter where you are in Amish Country, Gish’s Furniture isn’t far away with three locations, including two on Route 30 --- 2191 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster, PA 17602; 728 Loucks Road, York, PA 17404; and 3424 Simpson Ferry Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Call 866-374-GISH (4474), or learn more at www.gishs.com.
Joshua Gish gets “high” talking about the quality of Gish’s Furniture.
This is not a recommended use for one of the beautifully crafted tables at Gish’s Furniture. Far more advisable would be to weigh down a Gish’s table in your own home with a big spread of food and drink with friends and family, a much lighter burden to place on the skillfully hewn ash, oak, pine, or whichever gorgeous wood fits best with your décor. Amish furniture is made, you guessed it, anywhere you find Amish. It seems you’ll find wood shops, workshops, saws and nails in virtually every corner of the country where Amish reside. But as you would also expect,
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 23
Shady Maple Complex Shines Ever-Bright!
by Clinton Martin
T
here’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...
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 car wash goes back a number of years. The company’s patriarch, Earl Martin, had originally allowed a few close neighbors to purchase gasoline and diesel 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. In addition to offering high quality
Food • Fuel • Friendly Service
gas, biodiesel, bulk DEF, kerosene, and propane, Trailside is home to an impressive offering of breakfast, lunch, and dinner eats. From omelets, skillets, and made-to-order breakfast sandwiches in the morning to best-around fried chicken, burgers, custom wraps, and entrees at lunch or dinner, Trailside is sure to exceed your expectations! To beat the heat, Trailside has a massive cooler selection of ice cold beverages in addition to delicious milkshakes, root beer floats, and softserve ice cream. If you need a cup of joe to kick-start your morning, Trailside proudly offers a large variety of locally-roasted Gerhart Coffee blends as well as cappuccino and iced coffee. If your wheels are dusty, take a loop through either of their touchless or soft-touch car washes. They also stock washer fluid, oil, and many other travel necessities. Whether you need hot eats, cool treats, a car wash, or a fill-up, you’ll love your experience at Amish country’s favorite gas station—Martin’s Trailside Express!
Shady Maple Smorgasbord
•Premium Biodiesel/Gas/Propane •Fried Chicken •Subs/Wraps •Burgers •Salad Bar •Ice Cream •Beverages •C-Store/Car Wash
717-354-9486 168 Toddy Drive • East Earl PA • 17519
www.trailsideexpress.com
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.
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!
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. 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
24 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
PA Dutch Food is so much more than meat and potatoes at Shady Maple.
Largest Variety of food in Lancaster County!
Visit our 41,000 Square Foot Gift Shop!
129 Toddy Drive • East Earl, PA • (717) 354-8222 Hours: Monday thru Saturday 5 AM - 8 PM
Just minutes from Pennsylvan ia Dutch Count��
Find us at www.shady-maple.com or connect with us on
Located at Shady Maple!
Q
uality, affordable, luxury. That's what American made and Amish handcrafted furniture at Country Home Furniture is all about. When Shady Maple Smorgasbord moved into a larger building across the parking lot more than a decade ago, the former restaurant building became home to one of the largest and best furniture stores in the Lancaster area, Country Home Furniture. On two large selling floors, and 30,000 sq. ft., you will find American made sofas and recliners, made in North Carolina, Ohio and Mississippi, in addition to solid wood, USA made and Amish handcrafted dining, bedroom, office, occasional and entertainment furniture. The wood pieces come from artisans 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. According to management, “Amish built furniture and quality go hand-in-hand. As far as American handcrafters in the hardwood and upholstery industries, their knack for getting their styles to mesh with today’s buyer is second to none. No one builds better, more stylish furniture than American furniture makers.” Unlike other stores where your only choices of the style or color or wood is 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 to have a piece made for them by selecting their wood, stain, hardware and fabric.
The retailer ships and delivers to customers’ homes and businesses all over the country. If beautiful, quality, brand new, solid wood, American handcrafted furniture is 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 of Lancaster County for savings.
Country Home Furniture is open Monday and Friday 10-7, Tuesday through Thursday 105, 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 e-mail sales@chfs1.com. GPS address is 1352 Main Street, East Earl Township, PA.
The Design Center AT FLOWER & HOME MARKETPLACE
Thousands of flowers to choose from!
SILK & FRESH
Wedding flowers Church service flowers Memorial arrangements Sweetheart arrangements Prom flowers “Get Well” arrangements Custom design services Home entertaining flowers Custom seasonal wreaths Custom centerpieces & more!
Just off Rt. 322 in Blue Ball, PA
Mon-Sat 9a-7p
www.flowerandhome.com
26 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
717-351-0015
Extreme! White-Knuckle!
Amish Horse Racing at its finest!!
by Clinton Martin
One of Aaron & Jessica’s horses rests in the shade.
G
ot your attention didn’t I? Well, taking a buggy ride in Amish Country isn’t actually like a horse-race, but the “slow down won’t be a “let down!” Taking an Amish buggy ride is great family fun, and you get to experience what it is like to get around like the Amish do. For many years now taking a buggy ride in Lancaster County means going to Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides. Many visitors usually think of the one “classic” style of buggy – what would be considered the “family sedan” by most Amish families. But, there really are dozens of different types of Amish buggies. Different designs are used for different tasks, and when it comes to giving visitors an authentic Amish buggy ride, you will discover Aaron & Jessica’s have a variety, making it easy to seat even large families together.
Of course, the carriage isn’t the only important factor in getting around Amish-style. You’ve got to have well trained teams of draft horses and drivers, who can easily travel on the same roads as the “English” do. Kids especially love meeting the horses before stepping on board, and can even ask to sit up front with the driver. The Buggy Rides leave from a nice grove of shade trees, surrounding a real covered bridge, at one end of of the Plain & Fancy Farm between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. There is even a nice picnic area for visitors to enjoy while waiting for their buggy to load. Rides leave continuously throughout the day, and are open year round, 7 days a week. When you arrive, you’ll be asked to choose a ride. Yes, there is more than just one type of ride. For a little introduction into the world of horse-drawn travel, you can opt for the “cookie run” which takes about 20 minutes. This includes a brief stop at an Amish farm where, you guessed it, you can buy a couple of home-made cookies or other treats to snack on.
Aaron & Jessica’s traditional buggies offer visitors pristine sight-seeing views.
options when you arrive. No reservations are necessary except if you want to book your own Private Buggy Ride & Tour. You can reserve your own personal buggy, horse and driver with advance reservations by emailing amishbuggyrides@gmail.com. Whichever option you choose, Aaron & Jessica’s is more than just a buggy ride. Their drivers are our Amish, Mennonite and Brethren neighbors, and will share their own family stories; and are happy to answer any questions about their culture. It may well be the highlight of your visit.
Longer, more interactive rides are also available to visitors who wish to get a more in-depth experience, so ask about the When is it my turn to pull the carriage?
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Mon.- Sat. 9am-dusk • Sundays 10am-5pm
(717) 768-8828
Listen to the clip-clop echo in the covered bridge.
