Amish Country News Holiday 2024 Winter 2025

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.

Redefining Amish Furniture

SSince the inception of Gish’s Furniture, we have been dedicated to exclusive collaboration with the best Amish craftsmen. Our mission is to produce superior solid hardwood furniture. Our artisans exhibit remarkable patience and precision in their craft. We prioritize cultivating strong relationships with each artisan and gaining valuable insight into their furniture-making techniques and processes, from wood selection to finishing. Our unwavering commitment to quality ensures that if our standards are not met, the furniture will not be displayed in our showrooms. While many Amish shops can be found in Lancaster, Gish's offers a distinctive experience that sets us apart from the typical furniture store.

ince the inception of Gish’s Furniture, we have been dedicated to exclusive collaboration with the best Amish craftsmen. Our mission is to produce superior solid hardwood furniture. Our artisans exhibit remarkable patience and precision in their craft. We prioritize cultivating strong relationships with each artisan and gaining valuable insight into their furniture-making techniques and processes, from wood selection to finishing. Our unwavering commitment to quality ensures that if our standards are not met, the furniture will not be displayed in our showrooms. While many Amish shops can be found in Lancaster, Gish's offers a distinctive experience that sets us apart from the typical furniture store.

Many may imitate, but nothing will compare to our...

Many may imitate, but nothing will compare to our...

QUALITY

QUALITY - Gish’s furniture has no equal. In exclusive partnership with the best Amish craftsmen in the world, Gish’s has spent more than 20 years creating the best handcrafted furniture. From the initial stages of construction to the detailed finishing touches, Gish’s is dedicated to delivering craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.

- Gish’s furniture has no equal. In exclusive partnership with the best Amish craftsmen in the world, Gish’s has spent more than 20 years creating the best handcrafted furniture. From the initial stages of construction to the detailed finishing touches, Gish’s is dedicated to delivering craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.

SERVICE - Whether you're furnishing an entire home or seeking a single item, Gish’s Sales team is here to help you find the perfect piece for your space. Thorough product knowledge and attentive care enables Gish’s sales associates to deliver unparalleled customer service.

SERVICE - Whether you're furnishing an entire home or seeking a single item, Gish’s sales team is here to help you find the perfect piece for your space. Thorough product knowledge and attentive care enables Gish’s sales associates to deliver unparalleled customer service.

U.S.A.

DELIVERY - No matter if you're located in Lancaster, PA, New York City, Seattle, or anywhere else, Gish’s is ready to deliver your furniture and ensure it’s installed by our trusted team. Throughout your Gish’s experience, we maintain control and open communication—no middleman involved!

DELIVERY - No matter if you're located in Lancaster, PA, New York City, Seattle, or anywhere else, Gish’ ready to deliver your furniture and ensure it’s installed by our trusted team. Throughout your Gish’s experience maintain control and open communication—no middleman involved!

REPUTATION - There are many Amish craftsmen who build furniture, but not all Amish furniture is created with the same amount of quality or care. At Gish’s, you will never find pine, pressboard, or veneers, only solid hardwood. is furniture to last a lifetime, to create memories around and live life in. Unparalleled Experience and Quality you can feel.

REPUTATION - There are many Amish craftsmen who build furniture, but not all Amish furniture is created with the same amount of quality or care. At Gish’s, you never find pine, pressboard, or veneers, only solid hardwood. This is furniture to last a lifetime, to create memories around and live life in. Unparalleled Experience and Quality you can feel.

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 stuff 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 off 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!

Koziar’s Open and Celebrating 77th Season!

Many of you have been asking, and we are pleased to inform you that YES, Koziar’s Christmas Village is opening in 2024! Opening night is the first Saturday in November, as has always been their longstanding tradition at the Koziar’s Christmas Village. They can’t wait to show you all of what Santa and his helpers have been up to. The FUN begins Saturday night, November 2nd.

Owned and operated by the Koziar’s family since 1948 at the family farm in Bernville, PA, the holiday season is always the highlight of their year. The family celebration has grown to become one of Pennsylvania’s premier holiday attractions.

Santa Welcomes You!

