Amish Country News October 2024

HANDMADE is Our Heritage

From Families Who Make the "RIEHL" Difference

Our farm features 100 local family craft businesses offering hand made products. All locally made!

• Quilts to Brighten Your Home

Discover the beauty of Traditional Amish Quilts with wide selections of King, Queen or Single.

• Country Gifts & Crafts

The ultimate gift waits for you including souvenirs, Quillows, hand bags & purses, leather goods, things for the kids, for your baby, and more!

• Body Care

All natural body care made in Lancaster County, PA, including lotions, soaps, lip balm and more.

• For the Home

Decorate your space and bring it new light including kitchen items, home decor, pillows, lap throws, wall hangings, bird houses & feeders, brooms and more.

Mon.–Sat. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., CLOSED SUN Evenings by appointment only. For our catalog or information call

247 East Eby Rd., Leola, PA 17540

From Rt. 340 take Rt. 772 West. Right on Stumptown Rd. then right on Eby Rd.

We’re the First Farm on the Left — LOOK FOR OUR SIGN! Whether

Travelers have been traversing Lancaster County along Route 30 for well over two centuries. And for over 70 years, a very special building has signaled their arrival in Amish Country. It has a legitimate claim on being the area’s oldest visitor landmark. Most importantly, it’s the “place that made shoo–fly pie famous.” That iconic structure is the Dutch Haven windmill.

With a history dating back to the beginnings of tourism here, the building is rich in memories. From the time it started as a luncheonette in 1920 right up to the present, it has remained most famous for shoo–fly pie, served warm with whipped cream. The Dutch Haven shoo–fly pie has even been mentioned in a TIME magazine article.

Today, as soon as you walk in, you’ll be offered a free sample of that same delicious, gooey pie. Some 40,000 pies are baked annually, using the original (secret) recipe. Visitors are still encouraged to “Take one for yourself or send one to someone nice.” You can buy and ship pies home at the store or at their “online shop,” where you’ll find other local crafts as well.

Yes, Dutch Haven is much more than pies, with over 10,000 unique gift items, foods, and collectibles. Some of the most popular are jams, jellies, and canned goods, noodles, cedar chests, hex signs, quilted spice mats, Amish straw hats, jewelry and gemstones, Dutch Delft tiles, Amish dolls, onyx and soapstone animals, trivets, metal stars, Tiffany lamps, Amish romance novels, framed prints, plenty of T–shirts

AN AMISH COUNTRY LANDMARK

and postcards, and a tremendous selection of Amish–made outdoor furniture. It’s an eclectic mix, to say the least.

As you explore, you’ll discover lots of other “surprises” around every corner. Expect the unexpected! And don’t forget the Amish–style root beer in the barrel.

Dutch Haven is now open Mondays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Visit our website for information. For more info about this Lancaster County landmark, call 717.687.0111. Look forward to your free sample when you walk in under the welcoming arms of the windmill for this truly is the place that made shoo–fly pie famous.

By Clinton Martin

Amish Country is known as a destination for many reasons, clip-clopping buggies, handmade craftsmanship, fresh from-the-land foods… Ah the food! Lancaster County is known nation-wide for delicious, freshly picked, wholesome edibles. Who can resist scratch-made,

down-home classics cooked with love like grandma used to make? If you are reading this having already arrived in Amish Country, or you’re on your way here, you’ve picked a wonderful time to experience the area. October is harvest season, with the bounty of the season now mature and ready to pick.

For many visitors to Lancaster County, the trip is about tasting these tempting dishes, but where to go to get a real taste of Amish Country?

Head down just about any back road and you are bound to find a road-side stand selling what’s in season. But, for a growing number

of ardent fans, the best way to taste the bounty of the PA Dutch region is to tuck into an expertly filled, carefully baked Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pie.

Zook’s specializes in homemade chicken pies, hence the name. But, what started out as solely a Chicken Pie bakery has now expanded into sausage pies, beef pies, and even a savory vegetable pie. The bakery also has a line of scrumptious apple dumplings, and various jams, jellies, pickles, noodles, preserves, and now including tasty premade sandwiches, soups, and scrumptious baked goods are available at their newer location with a completely renovated retail section in the new bakery storefront. There’s a ton of parking now too!

Zook’s is not a restaurant, but rather a bakery that mixes masterfully the pies into a fresh or frozen preparation,

Zook's not only makes Chicken, Beef and Sausage pies, but delicious mouth watering Apple Dumplings too!

ready for you to take home, to the campsite, RV, or hotel where you finish them o for a dinner you’ll not soon forget. If you are concerned about getting your frozen pies home, Zook’s has you covered. They have insulated travel bags with cool packs available for a modest sum that you can stu your purchases in to keep them properly till you get home.

For the most authentic experience, go directly to the bakery, but if you can’t get there, Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies are sold at a number of area farmers markets, independent grocery stores, and unique retailers. Find out where you can get a Zook’s pie by calling the bakery at (717) 768-0239. You’ll have to leave a message, but you can expect a call back. You can visit the bakery in person by pointing your GPS to 3427 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, PA 17562. Or visiting their website https://reallancastercounty.com/ zooks-homemade-chicken-pies/.

Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies is open daily except for Sunday. No matter how you get your hands on a Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pie rest assured this is not your run-of-the-mill, frozen-food-section, mass-produced pie at the local big box grocery chain. These pies are absolutely delicious, and will redefine the pot-pie genre for your palate. Bon Appetite!

Antiquing in Amish Country

By Ed Blanchette

Do you enjoy searching for antiques? Perhaps you are looking for that special something, or you just enjoy searching for a surprise to add to your home decor. Maybe you hope to find an item worthy of an “Antique Roadshow.” Whatever you discover, once you find it, it becomes your personal treasure.

What makes Lancaster County such a great place to go antiquing? One obvious answer would be that this area has a rich history going back hundreds of years to the first settlers in the early 1700s. Many of us have stu in our attics that we have forgotten about, or inherited. Who knows what may be out there either at a yard sale

or an antique shop? Here in Lancaster County we boast thousands of antique shops and dealers. The Adamstown area alone has over 3,000 antiques dealers, and is known as Antiques Capital, U.S.A. The many locations stretch out along Route 272, just o Pennsylvania Turnpike, Exit 286.

Whether you are after a rarity, or just something old that intrigues you, you’ll find everything from sheet music to music boxes, pocket watches to kitchen sinks, nostalgic clothes to beautiful wardrobes to hang them in. Glassware, crafts, toys, clothes, artwork, china, quilts and fabrics, memorabilia...the list is endless!

Harvest for Habitat

High deer populations can lead to habitat damage like over-browsing that reduces available food, prevents forest habitat regeneration, and threatens deer and other species.

Harvest for Herd Health

Reducing deer abundance and promoting healthy habitat can help produce bigger, healthier deer and slow the spread of diseases, including CWD.

Harvest for the Hunting Future

Harvesting does isn’t just important for promoting healthy habitat and deer this year — it’s critical to the future of hunting in Pennsylvania.

By Clinton Martin

Lancaster Farmland Trust is a most compelling organization. Their slogan “Save the Lancaster You Love” sums up well what they do. A private, non-profit dedicated to vigorously accelerating the permanent protection and stewardship of farmland, Lancaster Farmland Trust helps farmers ensure that their farmland remains farmland forever.

This is done through a conservation easement. This is a legally binding contract that permanently keeps the protected land available for agricultural use. The landowner still owns the farm, and they can still choose to sell it or transfer ownership to their children. But when they do, the conservation easement remains in e ect. Once an easement is signed, Lancaster Farmland Trust “stewards” it forever. They monitor all their preserved farms annually to

SAVE THE LANCASTER YOU LOVE

check in with the farmer, help implement conservation practices and ensure that farmland stays farmland. If the land changes hands, they continue working with the new landowner.

From the very beginning, the fact that Lancaster Farmland Trust was not government-run was critical. Founder Amos Funk, who recognized a need to help farmers preserve, conserve, and steward their land, sought to create a private, independent, not-for-profit group that would appeal to the Plain Sect farmers of Lancaster County.

Knowing that suits and ties, with government badges, are often viewed with great skepticism by Amish and Mennonite farmers, Funk avoided all that with his small nonprofi t land trust, chartering it in 1988 along with local businesswoman, philanthropist, and conservation enthusiast Marilyn Ware. Lancaster Farmland Trust was able to preserve its fi rst Old Order Amish farm in 1991. Of course, Lancaster Farmland Trust is now not so small, with 594 farms preserved, totaling 36,947 acres of farmland.

Ware was known for many positive things in Lancaster County, but being an expert fundraiser was one of her most successful monikers. While never expressly stated, I am convinced that the movie WITNESS was instrumental in sparking the desire of Funk and Ware for Lancaster Farmland Trust. WITNESS came out in 1985, was a huge box o ce

hit, and reintroduced the Amish culture and religion to not only the United States but the world as well. Almost immediately, tourism in Lancaster County rebounded from a malaise that had defined the 1970s, capped by Three Mile Island’s partial meltdown in 1979.

All of a sudden, it seemed, the whole world was keen on Amish farmland, and somehow the attention on the land, and the tourism boom, seemed to indicate that the land was under threat of being paved over. The need to preserve the local farmland was “ripe for the picking” if you’ll excuse a bad pun. One of the most successful fundraisers held by Lancaster Farmland Trust in the early years was a picnic and tour on the farm where WITNESS was filmed. At the time of the filming, the farm was not Amish-owned, and was made to look Amish for the movie, and then “put back” afterwards. Ironically, a few years after the film, the farm was sold. The new owners were Amish, so what Hollywood once made look the part, was now truly playing out.