CONNECT WITH US! Online: www.amishbuggyrides.com Email: amishbuggyrides@gmail.com Twitter: #AmishJack Follow us on FaceBook & Pinterest Send us your buggy ride pix! AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 27
$5 OFF
PER PERSON Mention Coupon Code ACN
NOW THRU AUGUST 9 RESERVE YOUR SEATS NOW
800.292.4301
RainbowDinnerTheatre.com Not Valid with other discounts
Throw Out the Pot, and Keep the Pie! by Clinton Martin
W
hen a Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie isn’t a pot pie, it’s a chicken pie. No need to be confused. You’ll find the explanation in neatly prepared, always delicious, meat pies available in different sizes from single-serving to family-meal.
It all begins with a visit to Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies, an Amish family-owned and operated business right on the farm. The cooking has now moved into the second generation Amish family, providing the same scrumptous heritage the name Zook’s was built on, but adding new innovations as well. Dont take my word for it, take a bite of these old-fashioned pies yourself, and see if you just don’t fall in love with this delightful marriage of chicken, carrots, peas, celery, onions, and potatoes, all baked into a satisfying and convenient meal. Try one of the beef or sausage pies, and you won’t be shy in asking for a copy of the Zook’s time-tested blend of seasonings that, sadly, for now will just have to remain a secret! So, visit today and come away with a homemade ready-to-heat supper. You will certainly have a wonderful time at this quintessential Amish countryside stop. It can all be found at 3194 Harvest Drive, south of Route 340 off Leacock Road. Call 717-7680239 for more information or other outlets where Zook’s Pies are sold.
28 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Welcome to Intercourse PA INTERCOURSE To Country Knives
Zook’s Old Fabrics Candle Store Barn
340
Esh Handmade Quilts
Intercourse Pretzel
340
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
QUEEN RD.
Stagecoach Shops
772
CENTER ST.
Dutchland Quilt Patch
Best Western Intercourse Village Inn
OLD PHILA. PIKE
Factory
772
To Gap
30 41
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. 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.
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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
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 29
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717-768-3818 Hours: Monday - Saturday 9-5
www.countryknives.com 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 fares.” Enough
30 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
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 must-visit for everyone.
I
f you’ve traveled Route 340 between Birdin-Hand and Intercourse for years, as many visitors to Amish Country have, you might think you know the area and could name the attractions, shops, and restaurants by name and nature as you drive by, even with your eyes blindfolded. Well, if you nonchalantly point out the Mount Hope Wine Gallery at 3174 Old Philadelphia Pike and describe it as a wine shop, you’d be right, and yet so wrong.
Wonderfully unique shops located at the intersection of Routes 772 and 340. Over 10 different shops offering something for everyone.
E n d l e s s Va r i e t y
by Clinton Martin
American Made
FREE PARKING CLEAN RESTROOMS
Custom Designs
Nano-Brewery “Rumspringa” Worth a U-Turn
Amish Made
This isn’t your grandpa’s Wine Gallery! The beautifully renovated and rejuvenated barn is also home to the area’s first nano-brewery, producing small-batch ales ranging from a citrusy American Pale Ale to a robust Stout. The second floor houses the brewery, while the ground floor still houses the wine sampling and sales area. Alongside the brewery, you’ll find a café serving up well-matched local food favorites including hard pretzels, made-to-order sandwiches, chips and dip, and other pub grub. For these and many more reasons, the Rumspringa Brewing Company is well worth a visit. Details can be found online at www.lancaster-gallery.com or by calling (717) 768-7194.
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681 South Muddy Creek Rd. Denver, PA 17517
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32 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Getting to Know Lancaster’s Amish EDITOR’S NOTE: The following news story was written for PennLive.com and published in the Harrisburg Patriot News. We felt sure that news of this special tour would be of interest to our readers and have reprinted it here with permission.
Y
ou often see the men behind a team of horses plowing fields. You see women closer to home, tending luscious gardens. You pass their horse-drawn buggies on the road and sometimes see their children frolicking outdoors. But even though one of the largest, oldest and best-known Amish settlements is just down the road in Lancaster County, I’ll bet that most of us don’t know any.
by Ann Witmer
showed us her pen full of guinea pigs and let me hold the smallest one. Then Katie and Elmer went to work milking the cows with vacuum milking machines. They milk twice a day at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. It takes five minutes a cow, an hour and a half to finish the job. We learned that each cow gives about 60 pounds of milk a day and that they sleep, not on the barn’s cold concrete floor, but on cow mattresses made of ground-up tires. Elmer and Katie sell most of their milk but use 20 percent of it for cheeses they sell in a small shop on the farm.
The second stop on a Visit in Person tour is an after-hours stop at a small shop where the Amish do business. Amish Experience
Pull Up a Chair The last stop on the VIP Tour is at an Amish home. Mike and Mary had chairs set up in a circle in their living room.
First stop on the Amish VIP tour is to a dairy barn at milking time. Amish Experience The Amish Experience Visit-in-Person tours are a comfortable way for "English" and Amish to talk with each other about our differences and what we have in common as human beings. Ann Witmer
Let’s Talk Six years ago, Brad Igou set out to change that by taking small groups of people to Amish homes, barns and businesses in the evening, not to gawk but to talk. It is Lancaster’s only officially designated Heritage Tour, attracting people from all over the world as well as many locals. This summer 24 Amish families signed on to take part. Tour groups are small, no more than 14 people. "This tour is about meeting people, one on one, where they live and work," Igou said. "It’s about people getting to know each other." I’ll vouch for that. My husband and I took the tour earlier this month and had a great experience. VIP tours begin at The Amish Experience where you board a small bus and head for an Amish dairy farm.
Down on the Farm Katie was bringing the couple’s 24 cows in from the field when we arrived. We stood and talked with her husband, Elmer, until they were in; the cows are a little shy around people they don’t know. Not so with the kids. Daughter Sarah
Amish Businesses After Hours The second of three stops on a VIP tour takes you to a small Amish business after closing time. Ours was at Hannah’s home where she and her daughters make quilts, dresses, doll clothes and head coverings. She demonstrated by stitching a few blocks together on her electric sewing machine. Knowing that Amish are not wired to the public electrical grid, we wondered how that sewing machine worked. Solar panels on the roof. "People think that the Amish only have an 8th grade education," Igou said. "But they are far ahead of us in coming up with ingenious systems to do what needs to get done." As we go outside to see Hannah’s two-month-old foal, we pass a small building that looks like a miniature outhouse. That’s where they keep their land-line phone. One of her teenage daughters was in there talking to a friend. Hannah has several adolescent children in their Rumspringa period, the time when Amish teenagers consort with their peers before committing to join the church and marry. She also has a daughter getting married this fall when Amish weddings take place.