For Koziar’s Christmas Village, they are looking forward to making new friends and re-connecting with many of their previous friends, some going back three and four generations. If you’ve never visited, we welcome you to join

the Koziar’s family this holiday season and celebrate with them!

Also, with new attractions you can see this season, there are also the favorites from past years you can expect to see. Like the “Kissing Bridge” and the “Koziar Christmas Village Museum” that is dedicated to the memory of the original founders and their vision of and for the Koziar’s Christmas Village.

True Story: Three Years ago, there were a couple of school teachers, one kindergarten and the other 1st grade, That traveled from London, England, overnight, to Philadelphia, PA, specifically just to experience Koziar’s Christmas Village for themselves. Then

flew back to England the next day! Needless to say, their students were all crying and envious that they couldn’t come with the school teachers on their trip. But the ownership of Christmas Village, when they found out, made sure they didn’t let those school teachers go home empty handed. Those teachers received 60 post cards, one for each of their students, so they could have a memento from their teacher’s trip to cherish.

You can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village on their website at koziarschristmasvillage.com and also follow them on Facebook for updates and the latest news.

Visiting

Amish Entrepreneurial Spirit

Reflects Wholesome Side of A Hard Day’s Work

By Clinton Martin & Edward Blanchette

Rampant crony capitalism and materialistic cash-mongering. If you want it, get up at 2 a.m. on Black Friday and head to the mall. Amish Country will be just fine without all of that, as it has been for generations. In fact, all the qualities that differentiate Amish Country from the hectic buyer’s battle that the holiday shopping season can be precisely why so many visitors decide to escape for a day or three in Amish Country’s simpler, more wholesome environs.

Amish carriages sway with the gait of chestnut brown horses as they saunter down less-traveled back roads, the sound of clip-clopping hooves rhythmically echoing off the barns, silos, and homes of neighboring farms and small cottage industries. The crisp, cool air that has long since covered the now-fallow fields with frost only serves to make the smells wafting from the area’s small-town family-owned bakeries that much more inviting. There’s still “produce” in Amish Country these days. Pecks of peaches might not be in season anymore, but the pies

in which they’ve been preserved and baked are hot, fresh, and irresistible out of the oven.

Truth be told, there’s always been more to Amish Country than farms, and there are many Amish families that

make a living doing something other than tilling the soil. This is nothing new, as jobs off the farm had already begun common among the Amish forty-four years ago. However, a typical “lunch pail” job at a local factory or non-Amish employer is not how most of the nonfarming Plain people put food on the table and clothes on their backs.

There are hundreds of small, familyowned cottage industries throughout the Amish community that provide Amish families with vocation yet retain a family togetherness that is only possible by going to work, by staying at home. Blacksmith’s shoeing horses, carriage makers crafting the traditional black and grey buggies, and an Amish woman working needle and thread by candlelight one stitch at a time as she creates a beautiful hand-made quilt are all easily worked into the stereotypical view of Amish Country. But these home-based cottage industries are not nearly as limited.

Amish craftsmen make just about anything you can think of, if it can be fashioned by hand, with minimal tools, and a little Amish ingenuity when it comes to electricity. Power drills can be run off compressed air, diesel generators can easily power saws and other equipment. Solar panels power the rest, without needing to plug in to “the grid.”

At Amish Country News we’ve had the privilege of writing

about a wide variety of Amish cottage industries. Here are a few examples:

Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies (717) 768-0239

Amish family-owned bakery now in the second generation of ownership, making simply scrumptious & savory chicken, beef, and sausage pies in various sizes, available frozen from their bakery. In addition to an assortment of baked goods, soups, sandwiches, and other tasty edibles. Located at 3427 Lincoln Hwy East, Paradise, PA, Zooks Homemade Chicken Pies has a clean & spacious location, open and ready to welcome you with all of their tasty and mouthwatering offerings.

Riehl’s Quilts & Crafts (717) 656-0697

This farm is one of the more photogenic places in Amish Country. Many scrapbooks contain a photo or two of the “lane” going down into the farm. Quilts, crafts, and other handmade items are available at the well-stocked on-site shop. Rather than convert the barn into a store, they built a shop specifically to display their crafts. Located at 247 East Eby Road, Leola, PA.