Before the farm was sold to the Amish family, when owner Paul Krantz was still operating the farm, he approached Lancaster Farmland Trust to learn more about permanently preserving the land. After much deliberation, he and his family decided to move forward with preserving their farm with Lancaster Farmland Trust. It was agreed that due to the now-famous nature of the farm, Lancaster Farmland Trust could likely

raise some of the funds needed to protect the land through an event at the farm. Unfortunately, Paul Krantz passed away before the event itself could take place, but his children were determined to honor his vision for the event and carried it out in conjunction with Lancaster Farmland Trust on a beautiful fall day in 1992. Many activities were held on the farm that day, but one of the more interesting money-makers for Lancaster Farmland Trust was the sale of one-inch-square plots of WITNESS farm property (ceremoniously.) For $25 people could purchase a “deed” to their inch of movie nostalgia, and of course help the preservation of Lancaster County farmland.

I can’t prove the authenticity of the rumor, as I have no concrete evidence, but Harrison Ford was said to have bought a whole bunch of them. Harrison Ford, who today is still a big Hollywood star, was in the 1980s the A-list actor of A-list actors. He lived in Lancaster County while filming WITNESS, and he is quoted in various places as saying he truly enjoyed his time in Amish Country and had developed an appreciation for the Amish community through his experience on set.

In fact, in a 1991 edition of Lancaster Magazine, Harrison Ford is quoted: I have had the fi rsthand opportunity to experience a special place and an extraordinary community in Lancaster County,

Pennsylvania. An important part of America’s heritage, this area of exceptional resources is home to a culture of wholeness and productivity that must be preserved. It is under enormous pressure. Farms, countryside communities and cultures are threatened with being overwhelmed by suburbanization, highway and commercialization. This is too important a part of America to lose by default. Please join me in supporting the Lancaster Farmland Trust in our mission to preserve Lancaster County farmland resources and to move toward a more sustainable and agricultural community. Together we can save an important part of America’s heritage.

Over 800 people attended the festivities at the WITNESS farm that day, and over $9,000 was raised. Today, Lancaster Farmland Trust is a much larger, and nationally renowned organization, often studied by other communities as a prime example of how to run a conservation and preservation farmland trust. While still independent and privately run, Lancaster Farmland Trust does receive limited funds from government agencies whose mission is to preserve and conserve agricultural land, which

adds to Lancaster Farmland Trust’s ability to perform their important work. Private and corporate gifts are still a major part of the budget, and events are held throughout the year to provide opportunities for the public to support and learn more about Lancaster Farmland Trust.

Want a truly unique remembrance of your time in Lancaster County? Try attending a Lancaster Farmland Trust “breakfast on the farm” or run in the 5K or attend the annual dinner celebration. See what’s coming up at https://lancasterfarmlandtrust.org/ events/.

LANCASTER OLDEST SMORGASBORD IS CELEBRATING

95 YEARS

Thomas E. Strauss, Inc.: Since 1929, Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. has been a local family-owned hospitality group in Lancaster County PA. Its businesses include Miller’s Smorgasbord, Miller’s Bakery, Locally Made Food Shop, Anna’s Gifts & Sundries, The Quilt Shop at Miller’s, Plain & Fancy Farm, Plain & Fancy Restaurant, Smokehouse BBQ & Brews, Plain & Fancy Country Store and AmishView Inn & Suites.

This year, Miller’s Smorgasbord celebrates 95 years of serving up hearty, home-cooked meals steeped in Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. From its humble beginnings in 1929 to becoming a beloved Lancaster County landmark, the story of Miller’s is as rich and comforting as the dishes it continues to serve.

Before the bustling Route 30 even existed, Enos Miller established a truck repair and gas station on Lincoln Highway East. His wife, Anna, with her warm hospitality and knack for homecooked meals, began offering her culinary delights to Enos’ customers. Word quickly spread about Anna’s PA Dutch specialties, such as Chicken and Waffles, and soon, diners were coming from far and wide just for a taste of her cooking. As demand for

About

Anna’s dishes grew, the dining area expanded, eventually taking over the space where the repair shop once stood.

In 1948, after nearly two decades of delighting guests, Anna and Enos sold the restaurant to their long-time employees, Beatrice and Thomas Strauss. Under their care, the restaurant flourished, and in 1957, they officially renamed it Miller’s Smorgasbord, introducing the now famous “seven sweets and seven sours,” a staple of the Smorgasbord that continues to be served to this day.

The Strauss family continued to innovate, and in 1973, they expanded Miller’s baking capabilities by establishing Miller’s Bakery next to the restaurant. This allowed for their signature baked goods and desserts, which had become just as famous as the main dishes, to be sold directly to the public. Today, visitors can purchase beloved favorites like raisin bread, chocolate pecan pie, sticky buns, and shoofly pies at the Locally Made Food Shop.

Dan Strauss, son of Beatrice and Thomas Strauss and Managing Partner, states, “We are dedicated to preserving and building upon the legacy that our parents, along with Anna and Enos, established— offering exceptional food in a warm, welcoming atmosphere here in Lancaster County. We are excited to know that our next generation is set up to continue this legacy into the future. My youth is filled with cherished memories, from living on the property to working in the kitchen, rolling pie crusts.”

As Miller’s Smorgasbord observes its 95th year, the establishment remains a family-owned treasure, dedicated to preserving the traditions that have made it a culinary icon. To mark this milestone, Miller’s has updated its entrance and lobby, infusing it with a 1920s ambiance reminiscent of Enos’ original garage. A new gift shop, Anna’s Gifts & Sundries, has also opened at The Shoppes at Miller’s, offering a selection of jewelry, home decor, and

Lancaster County mementos in honor of Anna’s legacy.

“As we celebrate 95 years, we are reminded of the deep roots and rich traditions that have made Miller’s Smorgasbord a cherished part of

Lancaster County. It’s an honor to continue the legacy that began with Enos and Anna Miller, serving up the same hearty, home-cooked meals that have brought generations of families together. We look forward to

the next 95 years of sharing our love for great food and warm hospitality with all who walk through our doors,” says Tom Neely, CEO.

To commemorate 95 years of success, Miller’s Smorgasbord will host special events throughout October, including weekly giveaways and Saturday Meet the Artisan Days. Guests can still enjoy the same tried-and-true recipes, cooked from scratch and served with a smile. From the soup and salad bar featuring over a dozen Lancaster County salads to the carving station, Anna’s chicken and waffles, award-winning fried chicken, and more, there’s something for everyone at Miller’s. It is one of the reasons Miller’s continues to be named of the USA Today’s “10-Best Buffets”.

As Anna would say, “Eat yourself full,” and join us in celebrating nearly a century of tradition and taste. Visit our website Millers1929.com for more details on our celebrations and history.

By Megan Weiss

Miller’s Smorgasbord is proud to celebrate its 95th anniversary with Saturday Fall Artisan Days, a unique opportunity to meet some Lancaster County artisans and experience their craftsmanship firsthand. Every Saturday in October, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, guests can visit The Shoppes at Miller’s to engage with local artisans, discover one-of-a-kind creations, and enjoy a little fall family fun. The Shoppes at Miller’s includes Anna’s Gifts & Sundries, Locally Made Food Shop, The Quilt Shop at Miller’s, Ruthie’s and Miller’s Smorgasbord.

Meet Local Artisans and Explore Unique Creations

On the patio at Miller’s Smorgasbord and within The Quilt Shop, a select group of talented local artisans will showcase their work and demonstrate their craft each Saturday in October from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Plus, every Saturday, The Quilt Shop at Miller’s will have a local quilter doing hand quilting demonstrations.

October 5

• Hand Painted Original by Tina Knox – Hand painted Amish scenes on

glass and wood. These make great unique holiday gifts.

• Olio Olive Oils & Balsamics – A wide selection of artisanal olive oils and balsamics.

October 12

• Anthony Iezzi – Photography capturing the essence of Lancaster.

• Jimmy Rosen – Writer of local history will be signing books and showcasing his Stuckymobile

October 19

• Lancaster Shirt Company – Local apparel company that creates unique local themed shirts.

• Lingerlong Woodworking –Beautiful, handcrafted sustainable wood cutting boards, trivets and more. They will also be showcasing a few brand-new products. Great for your elevating the look of your fall table when you entertain.

• Sweet Candy Creations –Delicious, handcrafted freezedried confections by the local Beiler family (you know the Beiler Donut family).

October 26

• Painted Pine Jewelry – Hand painted jewelry items.

• Lone Pine Road Designs By Sarah – Intricate, handcrafted jewelry designs.

• Plus, Jimmy Rosen will be back to sign his new book.

• Plus, every Saturday, The Quilt Shop at Miller’s will have a local quilter doing hand quilting demonstrations.

Exclusive Giveaways and Special Events

Each week, attendees will have the chance to win a handcrafted cutting board from Lingerlong Woodworking, valued at $80. Simply enter the giveaway during your visit for a chance to take home this exquisite wooden boards. In addition, local author Jimmy Rosen will be signing copies of his latest book, Lost Gas Stations of PA, on both October 12 and October 26. This book features Miller’s Smorgasbord and Stuckey’s. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Jimmy, explore his work, check out the iconic Fall Artisan Days cont’d on page 38

Last month’s issue we shared some of our favorite recipes with the purpose of celebrating what is “harvest time” in Lancaster County. We had a nice response. So, I thought it would be nice to share a few more samplings of our favorites of the many recipes “Amish Country News” have cultivated and shared over the years. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did…

Refreshing Lemon Bars

Crust

¼ Cup soft butter

¼ Cup 10x sugar

1 Cup flour

Dash of salt

Filling

2 Eggs

1 Cup sugar

3 Tablespoons lemon juice

¼ Cup flour

Instructions

Mix all of the crust ingredients together and press the dough into a 9”x11” sprayed pan. Bake in a 350° oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. Mix all of the ingredients together and pour over the finished crust. Bake again at 350° for an additional 25-30

AMISH COUNTRY NEWS Recipe Favorites

Part 2

Repurposed by Edward

Blanchette

minutes or until the filling no longer jiggles. Allow to cool overnight. If you are looking for a cool summertime treat, cut a 3” square of the lemon bar and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some fresh raspberries. This will be a hit at your next family dinner.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Ingredients

2⁄3 Cup brown sugar

1⁄3 Cup melted butter

1 Cup corn syrup

½ Teaspoon salt

4 Whole eggs

1 Cup pecans, pieces or halves

1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Frozen 10” deep dish pie shell

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°.