After inheriting land from Mike’s father, the couple farmed for 15 years, then left farming to run the Country Housewares Store where they sell everything from towels to fine china. They lease their farm to another family who lives in the other half of their house. One of our group asked what Amish people do for entertainment without a TV. Mike and Mary laughed and told us how people visit each other and talk...or play games like Rook, Dutch Blitz and Kan Jam, a type of Frisbee. This third visit with families is Igou’s favorite part of the tour. "It’s so simple and people see each other as human beings. Once conversation gets rolling, we have to practically drag people out of the house." I asked him why Amish families do this, invite strangers into their homes. "They love meeting people," he said. "In their space, at home, the Amish are comfortable with guests. It is their turf as opposed to having people approach them out somewhere and asking questions." "We have differences, but we have so many things in common." Visit-in-Person Tours: Run through November, departing at 5 p.m. Mon-Sat, from the Amish Experience Theater at Plain & Fancy Farm on Route 340, 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-In-Hand, PA 17505. Purchase tickets online (amishexperience.com) or by calling the box office at 717-768-8400 x 210. Bonus: A voucher for a free 3 ½-mile, 25-minute buggy ride is offered with the VIP tour. If you plan to do this the same day as the tour, you should arrive no later than 2 p.m. © 2014 PennLive.com. All rights reserved.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 33
Dutchland Quilt Patch
Miller’s Smorgasbord
RONKS RD.
Welcome to Our Paradise PARADISE
Dutch Haven Jake’s Country Trading Post
LINCOLN HWY. EAST Killer Hats
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. The origins of RT 30, also known as “Lincoln Highway,” date back to Lancaster’s Colonial
741
Rainbow Dinner Theatre
30
Strasburg Rd.
Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall S. Vintage Rd.
30
Historic Revere Tavern
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 “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
(717) 687-8602 34 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
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!
Intriguing and Wonderful: Fulton Steamboat Inn Special to Amish Country News
T
he Fulton Steamboat Inn is Lancaster County’s most uniquely-themed full service hotel. Faithful to its authentic riverboat inspiration, the Fulton features three elegant decks of beautifully decorated Victorian and Nautically themed guest rooms complemented by unimaginable charm and exceptional guest services. The on-board dining room, Huckleberry’s Restaurant and Tavern, offers a charming and casual experience with signature recipes using fresh local ingredients. It is the combination of these features which help The Fulton Steamboat Inn receive the title, “Lancaster’s Best Value,” as voted on by the contributors of TripAdvisor.com. "Why a steamboat in the middle of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?" The reason: Robert Fulton, the man most responsible for developing the idea of propelling boats by steam, was born just a few miles from this very location! Book passage today aboard the Fulton Steamboat Inn and discover the same style and dedication to comfort and fine dining that made the legendary riverboats famous! Call (800) 922-2229 or visit FultonSteamboatInn.com.
Superb Steaks, Fresh Seafood & Chicken Children’s Menu • Casual Attire • Reservations Accepted Serving Dinner Daily • Monday-Friday • 5:00pm-10:00pm Saturday • 4:30pm-10:00pm Sunday 4:00pm-9:00pm
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 35
(717) 687-8980 • www.jakeshomeaccents.com
On Route 30 in Paradise • 2954 Lincoln Highway East
with $20.00 purchase or more and this coupon. Limit one coupon per family. (Expires 08/31/14) Cookbook valued at $2.00
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A “His & Her” Tasting of September Farm Cheese by Clinton Martin
cheeses, and have collected our thoughts on our first foray as fromagers as follows.
Apple Cinnamon Cheddar His Reaction – This cheese is unusual, but pleasantly so. Laced with fresh apples you taste the delicious fruit of autumn with a cheddary bonus. I'm reminded of hot pie, fresh from the oven, cooling on a window sill.
The Rotelle family hand-crafts their cheeses from milk produced by their own herd of dairy cows.
W
hether as a centerpiece of an hors d’oeuvre or dessert plate, or simply melted between two slices of bread, cheese is one of the most versatile—and flavorful—of foods, and a perfect topic for our Annual Artisans & Heritage Issue. You might expect me to write about the Rotelle family who owns and are dedicated to the success of my favorite cheesery, September Farm Cheese. However, this story is not a story of a cheese family, but a story of a cheese tasting! A few months back, for this undertaking, I enlisted the help of my wife, she of exceptional palate (and taste in men for that matter). We chose four
Her Reaction – Really yummy. It has a hint of sweetness, and I have the unexplainable urge to melt it over a big bowl of apple crisp.
Spring Onion Jack His Reaction – Nice firm texture with a natural resistance on the tongue when you chew it. The onion flavor is fine and light, not overpowering but definitely present. Her Reaction – I like the soft yet firm texture. The light onion flavor spreads throughout the cheese, and I imagine it would go really well with vegetables.
Cranberry Orange Jack His Reaction – This cheese tastes like the holidays and makes me want to trim a Christmas tree, The light citrus flavor spreads joy throughout this soft, mild cheese.
Her Reaction – What a fun cheese! Soft and creamy with the cranberries adding a little crunch making this cheese fun to bite into. The flavors pop like little bursts when tasted. I would pair it with fruit, cake, or Christmas cookies.
Honeybrook Cheddar His Reaction – This cheddar is aged for three years, and you can tell! I love the pointed, sharp flavor. I could eat this with or in almost anything, especially a ham and tomato omelet. The sharpness is bitey, and welcomes with a “Hello, I am cheese!” This is cheddar as cheddar is supposed to be. Her Reaction – It calls for a jar of good mustard and a plate of crispy crackers. Bold and sharp, you won't take a nap sampling this heavyweight. I'm ready for more. There you have it. Tour the cheesery, sample all four of our favorites, and others, and take a wedge or three home. To visit September Farm Cheese, go East on RT 322 out of Blue Ball and travel less than 10 miles. September Farm Cheese is easy to spot off to your left. If you reach the town of Honey Brook you’ve gone too far. Call (610) 273-3552 for store hours. Shop online at septemberfarmcheese.com.
We have a large selection of baskets, quilted throws, men’s and ladies everyday accessories and gift items. Which includes luxury bath and spa cosmetics, jewelry, cookbooks, kitchen linens, candles, pottery, pet fancies, home decor, framed prints, and many more special items. Choose your basket and gift items and we will customize a lovely gift basket for you. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir for yourself while you are there.
With $15.00 purchase or more and this coupon. Only at: Not Just Baskets. Limit one coupon per purchase. (Expires 9/30/14.)
36 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Blue Collar Blue Ridge Produces Simply Beautiful Furniture by Clinton Martin
E
very piece of furniture, whether it’s purchased from a big-box store, a yard sale down the street, or a mom-and-pop shop downtown was made by someone… somewhere. What dictates the quality of the product isn’t so much who made it, but how it was made. The Amish and Mennonite craftsmen at Blue Ridge Furniture take painstaking steps to create furniture pieces that easily pass from one generation to the next without losing their luster. They take the steps that mass-produced imports simply won’t. The wood is solid hardwood, free from blemishes or impurities. Particle and Oriented Strand Board, common in lesser-quality furniture, are four-letter words to the skilled craftsmen at Blue Ridge. “Everything beautiful.” That’s long been their promise, but they don’t simply put lipstick on a pig by cutting corners. They work hard to build furniture that from the inside out is a gorgeous work of art, and therefore can’t be anything but their avowed “Everything Beautiful.” Blue Ridge Furniture’s showroom is right here in Amish Country, along Route 23 in the village of Churchtown. The manufacturing is done less than five miles away in a renovated barn. Their repertoire includes dozens of styles created to fit any home’s décor and every lifestyle. Classic, simple, traditional looks fit well in Amish Country, but by no means are the Amish woodworkers in their straw hats limited in creativity. Sleek, contemporary styles are also available, with fully customizable and made-toorder options ready for the customer’s vision. As the designers at Blue Ridge like to say, “Go ahead... dream a little. Or dream big. From chairs and side tables to full dining room and bedroom collections, we have something beautiful for everyone.” Blue Ridge Furniture is open daily except Sundays. The GPS address is 2014 Main Street, Narvon PA. Call ahead for hours, 717-445-6595. To browse online prior to your visit, log on to www.blueridgeheirlooms.com.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 37
Living with the Amish Part Three in a Series...
by Brad Igou
W
hile I was a college student, I did an independent study and had the rare opportunity to live and work with an Amish family for three months. During that time, as good anthropologists do, I kept a field diary. While such writings often reveal much more about the writer than about their subjects, these selections do offer a glimpse into what it is like for an “outsider” to live and work with an Amish family in an Amish community. An Amishman takes his "team" back to the barn after a day's work.