Countryside Road-stand (717) 656-4474

Countryside Road Stand, situated in the picturesque landscape of Leola, is a local market stand that epitomizes the charm and

bounty of Pennsylvania’s farmland. A favorite among locals and visitors known for its fresh produce and homemade goods. Visitors can indulge in a wide variety of fresh, locally sourced produce. From crisp vegetables and juicy fruits to homemade jams and baked goods, the stand offers the finest products from the surrounding farms. The stand is also known for its seasonal offerings, which change throughout the year, providing customers with the best of each season. In addition to produce, the stand also features unique local goods, such as handcrafted items, artisanal cheeses, and specialty foods, making it a treasure trove for those seeking authentic local flavors and crafts as that holiday offering.

Forest Hill Leather Craft (717) 656-8758

by Amish craftsmen. The Gish family provides a beautiful showroom in which to stage the many fine furniture creations of small Amish workshops. The technology to make the shopping experience easy is there, while the

Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop (717) 656-7947

The shop displays only goods made by the family on site, but there is a grand variety of handmade products, from coasters to bags, cases, belts, to key chains. Open daily except for Sundays, the shop is easy to find. Located at 225 Forest Hill Road, Bird-in-Hand. Remember that the shop is not actually in the “downtown” of Bird-in-Hand. Through a quirk in the postal service territory, his shop has a Bird-in-Hand address but is actually much closer to Leola. But once you find it, you’ll understand what a special place this is for that leathery gift

If there’s an activity that is synonymous with visiting Amish Country, it is noshing on some delectable baked goods. The Bird-inHand Bake Shop on Gibbons Road is one of the area’s most well-known and well-loved. The Miller family happens to be Mennonite, but they employ ladies from all walks of Plain life to knead the dough and sift the flour at their bake shop. To get a bit of this “Old Fashioned Goodness” you can find them located at 542 Gibbons Road, Bird-in-Hand, PA.

Lantz Homestead Quilt Barn (717) 661-1265

On a rural stretch of road, located on 870 Musser School Road, just east of route 772 & north of route 340 in Gordonville, PA. Lantz Homestead Quilt Barn is clearly a favorite spot for handmade quilts, children’s toys, inspirational plaques, and home décor, as well as some unique furniture options that are also available. The walk-in shop gives you a clean and well merchandised atmosphere of all of the available “family friendly” gifts available. And the staff are always friendly and willing to assist & answer your question to find that special something that will light up that special family member’s day.

A Little Bit of Switzerland in Lancaster County

By Clinton Martin

Amish, Mennonite, and other lesser-known groups are often referred to as PA Dutch. So, would that mean they trace their roots to Holland, right? Well, not necessarily. Some of the ships that they rode on to come over to America were launched from Dutch ports, but many

of the PA Dutch would trace their roots to Germany, Switzerland, the Alsatian region of France, even parts of Russia. Essentially, the forefathers of today’s Amish and Mennonite families were people without a Nation. Generally German-speaking people, they nonetheless moved around to

whatever region would tolerate their existence, until finally deciding to make the voyage to the New World.

One of the more pivotal moments in PA Dutch history took place in Switzerland, the signing of the Schleitheim Confession of Faith in 1525. This was an early doctrinal statement of the “Swiss Brethren” – a name that predated “Mennonite” and “Amish.” The Swiss Brethren were an

early group of Anabaptist believers that gathered at the town of Schleitheim to hammer out exactly what their tenets were, in a document which could be shared with others.

Today, much of the doctrine of Amish, Mennonite, and other Anabaptist groups can still be traced directly back to this 1525 document. So, many of these people today identify with a heritage of Swiss history, and many of them would trace their genealogy directly back to Switzerland as well.

O ne very common surname in Lancaster County is Martin, a name that does trace directly from Switzerland, and the “Swiss Brethren” movement. Particularly numerous in the Ephrata/northern Lancaster County area, the Martin name has been associated with historic farms for many generations. One such farm, the Big Spring Farm, is now uniquely preserved as a museum of sorts to these early settlers.