Combine the brown sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, and salt. Mix well. Add the eggs and continue mixing until well combined. Combine the pecans with the chocolate chips and place into a 10” pie shell. Add the corn syrup mixture, but do not stir. The pecans will rise to the top and the chocolate chips will combine as they melt. Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for one hour. Allow the pie to cool or serve slightly warm with fresh whipped cream and a caramel drizzle.

Baked Corn

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons flour

1 Cup milk

2 Teaspoons sugar

1 Tablespoon melted butter

4 Fresh ears of sweet corn

2 Eggs, separated

Pinch of salt

Pinch of paprika

Pinch of pepper

Instructions

Mix two tablespoons of fl our in one tablespoon of melted butter, pour in one cup of milk and bring to a boil. Stir in the grated kernels of corn, sugar and the yolks of two eggs, beaten. Beat the whites of the eggs until sti , then fold in and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

Black Bean Chili

Ingredients

1 Lb ground beef or ground turkey

1 Small onion

chopped

1 32 oz jar of ICC Black Bean Salsa

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1 Tsp Chili Powder (optional)

Image source: pch.vector / Freepik

Instructions

Brown 1lb of ground beef or turkey and onion. Add ICC Black Bean Salsa and diced tomatoes; add chili powder. Simmer on low for 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Serve with a tossed salad for a complete meal.

Aukamp Chicken Corn Soup

Lancaster Style Ingredients

3 Gallon chicken stock

¾ Gal diced or picked chicken

3 Cups each of celery and onion diced

2 Cups shredded carrots

6 Cups corn—put in a bowl and smash a little

2 Bay leaves

2 Tsp thyme

8 Diced hard cooked eggs

Instructions

Sautee celery, onion and carrots along with bay leaves and thyme in ½ cup butter. Then add stock, corn and chicken. Bring to a fairly heavy boil and add rivels. Simmer and when the rivels are done, turn o and add the diced hard cooked eggs.

Recipe for Rivels

Ingredients

3 Eggs

3 Cups of flour

1 Tsp salt

½ Tsp white pepper

Instructions

Mix eggs, salt and pepper well. Slowly add flour while mixing. It should be a crumbly yet wet mixture. Push through a colander or a sieve into “tiny dumplings” to form the rivels.

Black Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 Onion chopped

1 Clove garlic crushed

1 Jalapeno pepper chopped

2 Tablespoons olive oil

4 Cups chicken broth

2 Cans black beans

Salt to taste

Instructions

Cook onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, black pepper, cumin and salt in a heavy soup pot, over medium heat, stirring until vegetables are softened. Add the chicken broth and the beans and simmer, partially covered for 15 to 20 minutes. Lightly mash some beans to thicken the soup’s texture. If desired serve with chopped onion or a dollop of sour cream.

Crusted Hazelnut Salmon

Ingredients

1 Each 8 oz salmon filet

1 Once crushed hazelnuts

2 Oz raspberry cabernet sauce (see following)

Raspberry Cabernet Sauce

1 Cup pureed raspberries

2 Cups cabernet wine

1 Oz chopped shallots

1 Tablespoon chopped garlic

½ Cup sugar

1 Oz red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Sauce: Place all ingredients in the sauté pan and reduce until the sauce will coat the back of a spoon. Salmon: Grill or broil salmon until halfway done, remove from heat, lightly butter top and cover with crushed hazelnuts. Bake salmon for 5 minutes (350°) until desired doneness. Place on plate and drizzle raspberry cabernet sauce over the salmon.

Corn Pudding

Ingredients

¼ Teaspoon ground black pepper

½ Teaspoon ground cumin

1½ Teaspoons unsalted butter

1⁄3 Cup honey

6 Ears fresh corn, husks and silk removed

6 Large eggs

2 Cups heavy cream

1 Cup milk

1 Teaspoon ground white pepper

1 Teaspoon salt

½ Teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ Teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

1⁄3 Cup grated yellow onion

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter a 2-quart sou e dish with the butter and set aside. Bring 3 quarts of water and the honey to a boil over high heat in a large pot. Add the corn and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Use tongs to carefully remove the corn from the water and transfer to a medium bowl. Let rest until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, pepper, salt, nutmeg and cayenne. One at a time, hold the corn in 1 hand and stand it on end so that it is perpendicular to the cutting board.

Hold a large chef’s knife in the other hand and with a downward motion, cut the kernels from the cob. Turn the cob with every cut so that you get all of the kernels. Scrape the corn cobs with the back side of your chef’s knife-this will release more of the milk from the cob. Add any accumulated juices to the cut kernels. Discard the cobs.

Add the corn kernels and onions to the egg mixture, stirring well to combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake until firm in the center and golden brown on top, about 1 hour and 30 to 1 hour and 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot.

Fried Chicken

Ingredients

1 Cup flour

2 Tsp salt

½ Tsp pepper

3 Lbs chicken legs and thighs

½ Stick (4 tbsp) butter

Instructions

Place flour, salt, and pepper in shallow bowl or pan. Mix together well.

Dip each piece of chicken in seasoned flour until well coated. In large skillet, melt butter.

Recipe Favorites cont’d on page 46

REMINDERS for Visitors to Amish Country

Although thousands of visitors come to Lancaster County to experience a bit of the Amish lifestyle, the Amish are a private people and find the attention somewhat disconcerting. It is important to respect their feelings while you’re visiting. With that in mind, here are a few tips for fostering good relations between the Amish and non–Amish.

NO PICTURES Please! Don’t ask an Amish person to pose for a picture. Most will politely refuse. It is against our Amish neighbors convictions to have their pictures taken, except in very special situations. Please respect this belief and do not take photos without permission, just as you would like to have your beliefs respected.

HOLD YOUR HORSES Driving along area roads, you will no doubt encounter numerous Amish carriages, or “buggies,” as visitors like to call them. Do not honk your horn, because the sound may frighten the horse and cause an accident. Instead, wait until it is safe to pass and then give the buggy plenty of room. Be sure not to cut back in the lane too sharply in front of the horse. The county’s roads are generally wide enough that you should be able to pass most buggies without much of a problem.

NO TRESPASSING Do not trespass onto private Amish property for a closer look. Amish homes are not museums, and Amish people are not exhibits. Respect their property and privacy as you would like others to respect your own. You can get a good sense of Amish life at many area visitor attractions and on guided tours.

WAVING Do not be offended if the Amish do not wave back to your friendly gesture. With all the people who wave to them throughout a day, they would be waving back all day if they did!

A FINAL WORD Remember the Amish are not on vacation and are not costumed actors. They are real people going about their daily lives. They are not here to serve as tour guides or attractions for visitors. This, after all, is their home, so please respect their beliefs and lifestyle.

AUTHOR GOODREADS

Take an Amish Vacation

with Wanda Brunstetter

By Clinton Martin

I’ve heard it said that reading a great novel can transport a person to faraway places, at least in the world of imagination. Well, for millions of fans, author Wanda Brunstetter has taken them to some of the most amazing places within the Amish and Mennonite communities through her insightful and creative prose. Her stories cover many emotions – love, loss, hope, healing, forgiveness, and

faith. In October 2019, Brunstetter released a new combined work, Amish Hawaiian Adventures. These are two novels in one book , and it deals with the wanderlust that the Amish feel. Oh yes – the Amish might be people of the land, but they don’t keep their two feet planted only within their farming community bounds – many Amish people have traveled all over the country, and a few have even traveled the world.

Amish Hawaiian Adventures follows along with two Amish girls, Mandy and Ellen, who decide to take a trip to Hawaii (this of course before they are baptized members of the church, as flying on a plane is not permitted in the Amish church except under very specific circumstances.) On this trip of a lifetime to Hawaii, will the discoveries these Amish girls make forever change the direction of their lives?

The Hawaiian Quilt

Mandy Frey has always longed to see Hawaii, so before joining the Amish church and settling into family life, she convinces three friends to join her on a cruise of the Hawaiian Islands. When Mandy and Ellen miss

the ship after a port of call on Kauai, they get a room at a bed & breakfast where they make new friends, learn about local history, and participate in an evangelical church. But when it is time to fly home, Mandy feels torn between feelings for Ken Williams, an organic farmer on Kauai, and Gideon Eash, her boyfriend who has been waiting for her in Indiana.

The Hawaiian Discovery

Ellen Lambright thought she was going back to Hawaii only to help her best friend through multiple challenges, but she also befriends a man who has been hiding from his past. Reuben Zook works on the Williams family’s organic farm, far from his past mistakes and burning regrets. The attraction is mutual, but Ellen’s commitment to the Amish faith stands between them. Could a heartfelt discovery lead to forgiveness, reunion, and love? Or is Ellen’s destiny waiting for her in Indiana?

Wanda Brunstetter’s works are available at major bookstores and online sellers. You can learn more about Wanda and her novels at https://wandabrunstetter.com/.

AUTHOR GOODREADS Discover Amish Country’s Beauty with Author Sarah Price

By Clinton Martin

Amish-themed novels can be found in any grocery store checkout line, but just grabbing a random book can lead to a disappointing introduction to the genre. The world of Amish fiction can be a rewarding and adventurous foray into a world otherwise closed o to the outside. Author Sarah Price is one of the most influential authors of Amish fiction, and with numerous books, even the most voracious reader will be under a pile of paperbacks for days.

One of ACN’s favorite novels from October of 2017 is Belle, an Amish retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty

and the Beast. A dutiful young Amish woman agrees to marry a notorious recluse for her family’s sake—but the consequences are more than either bargained for

Sarah Price descends from a long line of Mennonites (the name was originally spelled Preiss) who settled in Pennsylvania in 1705. Her involvement with the Amish dates back to 1978 when she wrote her first novel, Fields of Corn, while studying anthropology and writing at Drew University. She was drawn to the amazing culture of the Amish of Lancaster County where

Author Sarah Price cont’d on page 46

WITNESS the emotional story of an Amish teenager's struggle in Jacob's Choice, where he must choose between his faith and the modern world. 3–D sets, special e ects, unique "ghost–like" characters, all on ve screens.