My Amish Diary –
Part One
September 8 My first day. It is 9:00 p.m. and all are about to go to sleep. John Miller and his wife, Sarah, have three children --- Elam (age 4), Rachel (age 2), and Sammy (age 1).
September 9 I got up at 5:30 a.m. when cows were being milked. I learned my first daily duty… climbing up the outside of the silo, pushing one of the little doors open, going inside, pitching the feed down, and distributing it to the cows. This is done morning and evening. In the afternoon, I helped fill the silo. Five men are helping each other fill their individual silos. I just put the corn on the conveyor belt, onto the machine that chops it finely and sends it to the top of the silo. The low point of the day came when it was time to clean out the manure from the cow shed. I should have a strong back and a nose ready for anything by the time I leave.
Photo Credit: Sharon Angotta
September 14 Fortunately, I have the easiest part of filling the silo --- feeding the corn stalks into the cutter. The others drive the team of two mules or horses and the wagon, pick up about 120 bundles of corn, and bring it back to the cutter, throwing them off to me. I just turn on the tractor that turns the cutter and catch the corn bundles. One of the men asked me, “Did you sleep well after handling all that corn?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “You’d sleep even better if you loaded the wagon all day.” Today I drove a team of two mules hauling a wagon. They asked me if I ever drove mules before. I said, “No, but I’ll try.” They said to go ahead, and with no more instruction than “Don’t worry, those mules won’t run away from you,” I was on my way.
September 20
We were filling silo at a neighbor’s when a lady came out on her porch and yelled that some horses were going down the road. John’s crazy team of horses (Mable and Elmer, especially Elmer) just took off with the wagon and went home. The neighbor hitched the horse he had to his buggy, picked us up, and took us to the farm, a distance of about half a mile. John was worried that the horses would ram into the stable door with the wagon as they tried to get it, but this did not happen.
September 24 Although Sunday is a day of rest for the Amish, a five hour long church service sitting on a backless bench got quite tiring for me. But it was the once-a-year baptism service, and I found it quite fascinating. On the way home from church as I was walking, I got a ride from an Amish boy
NEXT MONTH: This was an amazing experience that affected my life in many ways. Read about Lizzie’s birth of a baby at home, Thanksgiving dinner, and my final diary entry in our August issue.
September 22
Today was my first Amish church service and my first long buggy ride. One hill was too steep for the horse and we had to get out and push. I felt pretty uneasy at church, what with being stared at and so forth. People don’t stumble all over themselves trying to make you feel at home. Still, I never really felt unwanted, only uneasy.
John went away with a neighbor tonight to visit someone, and I was doing chores late. Sarah got worried about where I was and came looking. She thought maybe I had fallen down the silo. I said that I didn’t plan to, but if I did, I’d yell on the way down.
A bottle of homemade root beer broke upstairs and came down on the kitchen table, which was moved for supper. Sarah is pregnant, but helps milk the cows every day.
September 28
I have been here for 17 days. It is almost impossible to be bored or have nothing to do, and I doubt if I’d watch TV or play music if they were here, because of the long day. I have been incorporated into the family fairly well, and I believe I am already getting a feeling of what it is like to be a member of an Amish family. Although you work very long and hard, you feel that you are a necessary part of the family. Children follow parents and help in minor ways, and assume responsibilities early. I have had no need to spend any money while I have been here. It is perhaps as John said, “I didn’t need any pocket money and my parents provided food and clothing.”
Today was worth it all due to one thing --- Sarah’s homemade cinnamon rolls with icing. They were the best I’ve ever eaten, and I ate half a dozen!
September 10
September 12
I knew in his “courting buggy.” Riding in them makes riding in a car pretty dull. Besides, you can enjoy the scenery much more when you’re going slowly. I think I’d get too impatient at the time it takes to travel, though, so I’ll have to rule a courting buggy out for now.
38 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Immerse Yourself in the Amish Story WITNESS the spectacular “Jacob’s Choice” told with Disney-like Special Effects in the Amish Experience Theater.
EXPLORE the Amish Country Homestead, the region’s only Officially Designated Heritage Site Amish home.
TOUR the magnificent and rarely seen Amish Farmlands with a certified tour guide in complete comfort onboard one of our 14 passenger mini-shuttles. SATISFY yourself that you’re making the most from your Amish Experience...
• Since 1959, the area’s first, and still foremost, interpretative source of Amish Culture.
Open Daily 7 Days a Week
SIT in a desk at the new Fisher Amish schoolroom furnished authentically with desks and more from an actual Amish classroom.
RECEIVE a free Amish cookbook autographed by the author herself when you take our our Farmland Tour.
Designated a Heritage Site by the Lancaster County Planning Commission
FREE 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, at the Amish Experience Theater Box Office, of a regularly priced Supersaver, Theater/House Combo, or Amish Visit-in-Person Tour. BUGAN
RT 340 Between Bird-in-Hand & Intercourse at Plain & Fancy Farm
SAVE with our Super Saver package which For GPS: 3121 Old includes “Jacob’s Choice”, the Amish Philadelphia Pike • Ronks, PA Country Homestead and a 90 717.768.8400 Ext. 210 minute Amish farmlands Tour. AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 39
AmishExperience.com
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 well worth seeing, particularly the church built in 1787.
AV E
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Free Parking Welcome Center Train Station
772
To Lancaster and
30
MAIN ST.
501
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
Moravian Church Square
772
ORANGE STREET
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.
40 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Lititz Historical Foundation
CEDAR ST.
Lititz Springs Park
Free Parking
LOCUST ST.
LN
WATER ST.
CO
LITITZ
CEDAR ST.
LIN
501 N. BROAD ST.
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.
TO BRICKERVILLE ANTIQUES
S. BROAD ST.
T
here really is no place quite like Lititz, and visitors should plan time there while in Amish Country.
N. STURGIS LANE (Parking)
Historic Lititz • A Hometown Treasure
8,500 Square feet of home decor on display at Country Creations.