T he Swiss Pioneer Preservation Associates is a heritage organization that among other things is tasked with maintaining and operating the Big Spring Farm. The farm was in the Martin family since the 1700s. That alone wouldn’t necessarily make this property unique. There are many farms in Lancaster County with such a direct genealogical line, but when

Paul W. Martin had the Big Spring Farm, he never married or had any children. So, when he came to the end of his life, he had a decision to make about the farm. What to do? He decided to will the farm in its entirety as a gift to the Swiss Pioneer Preservation Associates, a group he was active in, and thus decided to entrust with the farm’s maintenance.

T he Associates decided to use the farm as a heritage site, one part museum, one part event space, one-part historical monument to the early Anabaptist settlers of the area. Today, the farm includes many original buildings, including barns,

the house, the restored Spring House, the reassembled Peter Martin log cabin, a museum, a sawmill, and a Martin Family Graveyard.

Today, the farm is not open daily but is open to the public a few times a year for special events. The annual Big Spring Farm Days is a popular event with living history demonstrations, a food stand, horse training, sawmilling, hay-baling, steam engines, house tours, chair caning, and the list goes on. The best way to get information about upcoming events at the farm is to look up Swiss Pioneer Preservation Associates on Facebook.

When Quilts & Crafts Don’t Satisfy

Amish Country Still Delivers

By Clinton Martin & Edward Blanchette

No offense to “Amish Country Ohio,” but I’ve been there, and while there is plenty of “Amishy” stuff to do there, when you’ve had your fill of buggies & bonnets, there’s just not a whole lot of other options. Here in Lancaster PA, we boast an all-encompassing authentic encounter with the Amish community, while also providing myriad

Amish Country around here doesn’t stop at quilts and crafts.

Thankfully neither does the shopping. There are merchants here providing retail pursuits that simply can’t be found anywhere else. The fact that northern Lancaster County’s town of Adamstown is known far and wide as Antiques Capitol USA only proves evidence to the claim that you can truly shop for days in Amish Country prior to setting foot on an Amish farm. Renninger’s Antique Market is one of the anchor properties in Adamstown, and also provides an excellent Sunday activity when much of Amish Country might be closed. Renninger’s is easy to spot along Route 272.

If you won’t have time to head up to Renninger’s, you can still experience Antique & Collectible shopping worth writing home about, with Cackleberry Farms Antique Mall offering an option along Lancaster’s Route 30 corridor, while Brickerville Antiques welcomes visitors in the Lititz area. Also speaking of what’s old is new, but with a twist. You can also check out Freedom Thrift in the Ronks and New Holland areas. With two locations in “Amish Country” to give you options for shopping with a good cause underlined, the Freedom Thrift Stores is a must-see treasure trove of all things thrifty & repurposed items. From China sets, affordable clothing, toys, books, furniture and more. There is always something gift worthy to find for those

special someone’s on your list. Just remember, you’re not only getting a gift to give, but you’re also helping someone in need behind the scenes as well.

If the phrase “What’s old is new again” doesn’t really get you excited, there is a shopping experience in Lancaster that might fit your fancy, where all the merchandise is brand new, fresh, trendy, stylish and luxurious yet surprisingly affordable. That would be the Tanger Outlet Center. Located on Route 30 in the heart of Lancaster County, Tanger Outlets offers numerous name brands all in one place. It is outlet shopping at its best.

Speaking of shopping. There’s no place like Goods Store, now with four different locations to choose from, making the trip out so much easier. From dresses to work boots to snow shovels, Good’s Store has just about everything you need to finish out that shopping list for the whole family.

Located in East Earl, Quarryville, Ephrata, and Schaeffertown. Better get a big cart and a bigger back seat to fit it all!

Located in Intercourse Pennsylvania on Route 340, you can find The Old Candle Barn, which has been in the

Village of Intercourse since 1982, owned by the Hurst Family for the past 42 years, has been a staple retail and wholesale spot for locally crafted, hand poured, hand dipped candles, along with potpourri and home decor items and accessories to shed a light on your gift giving needs for the whole family.