EXPLORE the Amish Country Homestead, the region’s only O cially Designated Heritage Site Amish home then sit at a desk in the Fisher Amish Schoolroom furnished authentically with desks and more from an actual Amish classroom.

TOUR the magni cent back roads through Amish Farmlands with a certi ed tour guide in complete comfort onboard one of our 14 passenger busses.

SATISFY yourself that you’re making the most from your Amish Experience. Since 1959, the area’s rst, and still foremost, interpretative source of Amish Culture.

Amish Farmlands Tour

Journey along back country roads, deep into the Amish Farmlands to discover sights rarely seen. Under the watchful eye of your certi ed guide, you’ll gain insights into the “how” and “why”of an ever–changing 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 60 years.

Duration: 1 ½ hours

Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. Sun. 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.

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 o cial “Heritage Tour” by the County of Lancaster. Visit an Amish farm at milking time, stop at a Cottage Industry, and nally enjoy a visit and chat with one of our Amish friends in their home.

Duration: 3 hours

Monday – Saturday 5:00 p.m.

e SuperSaver Package includes the Amish Farmlands Tour, the acclaimed “Jacob’s Choice” at the Amish Experience F/X eater, and a tour of the Amish House & One–Room School.

Plain & Fancy

The Only Place Where You Can Do

It All...

Drive along the area’s only AAA Scenic Cultural Byway, and when you’re mid–way between Bird–in–Hand and Intercourse, you’ll discover the ten pristine acres known as Plain & Fancy Farm, and home of the Amish Experience Theater, Country Homestead, farmlands & VIP tours, buggy rides, shopping, restaurant and hotel.

Jacob’s Choice at the Amish Experience Theater

Discover what it means to be Amish through an immersive film as you become part of the emotional struggle of the Fisher family to preserve more than 400 years of Amish traditions. Five viewing screens, a unique barnyard setting and special effects create a one–of–a–kind experience.

Amish Farmlands Tour

Journey down rarely traveled back country roads, deep into the farmlands, to discover the sights sought after by visitors. Gain insights into the hows and whys of an ever–changing culture from certified guides in mini–shuttles. Stops may include a roadside stand, quilt shop, country store or craft shop on an Amish farm.

Amish Country

Homestead & Schoolroom

Visit the only officially designated “Heritage Site” Amish house. As you walk through the nine rooms with your guide, unravel the riddle of Amish clothing, life without electricity, and eight–grades–in–a–room education as you sit at authentic Amish school desks.

Visit–in–Person Tour

This officially designated “Heritage Tour” is a rare opportunity to meet and talk to the Amish personally. On this exclusive tour you will go right into the barn on an Amish farm at milking time, visit with an Amish artisan at his workplace, and then enjoy a personal visit and conversation right in an Amish home.

Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides

Aaron & Jessica’s drivers are happy to share life stories and answer questions.

The Country Store

Please see right hand page.

Smokehouse BBQ and Brews

Find books, DVDs, candles, toys and dolls, kitchen and home items, souvenirs, local handcrafts, Amish clothing, straw hats, bonnets, and last but not least...tasty treats.

AARON & JESSICA’S BUGGY RIDES

AmishView Inn & Suites

Rated The Best Hotel in Lancaster County

The place for the perfect adult-only getaway or family vacation with indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and hot hearty breakfast. Our rooms and suites all feature kitchenettes, and many rooms feature clawfoot soaking tubs, and farmland views.

Adult-Only AND Kid-Friendly Buildings

The family-friendly East Building includes a wide array of beautiful, award-winning rooms, suites that are newly renovated as well as a pool and arcade that will satisfy the requirements of any family. The adultsonly West Building features elegant Grand King rooms with clawfoot soaking tubs and guaranteed farmland views – fulfilling the needs of adults seeking a tranquil escape.

Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet

Lancaster’s best complimentary hot breakfast buffet includes made-to-order omelets, eggs, and waffles along with endless helpings of bacon, sausage, country potatoes and much more. Plus, don’t forget tasty bakery items from our own Miller’s Bakery. Menu items subject to change.

Other Amenities

Every room or suite includes a kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, sink and coffee maker. Plus, DVD players, lighted make-up mirrors, irons, hair dryers, the Tarocco line of shampoos and soaps, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Plus, there are so many things to do on the Plain & Fancy Farm.

Get the Whole Story at: AmishViewInn.com • 1-866-735-1600

A fun and relaxed dining experience in the heart of Lancaster County at Plain & Fancy Farm, offering entrées with smoked meats, grilled fish and steak; sandwiches; house made sauces; and more. Local favorites and meats smoked low n’ slow pair perfectly with our selection of local beer, wine, and hand-crafted cocktails. Locally owned.

Any Sandwich, Entrée, or Platter

Valid for up to 6 adult sandwiches, entrées, or platters for dine-in only. Not valid on daily or other specials, Family Feast, takeout, holidays, or with any other offer, special or group rate. Expires 12/31/24. PLU ACN757

New Holland & Blue Ball

New Holland

Blue Ball

New Holland, settled in 1728 by John Di enderfer of Heidelberg, Germany, is located in the fertile farmlands of Lancaster County. It is a charming small town similar to many towns in rural America, but its story goes back to well before the founding of our nation.

The unstable situation in Europe in the late 1600s 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. The area now called New

Holland was practically covered by virgin forests—sturdy timber of oak, ash, chestnut, and walnut.

By 1728, William Penn, had been dead for 10 years and his American colony, called Pennsylvania and was being administered by a proprietary governor while the sale of land was formalized by patent deeds. In the case of one of the town’s early settlers, John Di enderfer, the record shows that he applied for land to live on in 1728. It was surveyed and placed on the county map in 1735. The deed was finally issued to him on March 22, 1758 after 30 years!

v Community Fall Festival

October 19, 2024 2 p.m.–4 p.m. New Holland Community Park, 401 E Jackson St Join us for this FREE event hosted by New Holland Church of the Nazarene. Trunk or Treat, Inflatables, Carnival Games, Food and More! All ages welcome. Costumes are welcome. For more information: https://allevents.in/ new%20holland/200027154367759.

The village founders were German, not Dutch. They were surrounded by English and Welsh Quakers, Episcopalians, a few SwissGerman Mennonites and some Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The Amish arrived later.

The town was once known as New Design, a name given by Michael Diffendefer for his real estate development in 1750. But in 1802, when a post office was established and an official name was necessary, there was no dissension to naming the town New Holland. These grateful people remembered how extremely kind the inhabitants of Holland were to them when they fled persecution and sought religious freedom in the New World.

New Holland was laid out as a “street town” in the typical European style of having the villagers live in a central location along both sides of the street, but each having an outlying plot of land to cultivate as an adjunct to his trade as a craftsman. Even today, the main street of New Holland has major “kinks” or bends in it. Unsympathetic visitors claim it looks as if the town were built along a “cow path.” But if one looks with a discerning eye, the street also follows the high ground. The land on the ridge was the driest, and in winter it would be blown clear of much of the snow. These settlers made the obvious facts of nature work for them rather than against them, offering a lesson for us all even today.

Strasburg

N

The area we know today as Strasburg was first settled by German-speaking Swiss Mennonites. After bargaining with William Penn in London, they came directly to Philadelphia from the Rhineland, arriving in September of 1710, on board the ship Maria Hope with a combined passenger and crew list of 94 persons. Thirty-six of the leaders were granted patent deeds from Penn’s property commissioners for 14,000 acres of land surrounding Strasburg. Some of the family names are familiar to locals today, including John (Hans) Herr, whose house in Lancaster County is open to visitors and remains as the county’s oldest surviving dwelling (1719).

French fur traders opened up the first path through this area from Philadelphia to the Susquehanna River—known as “Minqua’s Path.” As early as 1716, when the first Conestoga wagon was used for hauling goods between Philadelphia and Lancaster County, it became known as the Conestoga Road.

During the next half century, tra c on this road increased considerably— and Main Street Strasburg was developed. The first buildings appeared in the village about 1733. Strasburg flourished in the 18th century primarily because of its location along the major wagon routes between Philadelphia, Lancaster and the Susquehanna River. Strasburg was

SCOOTER TOURS

Explore the backroads, farmlands, covered bridges and more on one of Lancaster’s favorite outdoor adventure tours. Get up close and personal with Lancaster County

Enjoy a guided tour of Lancaster County’s Amish Country.

Strasburg Scooter Tours is an award-winning, Lancaster County, PA outdoor attraction that highlights the beautiful landscapes that surround the local Amish communities.

Hop on a scooter or slide into your scoot coupe and get ready to ride alongside some of the most beautiful countrysides that Lancaster has to offer. You’ll pass by Amish riding horse and buggies, see beautiful rolling farmlands, Amish farms, and a whole lot more.

246 N Decatur St Strasburg, PA Single or double seat scooters on our covered bridge tour or country roads

Fall Festival

October 19, 2024 12 p.m.–3 p.m. Lampeter United Methodist Church, 1101 Village Road, Lancaster Enjoy the 4th annual FREE Fall Festival. There will be many fun activities, including a bounce house, barrel train rides, pumpkin decorating, games and crafts. There will also be free hot dogs, chips, popcorn and a hot chocolate/co ee station! If you are able, please bring a non-perishable food item for our Blessings Pantry. Rain or shine! More information: discoverlancaster.com/ events/fall-festival/ or call 717-464-4161.

one of the principal stopping stations and, with the heavy wagon tra c, there were as many as ten taverns here.