“30 Years of Funny” at Rainbow Dinner Theatre
Quality Antiques & Collectibles in a Restored 1857 Barn
by Caleb Bressler
T
heatre and dining out are two of my favorite pastimes. The two create a perfect evening, or afternoon, out when combined at Amish Country’s “comedy only” Rainbow Dinner Theatre. Located in Paradise on Route 30 East, Rainbow is proudly celebrating its 30th anniversary of over 5,000 performances and one million customers...impressive regardless of where a theater calls its home. Boasting “all comedy, all the time,” the shows have no dramatic monologues, no big musical numbers, but there are tears, tears of laughter, that is. Now, this doesn’t mean you won't find touching moments in the Rainbow productions. Indeed, the current show, “Always a Bridesmaid” has them aplenty. But, as with all Rainbow shows, "Bridesmaid" is mostly about having fun and laughing. As a dinner theatre, there is ample time to eat and enjoy the companionship of fellow diners before the show. A fresh salad awaits you at your table, followed by a buffet of select entrees and sides. For this particular luncheon, baked chicken, fish,
ROUTE 322 & 501
Celebrating 7 Years!
5 Miles North of Lititz at Brickerville House Shops
10% OFF
Open Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
Purchases With This Ad Expires 12/24/14 ACN
2 E. 28th Division Hwy. Lititz, Lancaster County PA
www.brickervilleantiques.com • 717-626-0786 carved roast beef, and tortellini were the entrees, with dinner rolls and vegetables to provide a very full meal. Before the show, your server brings you your choice of a baked dessert. I wisely chose the chocolate peanut butter cake. Don’t forget the ice cream! “Always a Bridesmaid” is a charming tale of four friends who had promised to be bridesmaids
in each other’s weddings. However, their roles appear without end, as weddings keep popping up (or threatening to) in the hallowed halls of the wedding facility, Laurelton Oaks. The show begins with Monette, who has already gone through two husbands, preparing to marry her third. Per their understanding, her three friends are there to be her bridesmaids. There
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 41
is the ever-optimistic (and somewhat ditzy) Libby Ruth, the sarcastic but likable Charlie, and the blunt court judge, Deedra. You can already tell that these friends are destined to drive each other crazy!
approach to the tasks at hand, seeks to inject order into the proceedings. But even she cannot stop an escaping bride and a pre-wedding fistfight that make for as much craziness as you can imagine.
Over the seven years that follow, things continue to go hilariously haywire for the four ladies. Due to their largely different personalities, they engage in the quarreling that all good friends endure, adding constant humor to the show.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Always A Bridesmaid”. It runs through August 9. Call Rainbow Dinner Theatre for details and tickets at 717-6874300. Don’t forget to check out the Rainbow website for upcoming performances, pricing and more at www.rainbowdinnertheatre.com. The address for comedy in Amish Country is 3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, PA 17562, right behind Best Western Inn and historic Revere Tavern.
It is impossible to go on without mentioning the ubiquitous Sedalia, the wedding overseer at Laurelton Oaks. Decked out in her most sparkling attire, Sedalia, with her no-nonsense
Shop in the Shade...
Shupp’s Grove Bottle Fest July 19 & 20
(June 18, Early Buyers 3-7pm, $20 gate fee) July 5 & 6 • Paintings, Prints & Sculptures Yard Sale Saturday! July 12 & 13 • Sports Memorabilia Junior Dealers - One Free Set-up Space is Given To Each Jr. Dealer (18 or younger) next to a table rented by an accompanying adult. July 26 & 27 • Christmas & Holiday
Visit ShuppsGrove.com or Call 717-484-4115 Special themes or shows every weekend.
GPS: 607 Willow St. • Reinholds, PA 17569
42 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
Exciting Eats and Excellent Brews Meet at Union Barrel Works by Clinton Martin
L
ancaster was once called the “Little Munich of America” with the volume of beers being produced here. Prohibition dried up that distinction, but in the late 1980’s the taps started flowing again. Tom Rupp was one of a small group of brewmasters dedicated to restoring Lancaster’s brewing tradition. He worked as an assistant at one of the area’s first craft breweries, saving his pennies for the day he could open his own place. It’s been almost ten years since the art of the Brew Pub took up residence at 6 N. Reamstown Road just off Route 272 north of Ephrata. Tom brews a dozen craft beers on site and his skilled kitchen staff creates such unique offerings as elk meatloaf and wild boar sausages, delighting the beer aficionado and the epicurean explorer alike. UBW is open daily except Mondays. Call (717) 335-7837 for hours and directions.
Crafters of Any Age Love Flower & Home Marketplace by Clinton Martin
A
dults who love crafting and creating were often (but not always) kids who grew up getting their hands on paper mache, glue sticks, construction paper, and colored pencils. In adulthood, their craft medium is invariably much broader, but the core characteristic remains – people love to create. In Amish Country of course this sentiment is as strong as anywhere else, with DIY supplies found in every town and village. Sure you can buy a quilt, but for every store that will sell you the quilt, there is a store that will sell you every individual element you would need to make one yourself.
Just one of a jillion flavors you can create, taste, and make a commercial for at the Turkey Hill Experience. Place your reservation and buy tickets now at TurkeyHillExperience.com. Columbia Exit of Rt. 30 | 301 Linden Street, Columbia, PA 17512 ©2014 Turkey Hill Dairy 1-844-VISIT-TH (1-844-847-4884)
Without question, the area’s Amish and Mennonite populations, known particularly for their penchant for handiwork, help support the thriving craft industry as well. No matter the reasons, the ultimate conclusion is that Amish Country is a crafter's paradise, and the crown jewel is undoubtedly the Flower & Home Marketplace.
Wilkum to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Friends!
Amenities • All Age Resort • Clubhouse & Gnome Cafe • Swimming Pools • Miniature Golf • Recreational Facilities • Lake Access • Laundry Facilities • Wi-Fi Available • Specialty Rentals that include a Tree House, Shipwreck & More!
The Flower & Home Marketplace is Lancaster County’s largest floral and home retail store. Spread over 90,000 square feet of shopping space, every imaginable indulgence for the homemaker, decorator, crafter, creator, host or hostess can be found. Flower & Home Marketplace turns an eye to the youthful side of the crafting public this Summer of 2014 every Wednesday from 10:00am12:00pm when the store will be hosting a Free Kids Camp. Parents are able to watch their children create their own decorated flower pots, make their own greeting cards, etc. Whatever the fun activity, the whole family can play along and, you guessed it, these kids might just grow up to be lifelong craft enthusiasts. When they do, the Flower & Home Marketplace will surely be a constant companion, as it is now
Pay no membership or resort fees! 576 Yellow Hill Road Narvon, PA 17555 (888) 480-4462
www.lakeinwoodcampground.com
for a nation of homemakers and designers. The Marketplace is located in the town of Blue Ball at 196 Broad Street, Blue Ball PA 17506, just south of the intersection of Routes 23 and 322. The store is open Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays. Call 717-351-0015 or visit flowerandhomemarketplace.com for more information.
2,000 Pounds of Chicken Cooked Weekly at Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 43
Cider Pressin’ Time at Kauffman’s Fruit Farm by Clinton Martin
N
o need to wait for fall to taste freshly pressed apple cider! When you’re in Amish Country you’re in Apple Cider heaven. Kauffman’s Fruit Farm along Route 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse has been pressing cider for over one hundred years, winning numerous awards for their iconic beverage, even beating out competitors from much bigger, more apple-famous States. On a recent summer afternoon, I had the privilege of stepping behind the scenes at the market. Tony, one of the cider managers, was my tour guide, leading me from the loading dock, through the bottling line, into the pasteurization room, onto the pressing floor and finally into the cooling room. I had followed the entire route of the apples from fruit to beverage - in reverse. The process was fascinating to observe as I learned how, to retain freshness (perhaps the key to the Kauffman Cider edge), the apples are brought into the cooling room immediately after being picked. The Kauffmans may have one of the largest cider presses in the region, but they are first and foremost a fruit orchard, producing many different varieties of apples, pears, peaches and other fruits. So, the apples I saw sitting in the rustic wooden crates had been hand-picked within walking distance of the very spot they now rested – at a cool 33 degrees.