Also located in Intercourse, if you still would rather pass up antiques and steins, then head for something a little more to the point, if you’ll permit a bad pun, Amish Country will sharpen your retail attention. Country Knives is one of the largest knives and edged tool stores along the East Coast, with over 12,000 knives in stock from hundreds of worldwide manufacturers. The Huegel family has been in business since 1976, providing customers with the amazing experience of actually

holding the knives and cutlery in their hands prior to buying them.

Looking for that special something for your train enthusiast? Then look no further, whether they’re 6 or 60 years young, the Strasburg Model Train Shop should make it easier to find those special pieces to add to their collection and create a bunch of smiles along the way. A 2,000 s/f model railroading hobby shop, located on 226 Gap Road in beautiful Strasburg, PA, in the same plaza as the Choo-Choo Barn! So, not only can you complete that Christmas list, but get to have some fun experiencing a bunch of live action model trains in motion! Whoop-Whoop, all aboard!

And finally, rounding out this treatise on non-traditional shopping in Amish Country, this issue’s featured cover story, Jake’s Country Trading Post, offers a two-building, multi-level shopping experience that includes an outdoor shop stocking planters, statuary, sheds, play sets, and furniture, while bursting at the seams with incredible merchandise inside as well. Purses, shoes, apparel, country living home goods, officially licensed sports stuff, and a lot more items to offer for that hard to fill Christmas lists.

Halal

The Shepherd’s Touch

By Clinton Martin

“We are a family run Amish Halal Farm.” Sometimes when you read something your brain comes to an abrupt halt. You re-read and think, “What did I just see?” That’s what happened to me when I came across The Shepherd’s Touch.

The Amish (who are Christian) and Halal certification (Islamic law) wouldn’t seem to go together at first blush, but when you stop and think about it, there’s no reason why an Amish family can’t raise, finish, butcher, and sell meats according to Halal considerations, to fulfil a customer need and want. In fact, these sorts of situations, in a broader sense, are what the Amish excel at.

If necessity is the mother of innovation, the Amish are great examples of this adage. Simply put, the Amish by and large, consider farming to be an admirable profession. Despite the fact that far less than half of the Amish in Lancaster County today make their living as farmers, they in general still consider it the ideal vocation. It simply remains impractical for many to actually do it.

For those that make the plunge and attempt to make a living as farmers, they’ll need to find a niche. Amish farms are typically small, use slower more traditional methods, and basically are ill-equipped to compete against large corporate/factory farms. So, finding a small affinity market within the larger ag industry, something that the “big boys” just wouldn’t bother to chase after, is the best way for an Amish farmer to “keep the lights on” –not the best use of the phrase, admittedly!

Shepherd’s Touch simply found a niche that I will admit surprised even me. They produce Goat, Lamb, Beef, and Veal, completely 100% Halal. Customers come directly to their farm and purchase the products right on site from the farmers themselves. The meat is fresh, and the customer is involved with the whole process as much as they wish.

farm itself, or via Facetime or WhatsApp. The farm custom-butchers the animal to the customer’s specifications, with a certified Halal butcher, right on site at the farm. The butchering service is free. The customer pays for the meat. The customer then packs the meat into their ice chest, or the farm can arrange for delivery directly to the customer’s home. As an additional perk, though Halal regulations only apply to meats, the farm also sells fruits and vegetables, as well as honey. So, customers who come to them for their Halal meats can also stock up on these items as well.

The farm sells the whole animal to the customer. The customer selects the animal personally, either in-person at the

It is important to note that anyone can eat Halal meat. The farm welcomes anyone to come and purchase their meats, though of course Muslim customers are the most common visitors to the farm. Nonetheless if you are in the market for Halal meats, and you wish to visit the farm, Shepherd’s Touch is located at 233 Gunhart Rd, Mohnton, PA 19540. The farm can be reached by phone at 717-438-5505. No calls on Sundays please. Farm hours are Monday-Saturday 8am-4pm. Closed all day Sunday.