No doubt the religious nature of the fi rst settlers was responsible for the village becoming a center for worship and education. In 1816, when the village was incorporated into a Borough, the name Strasburg was selected, undoubtedly named for the Cathedral City from which the

Choo Barn

Scooter Tours

Swiss Mennonites came, the Alsatian city of Strasbourg.

Wealthy doctors and clergy, and an interest in worship and education, made Strasburg a cultural and educational center for the region. The first formal school opened in 1790, a classical academy where Greek and Latin were taught.

These academic enterprises were followed during the 19th century by a flood of schools. In 1823, by an act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, an Academy was established in which “the languages, arts, and sciences will be taught.”

The year 1839 marked the founding of the Strasburg Academy at 37 East

Main (the present day Limestone Inn Bed & Breakfast was the headmaster’s home and housed boarding students). The Academy gained the reputation of being one of the best academies in the country for both boarding and day students, and its students came from all over the East Coast and as far away as Cuba and Puerto Rico.

In 1841, a classical school for girls, the “Strasburg Female Seminary,” opened at 17 East Main. Such a school for girls was quite unusual at that time.

As Strasburg flourished, so did its neighbor to the east, Philadelphia. The commercial interests of Philadelphia pressured the State Legislature to

HAVE HEALTH CHALLENGES?

improve the transportation network into their city. As a result, an internal improvements bill passed in 1826 to construct a series of canals. The Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road was also incorporated with financing provided by the state.

REASONS TO TRY

•

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With these undertakings, Strasburg residents became alarmed at the possibility of losing their commercial position and from this concern emerged the Strasburg Rail Road. In 1832 a charter was secured from the Pennsylvania Legislature to construct a rail line connecting Strasburg with the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road main line near Paradise. Due to financial di culties, the project was delayed until finally put in running order in 1852. But this shortline between Strasburg and Paradise was not financially successful for many reasons, until it was revived to provide rides to visitors on authentic steam locomotives, thus becoming the focal point for all of the town’s train attractions.

Intercourse

Probably no other town in Amish Country can claim its fame is owed largely to one simple thing—its name. For years people have sent letters home with the name stamped boldly on the envelope… Intercourse, PA. There are several explanations for the name, and they are woven into the brief history that follows.

In the beginning, of course, there was very little here, just settlers arriving in the New World from Europe. Back around 1730, the Old Provincial Highway (or Old Philadelphia Pike, Route 340) was laid out to connect Philadelphia with the inland town of Lancaster. Conestoga wagons, pulled by six to eight horses, hauled supplies and freight back and forth between the

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two cities. Providing rest for travelers and horses, taverns sprouted along the way, becoming centers for news, gossip, and business transactions.

And that is how the town got started when the first building, a log tavern, was constructed in 1754. The Newport Road, a former Indian trail, came from Newport, Delaware to the south, and it is believed that because of these intersecting roads the tavern took “Cross Keys” as its name.

That was true at least until 1814, when it was named Intercourse in a real estate scheme to establish a more sizable town. George Brungard had acquired 48 acres of land north of the roads in 1813. He attempted to lay out a town site and divide it into sections for sale by a lottery, advertising “151

Intercourse Library 5K

October 12, 2024 Intercourse Library, 31 Center St, Intercourse

Every Mountain Outdoors and RunPA Present “Intercourse Library 5K” this event is a fundraiser for the Intercourse Library. All proceeds go directly to the library. Join us for a great day of fun! For more information visit https:// intercourselib.org/5k/ or call 717-598-2725.

handsome building lots of $250 each to be drawn for by number.”

The newspaper advertisement stressed “the great importance of so many turnpikes and great leading roads intersecting at and near this place.” As one writer has noted, in those days “intercourse had a common usage referring to the pleasant mutual fellowship and frequent intermingling which was so much more common in the informal atmosphere of the quiet country village of that day.” There was no hesitancy on the part of the United States Post o ce Department to accept the name ‘Intercourse’ since it meant a commercial or trading site.

But back to our story and Brungard’s scheme. Although lotteries had been

To Country Knives

used for many years to sell various things, his real estate lottery failed, and most of the land was combined into one tract. More recently, in 1971, another person tried to take advantage of the town’s name and sell one-inch square plots of property to visitors. This plan proved to be a flop as well.

In the old days, there were only five houses, counting the inn, and the town grew slowly. But by 1880, Intercourse had 54 homes and a population of 280. Communications improved with the arrival of the post o ce, and later the telephone.

Getting the first post o ce up and running was a di cult matter. The main problem was finding a building and someone willing to perform the duties of a postmaster. The first, Benjamin Fraim, performed his duties from the Cross Keys Tavern, and may have had a job working there, since “his income, based on a percentage of the postal transactions for the year ending 1829 was only $8.21.” Over the years the post o ce moved among stores or restaurants whose owners hoped visits by residents would increase their business.

The local stagecoach service apparently started around 1898. It was “a single horse conveyance similar to a market wagon, with a rollup curtain and double set of seats.” The stagecoach brought items from

Lancaster City for local Intercourse businesses, and even picked up milk, butter, and eggs for delivery to Lancaster restaurants and industries, including an ice cream plant. One history of Intercourse notes that when it snowed, a bobsled was used instead. “When the driver knew of passengers beforehand, their comfort was added to by many a hot brick heated the night before in the oven, and wrapped in newspaper to preserve its warmth.”

As the days of the dirt road drew to a close, so too did the stagecoach days with the Rowe Motor Truck service started by Coleman Diller in 1910. In 1923 the Penn Highway Transit Company was organized and initiated bus service to Lancaster. It is noted that “many of the Amish residents of the area were anxious to see the line started, but did not care to subscribe to stock. Instead they liberally bought books

of tickets which were really prepaid bus fares.” By 1924 enough money was raised to buy a Mack Auto Bus for $6,800. It held 25 passengers and even had solid rubber tires!

Since the town never really got to be “too large,” it has retained much of its sense of community, from the little public library in a former one-room school to the volunteer fire company. Surrounded by farms, the town has grown little and retains much of its former charm, even when thousands of visitors descend upon it during the tourist season.

Many residents and visitors enjoy the atmosphere of this small town, a place where family, community, religion, and hard work are still important values. The village of Intercourse has certainly changed over the years, but it has changed slowly, and “sometimes the things that grow the slowest are the ones that endure the longest.” ACN 2024 Photo

Contest

Now Accepting Entries! Got great photos? Send them to us and see your photo in the pages of Amish Country News and win prizes! Visit AmishCountryNews.com for Photo Contest prizes and more info. Email your HIGH RESOLUTION ONLY photos in JPG format to clinton@amishexperience.com (minimum size 8x10 at 300 DPI). Put 2024 Photo Contest in the subject line. File names should contain your name. Include your name, address and phone number with brief details of location and subject matter in the email. No more than five photos can be submitted. LOW RESOLUTION PIXELATED IMAGES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Photos become property of Amish Country News / Amish Experience and may be used in upcoming issues, publications, and promotional materials.

By Edward Blanchette

As most of you know, the quality and craftmanship of Amish goods and products has always been, in my opinion, a step above most other goods available out there on the market today. Not only regarding the past but continues to earn that A1 reputation continually now and for the future. The work ethic and commitment to quality of the Amish Communities has always stood out to me as a positive go-to for the products they create for their community and patrons. As you drive through some of the winding roads of Amish Country, Central Pennsylvania, you can see that quality everywhere you look, as you pass by the Homes, Farms, and Businesses that dot the countryside.

Somewhere in between Bird-InHand and Gordonville Pennsylvania, on one of those winding roads, you will come across Lantz Homestead Quilt Barn. A pristine Amish farm and shop, just o of Musser School Road. The quilt shop is a new addition to the Lantz Homestead, but quilt making on this century old farm has been an important staple for over thirty years. John & Rachel and their family have handcrafted heirloom quilts for other shops for many years. R-S-L quilts have become a well sought-after emblem of fine quality craftmanship and artistry.

In 2020 the Lantz family decided to build their own quilt shop on the farm. Right where their corn crib that housed

Lantz Homestead

A Generation of Amish Quality

the food for their cows used to stand. This seemed like the best course of action, as the Lantz family were experiencing how di cult it was to compete with the commercial craft world. The Lantz family wanted to create a store where they could sell local and handmade items directly to their local community and those visitors that traveled in for a visit.

Quilts, gifts, and home decor items are what you will find nestled into this quaint little shop. In addition, they also have a great selection of floor and table lamps that have been converted to be

powered by cordless tool batteries (DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita). And in 2021, they started carrying the Sonrise Poly Rockers, Gliders, Gliding Ottomans, and Accent Tables, another quality product that is also proudly manufactured in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Finally, as you prepare for the beginning of fall to arrive, check out the large assortment of the pumpkins, gourds, and mums Lantz’s has to o er, for a limited time. So, as you pack up the family to make Lantz Homestead cont’d on page 39

Bird–in–Hand

StoudtoberFest 2024

October 5, 2024 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 55 Stoudtburg Rd, Reinholds

Get ready to celebrate all things Stoudt at StoudtoberFest—a fun-filled event with beer, food, and live music!

For more information for visit https://www.facebook.com/people/ StoudtoberFest-2024/61557881565662/?_rdr or call 717-475-5824.

Of the many unique village names that dot the Amish Country map, one of the more interesting is Bird-in-Hand.

The story of the town of Bird-inHand is as colorful as the name itself. To be correct, the town is really a village since it has no governing body. When Bird-in-Hand celebrated its 250th Anniversary (1734 – 1984), a commemorative booklet was put together. It outlined a brief history of the town…

William Penn, an English Quaker, had founded the colony of Penn’s Woods (Pennsylvania), and settlers began arriving from Europe in the early 1700s, moving westward from the port city of Philadelphia. English

Quakers and Swiss Mennonites were the early settlers. The Quakers built a meetinghouse and two-story academy, which stands today, next to the fire company. But over the years, the Germans “made the greatest lasting impact.”