I could have stayed in the cooling room longer to hear the full story of how the Kauffman family chooses just the right blend of many types of apples to create their one-of-a-kind cider, but the 33 degrees were not quite as comfortable for me as they were for the apples! We moved into the pressing room, which was humming along with state-of-the-art equipment combined with good old-fashioned hard work. The apples are still pressed in much the same way they were hundreds of years ago. Layer after layer of ground up apples are placed between sheathes of burlap, their juices slowly, forcefully, squeezed out. The three-man team I watched just happened to have high-tech washers, grinders, and pressers at their disposal. Of course, in the end, elbow grease to mash in the layers of apples was unavoidable. A device akin to a canoe paddle sufficed for this purpose. I stood well clear as the powerful hydraulic cylinder pulled the layers of apples into a slow, impressive hold. The beautiful brownish cider dripped and drizzled into a bin, which then fed into cooling tanks. I chuckled to myself as I noticed the cooling tanks were none other than the exact models I often see in use at dairy farms. It seems the tanks cool apple cider as effectively as milk! After walking through the bottling line and seeing the arrested animation one step away from a flurry of labels, bottles, and boxes, I learned of yet another interesting connection to the area’s dairy farmers. The “spent” apple pulp, the flesh of the apples left over after the cider has been pressed out, is actually carted away and sold to local dairy farmers as feed. The apple pulp is a highly nutritious dietary supplement for many a dairy cow in Amish Country. It is actually quite a treat for them, and I could imagine their tails wagging like puppy dogs when the apple pulp truck comes ambling down the lane.
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, PO Box 414, Bird-In-Hand, PA 17505
44 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
But, the treat that most of us look forward to when we see the Kauffman’s Fruit Farm truck is the singularly unique taste of Kauffman’s Cider in a glass, either cold, or hot with a cinnamon stick. People buy it by the pint, half gallon and gallon. Whatever your cider fantasy, you can fulfill it with a visit to Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market on Route 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. The market is open every day except Sunday. Call 717-768-7112 for hours.
Jake’s Country Trading Post Goes the Extra Yard for Your Lawn by Clinton Martin
C
all Ponce do Leon --- the Fountain of Youth has been found! I saw it myself with my very own eyes on a recent visit to Jake’s Country Trading Post. Well, maybe not exactly. However, I did happen to discover a most grand variety of various garden ponds, fountains, water features, and statues at one of my favorite shopping haunts, Jake’s Country Trading Post, as much an outdoor store as it is a wonderful haven for good country shopping. The retail “floor” for much of this unique store is simply good, old-fashioned Mother Earth. It is here (the store’s front lawn) that I often prefer to peruse, finding interesting merchandise such as wrought iron decorations, concrete lawn ornaments and features, plenty of planters and other vessels necessary for anyone with a green thumb, and of course outdoor furniture and patio needs.
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I especially am fond of the ponds, including the line of outdoor fountains designed to resemble traditional hand-pumps drawing water into rustic barrels. It is a completely self-contained continuously running system that only looks slightly weathered and old-fashioned. It is designed to work unfailingly for years. My yard beckons for one. I’ve even dreamed of setting one up in conjunction with a fish pond, which they also sell at Jake’s…everything but the fish, that is!
Spring (April/May) June July August September October Winter (Nov/Dec)
Find your own outdoor decorative dream, and make it reality, with a visit to Jake’s Country Trading Post, located at 2954 Lincoln Highway East, Gordonville PA, 17529. For more information call 717-6878980, or visit www.JakesCTP.com.
Train Your Sights on Amtrak by Clinton Martin
H
ave you ever taken the Subway in Lancaster? Neither have I, because there isn’t one. But, Lancaster does have many options when it comes to traveling through the Red Rose City. Of course you can drive your car, take a bus, or hail a cab, but often the most relaxing is simply riding the rails. Amtrak connects cities all over the Country, yet each route feels distinctly unique to that area. After all, when you are pulling up to the Lancaster train station, rolling Amish farmland suddenly turns into a vibrant downtown with a lively arts scene. As you disembark, the stately old train station is also intriguing. You can literally see the many decades that this bulwark has withstood as styles of architecture sit beside or atop one another, including the latest of touches providing a modern face-lift. So now you’ve arrived in Lancaster. No stress from traffic. No double-takes at gas prices. No hair-raising cab rides. Just a lovely city in the middle of a world-famous County to explore. For those without transportation to Lancaster wishing to visit Amish Country, Connective Tours (a division of Philadelphia Trolley Works in Philadelphia) runs day trips to Amish Country via train to Lancaster. Transportation
from the train station is included to the Amish Experience at Plain and Fancy Farm. Here you will enjoy "Jacob's Choice" at the Amish Experience Theater, a tour of an old order Amish house, and the Amish Farmland shuttle tour. You return to Philadelphia in the early evening. Call 215-925-8687 for details or visit PhillyTour.com. Of course, turn the tables and you repeat the script with a new plot twist. Boarding a train in Lancaster, you can see many interesting neighboring towns, such as picturesque Mt. Joy and Elizabethtown. Perhaps, the State Capitol is more your style? With exhilarating nightlife, grandiose museums, and plenty of you’ll-only-find-ithere attractions, Harrisburg is an easy and convenient ride on the westbound. Turning your attention East, you’ll find yourself transported in style and comfort to Philadelphia. Anyone who knows American history knows Philadelphia, but you could probably use a refresher course by visiting America’s most historic square mile. Besides,
the City of Brotherly Love has embraced many of today’s trends, even becoming clear leaders in what’s "hot" these days. Famous TV chefs ply Philly’s restaurant trade, an exceptional scene for nightlife wakes up your inner dance diva, and world-class sports throw the city into delight with victories, and into pouting with defeat. Finding things to do in Lancaster, and the neighboring destinations, isn’t difficult at all. Getting there is usually half the battle. Why not forget all the woes of getting there and just take the train? You’ll probably get there faster, spend less money, and you can actually concentrate on taking in the scenery instead of looking for that highway exit that you just passed.
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 45
The Ever Crafty Pennsylvania Dutch (Continued from Page 6)
German Reformed Church, although French Huguenots, Moravians, and others were also absorbed into this group. Irwin further notes that “the Pennsylvania Germans nurtured and maintained a unique folk culture that has transcended centuries while interacting with and reacting to the dominant culture.” Irwin says that Abraham Lincoln’s cabin birthplace “was built using German log technology” and that his grandfather grew up in Berks County, part of what we like to call “Amish Country.” So the log cabin, along with the Christmas tree and so much more can be considered a Pennsylvania German contribution to the wider American culture. Today the Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors continue to make affordable crafts and products for the contemporary shopper, although it is easy to forget the diversity of objects and the influences these artisans have had. Irwin’s book looks at a broad range of items made from paper, cloth, leather, wood, glass, clay, iron, and silver. As for design elements that are well-known, we need only look at some of the barns in Berks County, painted with their brightly colored “hex signs.” The Amish never adopted these decorations, which have been popularized as being superstitious and a way to ward off evil spirits or bring good luck. In reality, they are just decorations, with designs that can be seen on furniture, birth certificates, and other highly decorated documents referred to as “fraktur,” which were Americanized illuminated manuscripts. Nonetheless, they have become popular souvenirs and Jacob Zook, the “Hex Man of Paradise,” even created a custom hex sign for President Eisenhower, who had Pennsylvania German ancestry and made his home in nearby Gettysburg. Today you’ll find the circular hex signs at many area gift shops, including at the bakery that “made shoo fly pie famous,” Dutch Haven. One of my favorite paper related crafts is “scherenschnitte,” which is the cutting of paper into intricate patterns and designs. Modern artists today continue to create these delicate works of art, which is not surprising since paper has always been used for cutting quilting patterns. Quilts, of course, take us into the realm of folk art made of cloth, which also includes samplers and hooked rugs. Here the Amish and Mennonites continue to be associated with the making of beautifully colored bed coverings and wall-hangings. Indeed,
Primitive and country furniture at Country Creations is always decked out in fun ways.
quilters come from all over the world to Amish Country and visitors find everything from quilts to quillows to potholders as ideal remembrances of the area to take home. Quilts and the cloth to make them can be found at many nearby locations, some right on Amish farms. In this issue of AMISH COUNTRY NEWS, be sure to check out Country Lane Quilts, Dutchland Quilt Patch, Esh Handmade Quilts, J&B Quilts, Lapp’s Quilts, Riehl’s Quilts, Smucker’s Quilts, Witmer Quilt Shop, and Sauder’s and Zook’s Fabric Stores. Like quilts, furniture is a legendary product of Pennsylvania German skill. And furniture continues to be produced by craftsmen here in Amish Country, be it chests, cabinets, cupboards, chairs, clocks, or more contemporary dining room and bedroom sets, and now even entertainment centers made by generations of skilled woodworkers. In our pages you’ll find an excellent sampling of shops making or selling furniture, including Blue Ridge Furniture, Country Creations, Country Home Furniture, and Gish’s Furniture. And don’t overlook the article on Lapp’s Toys, for those delighting in traditional wooden novelties and furniture sized for dolls and children. Who knows, maybe John Lapp is a descendant of Amishman Henry Lapp, whose pages of the 19th century “Craftsman Handbook” now reside in the Philadelphia Museum of Art! While less visible today, the Pennsylvania Dutch also wove baskets and hats from wood and straw. Even now a handful of Amish weave baskets for sale to visitors and the unique “diaper baskets” mothers take
46 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
to those long Amish church services, not to mention the ubiquitous Amish straw hat. On a recent visit to an Amish hat shop it was quite a treat to see the shelves lined with all sizes of black felt and straw hats and Amish dads with little boys in tow trying them on. In the realm of pottery, you will find many craftsmen today working to produce traditional redware, stoneware, and “sgraffito” pieces, including decorative plates, bowls, jars, mugs, etc. One Amishman has even taken up this craft “throwing” his creations on a potter’s wheel and baking them in earthy colors. Some of the tradition of work in iron and leather can still be seen today in local shops, whether they are leathermakers at Amish harness shops or the work of the blacksmith or metalworker. Several Amish work creating metal lawn ornaments, hinges, hooks, and hangers. Like their fellow furniture makers, the machines they use are not operated with electricity, but with clever combinations involving diesel engines, compressed air, pneumatics, and hydraulics. Seeing such Amish workshops is a lesson in ingenuity. and, to see the final product visit Jake’s Country Store on RT 30 East. And so the tradition of making things with your hands lives on among the Pennsylvania Dutch, whether it be in quilts, furniture, birth certificates, or the hand-stamped Christmas cards so popular among our Amish neighbors. Be they works of art or simple, practical items for the home, family, or friends, they are all part of a glorious tradition that traces its roots back to Europe centuries ago. More than likely you will end up taking a little piece of that legacy home with you during your visit with us!
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An (S) after the name denotes Open Sunday
ATTRACTIONS
Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides (S)..................... 51 Abe's Buggy Rides................................................... 15 Aimee & Daria's Doll Outlet (S).............................5 Amish Country Homestead (S)........................... 39 Amish Country Tours (S)....................................... 10 Amish Experience Theater (S)............................. 39 Amtrak (S)..................................................................45 Choo Choo Barn (S)............................................... 19 Crystal Cave Park (S)..............................................43 Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (S)......................... 17 Dutch Haven (S)..........................................................3 Ghost Tour (S)........................................................... 19 Hershey’s Chocolate World (S)...........................42 Intercourse Pretzel Factory................................... 30 Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.................................40 Mennonite Information Center........................... 15 National Toy Train Museum (S).......................... 19 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (S).................. 41 Rainbow Dinner Theatre (S)................................ 28 Strasburg Rail Road (S).......................................... 19 Turkey Hill Experience (S).....................................43 US Hot Air Balloon Team (S)............................... 28 Village Greens Mini-Golf (S)................................ 18 Water's Edge Mini-Golf.......................................... 12
LET'S EAT
Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop..........................................8 Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord............................................................2 Good 'N Plenty (S).................................................. 13 Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn (S).............. 20 Intercourse Village Olde Mill Restaurant......... 29 Kauffman's Fruit Farm...............................................8 Miller's Smorgasbord (S)....................................... 37 Mount Hope Wine & Beer Gallery (S).................9 Plain & Fancy Farm (S)........................................... 11 Revere Tavern (S)..................................................... 34 September Farm Cheese....................................... 14 Shady Maple Smorgasbord.................................. 25 Union Barrel Works (S)..........................................42 Zook's Homemade Chicken Pies....................... 31
LODGING
Country Inn of Lancaster (S)................................ 21 Eden Resort & Suites (S)....................................... 21 Flory's Cottages & Camping (S).......................... 21 Lake in Wood Campground (S)..........................43
SHOPPING
Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market.............................. 13 Blue Ridge Furniture............................................... 22 Brickerville Antiques (S)........................................ 41 Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall (S).................... 36 Country Creations.................................................... 20 Country Home Furniture....................................... 25 Country Housewares Store.................................. 23 Country Knives.......................................................... 30 Country Lane Quilts................................................ 31 Dutchland Quilt Patch............................................ 29
Esh Handmade Quilts............................................ 29 Flower and Home Marketplace.......................... 26 Gish's Furniture & Amish Heirlooms ................ 16 Gordonville Bookstore........................................... 30 J & B Quilts and Crafts............................................ 18 Jake's Country Trading Post (S)........................... 35 Killer Hats (S)............................................................ 34 Lapp’s Quilts & Crafts.............................................. 19 Lapp's Toys................................................................. 12 Li’l Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm..... 18 Martin's Trailside Express...................................... 24
Not Just Baskets (S)................................................ 36 Old Candle Barn....................................................... 30 Renninger's Antique Market (S).........................42 Riehl's Quilts & Crafts............................................. 32 Sauder's Fabrics........................................................ 31 Sam's Man Cave....................................................... 28 Shupp's Grove (S)....................................................42 Smucker's Quilts....................................................... 23 Stagecoach Shops................................................... 31 Witmer Quilt Shop................................................... 23 Zook's Fabric Store.................................................. 31
What's Coming Up in August? Special Events & Merriment Issue Everyone agrees -- there are endless reasons to visit Amish Country – all year round...the peaceful countryside, exquisite Amish-made quilts, crafts, furniture and more, restaurants serving up traditional and modern menus, fun, one of-a-kind attractions, and fantastic shopping...no matter the season. Yet there are times when special events make Amish Country even more desirable. August is for some the best time of year. The Glorious Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire kicks off and one of Amish Country’s best benefit auctions, the annual Hospice of Lancaster County sale charms with its quilts, foods, and big-ticket prizes. These and other August events are all featured in our Special Events & Merriment Issue. Don’t miss it!