A friendly relationship existed between the early settlers and the Shawnee and Conestoga Indians, who were the area’s first inhabitants. They taught settlers how to deaden trees, use deerskin, prepare corn as food, and use medicinal herbs.

“When the Old Philadelphia Pike became a well-established route of transportation for those traveling west to the Alleghenies, Lancaster became known as the gateway to

the west.” The trip by stagecoach for passengers, 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 these signs was twofold. First, they could be understood by all nationalities. Secondly, many teamsters or waggoneers were poorly educated and could not read. If they were given orders to stop at a certain inn, they could do so by recognizing the artwork on the signboard.

The old legend of the naming of Bird-in-Hand concerns the time when this pike was being laid out. Legend says that two road surveyors were

To Forest Hill

Craft To Mr. Sticky's

Flory's Cottages & Camping

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LET’S EAT

discussing whether they should stay at their present location or go to the town of Lancaster to spend the night. One of them said, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” and so they remained. The sign in front of the inn is known to have once “portrayed a man with a bird in his hand and a bush nearby, in which two birds were perched,” and soon was known as the Bird-in-Hand Inn.

The original hotel was destroyed by fire about 1851. By the following year, a three-story hotel was built to replace it. More recently, it was known as Bitzer’s Hotel before becoming the present Village Inn of Bird-inHand, now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County noted that it “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.”

The town post o ce was established in 1836 as the Enterprise Post O ce. “Enterprise” was then the o cial name of the town, until the final change back to Bird-in-Hand in 1873.

After a large fire in 1896, people discussed the need for a fire company. In the early days, hitting a circular saw alerted the men of a fire. The year 1916 saw the change from horse-drawn to

motorized fire equipment. Today the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company remains a volunteer organization, famous for its delicious fund-raiser dinners.

The town of Bird-in-Hand remained relatively unknown until a musical called PLAIN & FANCY opened in New York. The show Playbill noted that “The action takes place in and around Bird-in-Hand, a town in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.” The cast was brought to Bird-in-Hand on January 17, 1955, prior to the o cial opening.

Today, the town of Bird-in-Hand is still small, said to have a population of only about 300 people. On any given day, there may be more visitors than inhabitants. Many are city folks who have come to enjoy the country atmosphere, history, and shopping. It is said that visitors “can still expect friendly shopkeepers, homegrown Lancaster County foods, and restful lodging for weary travelers.”

TOWN KEY

Bird–in–Hand Pg 28

Intercourse Pg 25

Paradise Pg 36

Strasburg Pg 23

New Holland | Blue Ball Pg 22

Lititz Pg 42

Ephrata Pg 44

Renninger’s

Amish Recipe:

Good Food & Family Values

By Joyce Hershey (Revisited)

Weddings, frolics, and church services all have one thing in common in the Amish world. There are special foods for each occasion. Snitz pie, made from dried apples, is often served at Amish church services. Amish “roast” (bread filling with pieces of chicken or turkey, and gravy) is served for the wedding feast along with creamed celery, mashed potatoes, and numerous other dishes. A picnic or frolic means a table spread with chunks of cheese and relishes, such as chow chow and pickled red beets.

Most people have heard stories of the large meals served to hundreds of people at Amish barn raisings and weddings. With over 300 people at a wedding, it is not uncommon to need gallons of mashed potatoes and gravy, many quarts of coleslaw and applesauce, many pies, and hundreds of doughnuts. Good food and family values are the recipe for Amish meals both large and small.

Eating at Home

Unlike many families today, the entire Amish family sits together to eat at least two of the three meals each day. After the milking is done, and before the children leave for school or an o -the-farm job, the family gathers

for breakfast. This might consist of eggs, fried potatoes, fried mush or scrapple. They often finish with cereal topped with fruit. Cooked oatmeal could also be served. Farm fresh milk is always available to pour over fruit or cereal. Cold cereal is bought in bulk and might be eaten as a snack before retiring at night.

Most Amish women do not spend lots of time cooking creatively. Their cooking is often done “on the run,” as they have other chores around the house or may even help in the fields or in the barn. The garden and lawn all require lots of attention during the summer, so the recipes are very basic. The large meal at noon might consist of meat and gravy, mashed potatoes made with lots of butter, noodles, and a vegetable served with either browned butter or melted butter as a garnish. Applesauce is served with the main course as a salad.

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is another dish that can be prepared while doing other chores. The chicken is cooked earlier and then the potatoes are added along with a few chunks of carrots and celery to simmer for about one hour. The pot pie noodles

are added as the fi nal step and then cooked another 20 minutes.

Amish women prefer to make their own pot pie noodles by combining one cup of flour and one egg. The egg is dropped in a hole made in the flour and mixed with a fork. Just enough water or milk is added with a half teaspoon of salt to make a sti dough. Some women add a dash of baking powder. This is rolled very thin and cut into squares to be added to the boiling stew.

If they are in a hurry, they will resort to store-bought noodles. Noodles can also be added to beef stew. The meat in an Amish home is usually cut rather small and served in stew or gravy, and meat loaf is very popular.

Treats from the Garden

Annie, an Amish mother of six, said that she really appreciates the “treats” from the garden to round out her supper or “snack.” These treats from the garden are usually watermelon, cantaloupe, or fresh tomatoes. Cheese and pretzels would also be on the table. Ice cream would be an appropriate dessert, although this may not always be available. To be Pennsylvania Dutch is to enjoy a salty pretzel with your ice cream.

Amish VISIT-IN-PERSON Tour

By booking either VIP (Visit-in-Person) Tour or Meal-in-an-Amish-Home Experience online at AmishExperience.com with promo code VIPW5.

EXCLUSIVE

Amish Visit-In-Person Tour (3 Hrs.)

$61.95 adult, $51.95 child (age 6-12*)

* Children under age 6 not permitted on VIP Tour

Stop 1: The Amish Farm Observe the milking process and discover “Amish electricity” as you learn that the Amish do not milk cows by hand.

Stop 2: Amish Cottage Industry As the Amish population grows, more Amish turn to home businesses rather than farming. Visit an Amish workshop to see what they make and how they make it.

Stop 3: The Amish Home We’ll go to the home of one of our Amish neighbors for friendly conversation…a chance to sit, chat, and visit the Amish way.

Enjoy a 3–HOUR Experience featuring a traditional Amish Family-Style Meal, served in an Amish home.

$65.95 per person regardless of age*

* Small children must be in a car seat you provide.

MEAL in an HOME

In the hot summer months, the afternoon meal might consist of cold sandwiches of bologna and cheese. As an alternative to sandwiches, many Amish have “bread soup.” This is simply homemade bread torn into pieces in a soup bowl, with fresh fruit over top and fresh milk poured over it. If fresh fruit is not available, they could use some of those canned peaches or pears stored in the cellar.

Picnics

Gas grills have made an impact on Amish cooking. Chicken has always been a staple meat, and now many Amish prepare barbecue chicken for

a picnic, family gathering, or even to sell to tourists. This could even complement a “corn roast.” The corn is left in the husk and steamed on an outdoor fireplace over a wood fire, with lots of butter available to put on the corn.

A salad would also be served at the picnic. This is prepared on a large platter with layers of lettuce, shredded carrots, onions, tomatoes and cheese, topped with dressing. Fresh garden vegetables are readily available.

More Than One Dessert

Desserts are always popular at gatherings. Banana pudding, vanilla

cornstarch, caramel pudding, as well as cracker pudding are all well received. Layered desserts with fruits like peaches or pineapple with Jell-O are often seen. When entertaining, four or five desserts at one meal would not be uncommon. Finally, shoofly pie is a staple that can be served for any meal of the day, including breakfast!

Christmas Goodies

Christmas is the time for the family to spend those long winter days making candies and cookies for the holidays. Many pounds of coating chocolate are bought at the local store to be melted down for Christmas candies and cookies. One favorite is made by applying a layer of peanut butter to a graham cracker, topping it with another cracker, and dipping it in melted chocolate. These are then placed on wax paper to harden and dry. Caution: if the finished cookies are not well hidden, they will disappear quickly.

The Amish remind us of the simple joys of gathering the family together for special times. To have a good time, the Amish do not need food that is exotic or expensive. Celebrating together as a family is a trait of the Amish that we can carry into our own homes.

Amish Recipe cont’d from page 32

Paradise

For over 250 years, visitors coming into Lancaster County from the east on Route 30 have traveled through a small town known as Paradise, just one of the many intriguing town names in the area. Officially, Paradise Township adopted the name during its organization in 1843.

Di erent sources credit di erent people with naming the area. Some say that the name Paradise was given

by Joshua Scott, who later became known for his map of Lancaster County. Standing in the middle of a road admiring his surroundings one day in 1804, he remarked that the town should be called Paradise, because its beauty made it seem like one.

The story of Paradise and its first settlers goes all the way back to Europe, to the area of the Palatinate in Germany. Here many Protestants had settled following the declaration

October 8, 2024 7:30–9:00 pm The Barn at Paradise Station, 312

Ln,

Join our stunning vocal trio, Perfect Harmony, as we take you on a musical journey of inspiring songs from Folk to Film, Broadway to Gospel and our favorite Sacred music that stands the test of time. Featuring professional vocalists from Lancaster County, a live band, beautiful costumes and more of the original and inspiring arrangements Perfect Harmony is known for, you are sure to love this trip down memory lane. More info: lancasterpa.com/event/inspiration/ 2024-10-08/ or call 717-687-5000.

of King Louis XIV that all Protestants in France would be persecuted. With fears of invasion by the army of France looming, many of these people decided to accept the invitation to settle in William Penn’s colony of Penn’s Woods in the New World. In 1708, Daniel Fierre (Ferree), along with his family and mother Mary, went to England to obtain citizenship papers before proceeding to New York.

WE LOVE FALL

Most of All at Cackleberry Farm!

Not

CACKLEBERRY FARM ANTIQUE MALL IS CELEBRATING THEIR 27TH YEAR! Located at 3371 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, Pennsylvania, on Route 30. Four miles west of Route 41 and only six miles east of Rockvale Square Outlet Mall. They are only minutes away from everywhere and everything Lancaster County has to offer. It's Not Just an Antique Mall –It’s Your Destination!

WITH OVER FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OF INVENTORY, their huge 26,000 square foot facility houses a wide variety of antiques and collectibles, displayed by over 125 dealers featuring ne items such as: furniture, glassware, Railroad, Mining and Fire Fighting Memorabilia, coins, sterling silver, clocks, advertising, jewelry, ne china, toys, books, postcards, trains, Christmas, pottery, linens, primitives, kitchenware & much, much more! It is impossible to tell you everything they have to o er. You will be amazed at the quality selection.

HOUSED INSIDE THE ANTIQUE MALL, IS AN OLD TIME GENERAL STORE, which will take you back in time to the Mom & Pop stores of years ago. With a wide variety of antique and collectibles including Pharmacy, Tool Supply, Barber Shop, Hardware Store, Haberdashery and more!! ey o er convenient parking for over 100 vehicles, with a spacious area for campers, trailers, and tour buses. You will nd it such a pleasure to shop in their clean, climate-controlled, brightly lit and carpeted mall. Absolutely one of The Best shopping experiences in Lancaster County!

OPEN ALL YEAR: MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, SUNDAY 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Tuesday. Visa / MasterCard / Discover / Debit Cards accepted. Gi Certi cates, Layaway and Shipping Available. For more information call: (717) 442-8805 during business hours or visit us on at CackleberryFarmAntiqueMall.com.

We have everything Lancaster County has to offer Come explore our huge 26,000 square foot antique mall—filled with the finest selection of antiques and collectibles in Lancaster County Pennsylvania! It houses a huge assortment of merchandise by over 125 dealers. There’s so much to choose from it’s impossible to list it all. And don’t miss our old time general store that’s full of vintage merchandise for sale.

By 1712, these French Huguenot settlers had secured land in Pennsylvania, in Lancaster’s Pequea Valley. They were the first white people in the area and lived peaceably with chief Tanawa and the local Indians. Mary Fierre died four years later at the age of 63. Hers became the first grave in the family’s cemetery. If you ride the

Strasburg Rail Road, you will pass her gravesite at Carpenter’s Cemetery, one of Lancaster’s oldest.

The origins of Route 30, also known as the “Lincoln Highway,” go back to Lancaster’s colonial days when this frontier county needed a communication route between it and the provincial capital of Philadelphia. At that time, the fi rst “planned” road

between Philadelphia and Lancaster was what is now Route 340. It was called the “King’s Highway,” and today we still call it the “Old Philadelphia Pike.”

As time went on, it became evident that the road could not accommodate the increasing tra c between Lancaster and Philadelphia. Since the cost of such a road 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 the tolls collected along the gates of the turnpike.

The 1792 Act went on to describe the construction of the highway, which was to be a bed of small crushed stones on top with larger stones underneath, rather than dirt, so as to prevent carriage wheels from cutting into the soil. Such a revolutionary system of road construction combined the ideas recently developed by a Frenchman and two Englishmen, one of whom was named John McAdam. We now take the term for paved roads or “macadam” from his last name. The turnpike o cially opened in 1795 and was the first long-distance, hardsurfaced road in the country.

The backroads around Paradise remain beautiful to this day, as the lush greens of the summer give way to the fall colors of the harvest season. So, during your visit to Lancaster, be sure to spend a little time in Paradise.

Fall Artisan Days cont’d from page 12

Stuckeymobile, and enjoy free samples of Stuckey’s Pecan Rolls.

Family Fun and Fall Treats

For those looking to indulge in seasonal treats, a special cart will o er cider doughnuts, fresh popcorn (butter or fall seasoned), cold apple cider, and hot co ee—all for just $1 each. Plus, a full array of seasonal treats will be available for purchase in Locally Made Food Shop including pumpkin whoopie pies, Miller’s Bakery pumpkin pie, homestyle apple butter, and more.

For more information, visit the website, shoppesatmilllers.com.

Lantz Homestead cont’d from page 27

a visit to Amish Country, in Central Pennsylvania, remember to add this location, Lantz Homestead Quilt Barn, 870 Musser School Road, Gordonville, PA 17529 – to your GPS.

717-661-1265 | LantzHomestead.com

AFTER 5 PM in

AMISH COUNTRY

Amish VIP (Visit–in–Person) Tour

717–768–8400 | AmishExperience.com

Anna’s Gifts & Sundries

800-669-3568 | MillersSmorgasbord.com

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

717–898–1900 | DutchApple.com

Gish’s Furniture

717–392–6080 | 717–354–2329 | Gishs.com

Good’s Store

“Weekdays Only” | GoodsStores.com

Hershey’s Chocolate World

717–534–4900 | Hersheys.com

Jake’s Country Trading Post

717–687–8980 | JakesHomeAccents.com

Locally Made Food Shop

717-687-6621 | LocallyMadeFoodShop.com

Miller’s Smorgasbord

800–669–3568 | MillersSmorgasbord.com

Shady Maple Farm Market

717–354-4981 | Shady-Maple.com/farm-market/

Smokehouse BBQ & Brews at Plain & Fancy Farm

717–768–4400 | SmokehouseBBQandBrews.com

OPEN SUNDAY in

AMISH COUNTRY

For Plain People, Sunday is a day of rest, but there are many things to do in Amish Country on Sundays. Save some of these for your Sunday sight–seeing.

Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides

717–768–8828 | AmishBuggyRides.com

Amish Experience

717–768–8400 | AmishExperience.com

Anna’s Gifts & Sundries

800-669-3568 | MillersSmorgasbord.com

Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall

717–442–2600 | CackleberryFarmAntiqueMall.com

Choo Choo Barn

717–687–7911 | ChooChooBarn.com

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

717–898–1900 | DutchApple.com

Ghost Tour Lancaster & Strasburg

717-687-6687 | GhostTour.com/strasburg.html

Hershey’s Chocolate World

717–534–4900 | Hersheys.com

Jake’s Country Trading Post

717–687–8980 | JakesHomeAccents.com

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

717–626–4354 | JuliusSturgis.com

Locally Made Food Shop

717-687-6621 | LocallyMadeFoodShop.com

Miller’s Smorgasbord

800–669–3568 | MillersSmorgasbord.com

The Quilt Shop at Miller’s 717-687-8439 | QuiltShopAtMillers.com

Renninger’s Antique Market

717–336–2177 | Renningers.net

Smokehouse BBQ & Brews at Plain & Fancy Farm

717–768–4400 | SmokehouseBBQandBrews.com

Strasburg Scooter Tours

717–876–5560 | StrasburgScooters.com

Turkey Hill Experience

844–847–4884 | TurkeyHillExperience.com

Real. Good. Food.

Reserve Online at Millers1929.com or call

Voted a LNP Lancaster County Reader’s Choice Buffet 2023, a 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Best Buffet in the US, TripAdvisor’s Travelesr’ Choice 2023, and a Lancaster’s Best Buffet by Clipper Magazine 2023. Fall lOcal artisan Days every saturDay in OctOber FrOm 1-4pm.

Wine, Beer and Cocktail Menu Available.

Valid for up to six adults selecting our Traditional Adult Smorgasbord Dinner. Not valid Saturdays after 3 PM. Not valid Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, or with any other offer, special, discount, birthday offer, Bonus Bucks or group rate. Applies to Traditional Adult Smorgasbord Dinner only. Not valid on any other dining option. Expires 12/31/24. PLU ACN704

The

Amish Way Life of Has Its Risks

By Clinton Martin

Falling prey to an online predator? Not likely to befall an Amish child. Getting run over by a wagon wheel? That’s a risk an Amish child must learn to face safely. Some risks that “English” (non-Amish) children face is

foreign to Plain youth, but on the other side of the coin, Amish children face certain risks that mainstream society around them wouldn’t encounter.

To make growing up Amish safer, understanding the unique risks that

Amish children face on farms and around “cottage industries” (small manufacturing shops located at home) a fi ve-member board of Amish men has been established. It is called the Pennsylvania Amish Safety Committee. The men are appointed by their fellow Amish peers using an election / ballot system.

The committee works in partnership with Penn State University to develop training sessions, educational seminars, and town-hall style meetings where Amish parents can interact with Penn State’s various entities, including the university’s Children’s Hospital (located on site at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) and the university’s local agricultural extension (Lancaster County Cooperative Extension.) The committee of course presents the information and activities in PA Dutch, the native language of the Amish. Though all Amish can and do speak English, as their second language, community and family events feel more comfortable when they are in the German dialect.

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Pediatric Trauma Coordinator Beverly Shirk, who works closely with the committee, has noted that the three most common injuries to Amish youth seen at the hospital are falls (especially through hay-holes used to drop feed down to the animals below,)

heavy equipment accidents (skidsteers, forklifts, etc.) and lastly large animal interactions gone bad (kicked by a cow, bucked by a horse.)

The committee worked with Penn State to develop a cover for the hayholes. It is a netting product, which was fi nanced by a grant from the nationally renowned farm safety organization, Marshfi eld Clinic. The covers were thus distributed free of charge to Amish farmers. Another safety initiative which came out of the committee was a backup camera for skid-steers. The committee is still seeking a grant to make these cameras widespread, but some farmers have already purchased

them, and the Ag Extension distributed a small number as well.

Lancaster County Cooperative

Extension educator Kay Moyer is well-known among the Amish, having developed a close and trusted bond

with the community over the last 30 years. She is a registered nurse, as well as working with the safety initiatives in the community. Her e orts center around presentations in Amish schools, educating the children on farm safety. Her “Farm and Home Safety Program” distributes instructional coloring books, poison control stickers, and other safetycentered content that the children can take home and show their parents. Moyer has also been instrumental in making reflective vests ubiquitous among the Amish, when they are walking down the road, riding their scooters, or (somewhat less common today, riding their rollerblades.)