: Deadline
December 31st, 2014
Calling All Pho tographers! 2014 Amish Co un
try News Photo 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, 2014 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 high resolution (300 dpi+) in .jpg or .tiff format to: editor@amishnews.com (Please put “2014 photo contest” in the subject line)
AmishNews.com • July 2014 • Amish Country News • 47
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July 2014 COVER STORY
Aimee & Daria’s Doll Outlet..................................4
FEATURE ARTICLES
Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides............................27 Amish Visit-in-Person Tour....................................33 Amtrak.................................................................45 Blue Ride Furniture..............................................37 Dutch Apple Dinner Theater..................................17 Dutch Haven........................................................14 Esh's Handmade Quilts.........................................12 Flower & Home Marketplace...............................43 Fulton Steamboat Inn...........................................34 Gish's Furniture....................................................23 Half-Stitched The Musical.......................................7 Jake's Country Trading Post..................................44 Kauffman's Fruit Farm..........................................44 Lapp's Toys............................................................8 Plain & Fancy Farm.............................................11 Rainbow Dinner Theatre.......................................41 Rumspringa Brewing Company..............................31 Sam's Man Cave...................................................21 September Farm Cheese........................................36 Shady Maple Complex..........................................24 Smucker's Quilts..................................................16 Stagecoach Shops................................................12 Strasburg Rail Road.............................................15 Theme Article - PA Dutch Crafts.............................6 Union Barrel Works..............................................42 Witmer's Quilts....................................................20 Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies............................28
REGULAR FEATURES
Brad Igou’s Amish Series......................................38 Country Home Furniture.......................................25 Dutch Haven Lancaster Landmark...........................3 Publisher’s Message ............................................50
AREA MAP & GUIDES
Advertiser Index ..................................................47 Bird-in-Hand ....................................................7-12 Intercourse......................................................29-32 Lititz...............................................................40-41 Lodging ...............................................................21 New Holland/Blue Ball.....................................22-26 Paradise..........................................................34-37 Strasburg .......................................................18-20
PO Box 414 • Bird-in-Hand • PA 17505
(717) 768-8400, Ext. 218
AmishNews.com
Published by Dutchland Tours Inc. Brad Igou • Editor-in-Chief brad@amishnews.com Clinton Martin • Director: Sales & Marketing clinton@amishnews.com Caleb Bressler • Associate Editor Kirk Simpson • Graphic Designer
For Advertising Information Contact Clinton Martin (717) 768-8400 ext. 217 450,000 copies distributed annually by subscription, and at over 300 motels, information centers and businesses in PA Dutch Country. Copyright ©2014. All contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior approval of the publisher.
Publisher's Message One Room, Eight Grades, One Teacher
S
chool is out for the summer, and I miss the sight of Amish children walking along the road with their school lunch boxes while on my way to work in the morning. So, I was fascinated when the June 1st edition of CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment about one-room schools, and it had nothing to do with the Amish! CBS claims there are about 200 one-room schools across America. They obviously were not including the Amish schools since there are about 250 here in the Lancaster Amish settlement alone! According to the report… As late as 1913, half of the country’s schoolchildren were enrolled in the country’s 200,000 one-room schools. But after the First World War, one-room schools started to close, as people moved into cities and small schools started to consolidate. So for most of us, the one-room school is now just folklore -- the kind that Laura Ingalls Wilder brought to life in “Little House on the Prairie.” The report focused on two one-room schools in Montana and Michigan. At the Divide School in Montana, teacher Judy Boyle, not unlike an Amish teacher, might have as many as 30 students in grades K to eight, although this year she has but three. “I have teacher meetings once a week. It’s with me, myself and I. We get along really well!” There are several characteristics these schools have in common with those you’ll find here, although there are no iPads being used in the Amish classroom! As in Amish schools, students have to clean the school regularly. This teaches responsibility and instills the work ethic. Older children often help the younger. And those in the lower grades often “eavesdrop” on the others and start hearing about things they will study in a higher grade. One mother in Michigan actually chose to send her son to a one-room school, rather than a bigger one for this reason. “I remember last year he came from kindergarten… ‘Mom, what
50 • Amish Country News • July 2014 • AmishNews.com
by Brad Igou is the Silver War?’ He didn’t know it was the Civil War. But he hears the older kids talking.” Most importantly, a teacher in a one-room school gets to know the students, their parents, and their environment after watching them grow up and teaching them 180 days a year for eight years. Amish youth, of course, end their education with the eighth grade and go home to start honing the skills for an occupation they will likely have as adults. But for the students in the non-Amish schools, they have the challenge of transitioning to a high school with perhaps thousands of students. Student John Dupuis said this was difficult at first, but in time he made friends, was in the top ranks academically, and ready to go to college for a degree in computer science. He attributed his success to the push for education in the one-room school. “There was no discouragement. It was always, what can you learn, what can you do? You can do this. You will learn this.” While my point here is not to suggest one way of schooling is better than another, it is to remind us that the true role of education is to provide students the skills they ultimately will need as adults. While what happens after grade eight is very different in the Amish and non-Amish world, the one-room school is far from an archaic leftover or relic of the past. The special learning, caring and friendships that develop last a lifetime. All of this helps explain why some Amish fathers here were put in jail for refusing to send their children to consolidated schools in the first half of the 20th century. In fact, it wasn’t until the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1972 that the Amish were finally granted the right to finish education at the eighth grade and have their own private one-room schools. Grounding its decision on Amish religious beliefs and traditions, the court said… There can be no assumption that today’s majority is “right,” and the Amish and others like them are “wrong.” A way of life that is odd or even erratic but interferes with no rights or interests of others is not to be condemned because it is different. While I’m not eager for summer to come to an end, I am looking forward to seeing those young Amish scholars walking along Route 340 once again as they head off to school in the morning, knowing that here at least, an American tradition is alive and well.
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After Irene and Ora Jay Eash lose their two daughters in a tragic accident, they are haunted by the thought that they may not see their girls again in heaven if their works aren’t sufficient. Plain Faith is the true story of the Eash’s search for hope, as they question their Amish beliefs and learn that grace is enough to ensure their place in heaven. You will be inspired by their faith, reinvigorated to study God’s word and discover things about the Amish community you never knew before.
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