Kids Coloring Page

There really is no place quite like Lititz, and everyone should plan to spend some time there while in Amish Country.

Lititz Springs Park is a popular spot for locals, and the site for many community activities. Indeed, the town’s 4th of July Celebration, begun in 1818, is reputedly the “oldest continuing community-wide observance in the United States.” The Lititz story is tied to that of the Moravian faith in Bohemia. It was in the present-day Czech Republic that John Hus and followers founded the Moravian Church in 1457. Historians note that since this was 60 years before Luther’s Reformation, the Moravians may lay claim to being the oldest organized Protestant Church. But over

the course of the Thirty Years War, its 200,000 members nearly disappeared. In the 18th century, a renewal of the Moravian Church came through the patronage of Count Zinzendorf of Saxony. He invited all those persecuted for their faith to come to his lands in Saxony.

As was the case with other persecuted religious groups in Europe, many Moravians sought freedom by taking the perilous journey to the New World, arriving in the early 1700s, with the main settlements becoming established in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Missionary work was integral to the faith, and preachers were sent from the Moravian community in

The Tamburitzans Return to Lanc, PA!

October 19, 2024 3–5 p.m.

Warwick Middle School, 401 Maple St, Lititz Now in its 88th season. The show will present the folk music and dance of a variety of countries, including, Croatia, Serbia, Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, Spain, and the Romani culture and more along with all the enthralling instruments, entrancing costumes and intricate steps you’ve come to love from America’s Longest Running Live Stage Show. Purchased tickets at tammieslancaster2024. eventbrite.com or call 717-626-3701.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Zinzendorf himself arrived in America in 1742. A local resident, John Klein (Kline), was so moved by hearing Zinzendorf’s preaching that he made arrangements to transfer his lands over to the Moravian community in 1755. It was in the following year that the town actually got the name of Lititz, the German spelling for Lidice, where European Moravian reformers had taken refuge in 15th century. For about a hundred years, Moravian church members were the only people permitted to live in the town. A Brothers’ House and Sisters’ House were erected for the unmarried men and women, although they did not live communally. It was not until 1855 that non-Moravians were allowed to own their own houses.

The Brothers’ House played a role in the American Revolution. George Washington ordered it used as a military hospital between 1777-78. Some 1,000 soldiers were nursed here, about half of whom died and were buried nearby.

One name is linked forever with the history of Lititz—Julius Sturgis. It was 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 is unlike any other. Inside, you get to try your hand at pretzel twisting. It’s not as easy as it looks. Guests also may see the old brick bake ovens, as well as the more modern facilities. Schedule a tour by calling the bakery at 717-626-4354.

From routine check-ups to complex procedures, UPMC Children’s in Central Pa. delivers comprehensive care for children — close to home. From head to toe, our services include:

• Neonatal Intensive Care

• Pediatric Intensive Care

• Pediatric Surgical Services

• Children’s Express Care

• Emergency Department Care

• Children’s Specialty Services

• Children’s Community Pediatrics

Plus, with access to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, which is ranked among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, we have even more resources available in our backyard.

To learn more, visit UPMC.com/CentralPaPediatrics.

in Central Pa.

Ephrata

Ephrata, a small yet influential town, derives its name from Genesis, meaning “fruitfulness.” With a population of 13,800, it’s strategically positioned between Lancaster and Reading, serving as the gateway to Northern Lancaster County’s lucrative manufacturing sector.

Its history dates back to the 18th century Ephrata Cloister, founded by Conrad Beissel, which evolved into a thriving village. By 1871, Ephrata was described as “a well-built country town of about one hundred and twenty families, and very beautifully and healthily located.”

In 1848, Senator Joseph Konigmacher established the Ephrata Mountain Springs Hotel, a luxurious resort frequented by notable figures like Presidents Lincoln, Buchanan, and Grant.

A trolley system was built to connect the hotel with the town of

Ephrata down the hill. At its peak, the hotel could accommodate up to 500 visitors who would stay throughout the summer.

The Reading & Columbia Railroad was completed in 1883, and the town experienced economic booms through industries like cigar manufacturing, horse trade, silk, textiles, and shoes. Downtown Ephrata once catered to all needs, from groceries to hardware.

Today, Ephrata retains its historical charm with landmarks standing as important reminders of the borough’s history. The community’s first bank, Ephrata National Bank, still serves customers today behind its Georgian style structure designed by renowned architect, C. Emlen Urban.

Located near the town’s square sits the circa 1880’s railroad station, owned by the Ephrata Borough and serving as home to Mainspring of Ephrata, economic development

October 13, 2024 2–6 p.m.

Elks Lodge #1933, 170 Akron Rd, Ephrata

This event focuses on raising awareness of food insecurity & hunger in our community. Proceeds from this event will benefit the EASS Grocery Pantry, Swamp Lutheran Food Box distribution, and Meals On Wheels Ephrata – Cocalico Programs. Join us for live music, BBQ, Kid Zone, cornhole tourney, silent auction, ra es, and more.

Information & details: mainspringofephrata.org/ event/bbq-bash/ or 717-721-6196.

corporation for the borough. The area surrounding the station has been beautifully landscaped and is known as the Whistle Stop Plaza. Many events, services and even weddings are held at this popular gathering place. The community’s Welcome Center is also located in this building. From here, visitors and residents alike can download a historic walking tour through the Uniquely Ephrata app.

Recreation thrives with facilities like the Ephrata Rec Center, community pool, and the newly opened Ephrata Unleashed Dog Park. The Warwick-Ephrata Rail Trail and Heatherwood Bike Park o er outdoor activities, while quality education and healthcare are ensured through the Ephrata Area School District and award-winning Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital.

Municipal services include police, code enforcement, and utility management, with the borough’s own electric company providing power.

Ephrata is experiencing some significant revitalization that will secure a vibrant, healthy town for future generations. The borough, under the auspices of Mainspring of Ephrata, completed a walkability project in the downtown area that enhanced pedestrian safety, and launched a Façade Improvement Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund Program to improve aesthetics and help businesses to expand. The borough continues to strengthen the economy by promoting available leased

Ephrata cont’d on page 46

Cheryl Ann McNulty

Cheryl has been creating and marketing her illustrations and paintings for over 40 years. A self-taught artist who from an early age began drawing portraits and creating holiday greeting card designs, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to increase her knowledge and improve her skills, in addition to gaining exposure to the broader art community and various artistic mediums.

Her artwork is gracing this month’s cover of Amish Country News as it has many times before. Her passion is painting portraits of the Amish, and the scenery of the Lancaster County. The images she creates arouse the emotion of the viewer, a goal she focuses on with every piece. A recent note she received read, “this print captures the peacefulness and love that we felt in our hearts while there…it will have a place of honor in our home.”

Cheryl’s love for the Amish culture began in 1973 with a family

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

trip to Lancaster County. The peacefulness and beauty of the landscape and the Amish culture left vivid and pleasant memories that made her return again and again. Since 1985 she has made several connections during her annual trips, the most rewarding being with a local Amish family. These trips help her connect with friends and to view the beautiful Lancaster County farms, providing her with ideas for her next project.

Cheryl’s art can be purchased at www.etsy.com/shop/cherylmcnultyart.

Visit Cheryl’s blog at www.cherylmcnulty.wordpress.com and/or follow her on Instagram @cherylannmcnulty to view her recent works and works in progress.

Recipe Favorites cont’d from page 14

Carefully place floured chicken in melted butter. Fry chicken in batches rather than crowd the chicken. If the skillet is too full, the chicken will steam and not brown. Fry until golden brown on both sides.

Line cake pan, or jellyroll pan with aluminum foil. Transfer browned chicken to baking pan.

Bake uncovered at 350° for 1-1½ hours, or until chicken is tender.

(Makes 5-6 servings | Prep Time: 0 minutes | Baking Time: 1-1½ hours)

Author Sarah Price cont’d from page 17

she’s since forged long-lasting bonds with many Amish families.

Fields of Corn went on to become an Amazon bestseller and First Impressions, A Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, Sarah’s salute to Jane Austen from an Amish perspective, debuted on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list. In 2014, An Amish Buggy Ride became a #1 Amazon bestseller in Religious Romance. Ms. Price has advanced degrees in Communication (MA), Marketing (MBA), and Educational Leadership (A.B.D.) and was a former college professor. She now writes fulltime and talks about her books and her faith on a daily live stream with readers. Learn more about Sarah and her novels at https://www.instagram.com/ sarahpriceauthor/?hl=en.

Ephrata cont’d from page 44

space within commercial properties, attracting specialty retailers, and preserving historic buildings.

The borough’s commitment extends to preserving natural assets like the Ephrata Mountain, exploring plans for hiking trails and conservation easements to enhance community living. It is from this 200 acres of public wooded land that the healing waters flowed all those years ago to the Mountain Springs Hotel.

Ephrata continues to thrive as a fruitful community, blending its rich history with modern amenities for residents and visitors alike.

Fall Hours

Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm*

*Last ride leaves 30 minutes prior to closing time.

Standard Rides

Country & Cookie Tour

Adults: $18.00 Child: $12.00 (age 3-12) 2 & under: Free

A 30-35 minute tour passing a cluster of Amish homes and businesses in an all Amish area. Travel our country roads, the way we travel! Cookies, snacks and drinks are USUALLY available for purchase, depending on our Amish neighbors availability.

Amish Farm Tour

Adults: $35.00 Child: $16.00 (age 3-12) 2 & under: Free

A 50-60 minute tour that stops at a local farm! Experience our way of life on a real working Amish farm. Tour the barn and see the cows, chickens, goats, and horses. Discover life without electricity and how the Amish remain separate from traditional American society!

The Sunday Ride

Adults: $20.00 Child: $12.00 (age 3-12) 2 & under: Free

A 30-35 minute tour passing numerous Amish farms. Our local drivers can answer your questions and talk to you about points of interest.

Private Journey Tours

For a truly unique experience, book your own private tour, with your own driver, horse, and buggy. Our guests call it “ unforgettable”!