Christmas Amish Style

By Sarah Price

No Christmas trees. No evergreen wreaths. No Santa Claus. No red bows or bells. From an outsider’s point of view, it would be easy to believe that, to the Amish, Christmas would be the year’s most important and most festive holiday. However, it’s a day set aside for focusing on the family and God, not for gifts and abundance. After all, the Amish are called the Plain People.

So how do the Amish celebrate Christmas?

It varies from church district to church district but, for the most part, they wake up as early as usual, go about their regular chores, and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by sharing a nice supper with their extended family, in the late afternoon or early evening. From then on, their day is spent relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. They might sing some hymns later in the evening when other family members join them for the evening meal. But it is definitely a low-key day.

You might be surprised to learn that Amish people do not attend church on Christmas, even if Christmas falls on a Sunday. While I understood about the missing Christmas trees, eggnog, bright decorations and gifts aplenty, I was quite taken aback when I learned of the

lack of a Christmas Day church service. After all, even the most non-religious people I know still go to church at least twice a year: Christmas and Easter!

“It’s about the family,” one of my Amish friends told me. We were riding in a buggy, returning from a trip to a local yarn shop. She was teaching me how to knit scarves for holiday gifts. It was the perfect time to inquire about how she would celebrate the holidays. “And we have our Christmas service on the Sunday before or after Christmas. Sometimes we will have it on Saturday if Christmas falls on a Sunday. That way, everyone can enjoy the day of Christmas with their families.”

After it was explained to me, it made sense. You see, the Amish don’t celebrate church in a dedicated church building. Back in the 1600s, when the Anabaptist began to form their religion and strayed from the traditions of the Catholic Church, they met secretly in houses and barns. After all, they reasoned, didn’t Jesus proclaim that “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20)?

My friend continued by explaining that it would be too stressful for any one family to host the Christmas service as the days and weeks leading

Christmas Amish Style cont’d on page 19

By Clinton Martin

The Wedding Planner… No, not the movie. We’re talking about the book! The book every Amish couple should have on their bookshelf when their daughter is “published.” (When a young Amish man and woman announce their engagement to the community at large, the Amish refer to them as being officially “published.”)

Behind the Scenes An Amish Wedding

The Old Order Amish of Lancaster County hold church services at home. Meaning, they take turns hosting other families in their congregation (or “district”) at their homes for their services. This goes for any kind of service – funerals, baptisms, regular Sunday services, and yes of course weddings!

But, an Amish wedding can have quite the guest list… 400 people – not totally uncommon. What a daunting task! Where do you even begin with hosting such an event at your home? Well, there are a couple books in circulation today among the Amish community to help guide the mother-of-the-bride with all of the organization that needs to take place.

I enjoyed reading The Ultimate Wedding Planner by author Susan Glick. Sections of the book are tabbed for

glimpse into the world of planning a traditional, Lancaster County, Amish wedding. Shopping lists for supplies needed, menus for the meals, job lists for those involved with the logistics of the day, etc.

Hosting a large wedding at the home takes a unique set of circumstances. First you’ll need to order three “bench wagons.” Bench wagons have more than just benches in them, but it is basically a non-descript box on wheels that can be pulled from farm to farm with horses (or sometimes other conveyances – I personally saw a forklift tugging one along a backroad last year.) These will provide seating for many of the guests, in addition to the hymnal used by the Amish (the Ausbund.) The benches fold up for storage and are set up after being removed, packed tight, into the wagon.

You’ll want to rent 5 stoves for all the cooking, or maybe just a food truck/ trailer where the Amish ladies can do the cooking. The typical menu features “roast” – which is either a chicken or turkey based one-pot stuffing meal that can feed a lot of people all at once, which is the name of the game in an Amish wedding. To fix enough roast to feed 400 people, you’ll need 38 chickens, 45 gallons of bread crumbs, six dozen eggs, five gallons of celery, fourteen pounds of butter, sixteen tablespoons of salt, and seven tablespoons of pepper. Don’t

worry about fussing too much with the chickens. You cook all the meat up as one, including livers and gizzards.

Of course, you need to plan ahead not only for the people attending, but all the horses that will bring them! Rent a tent to put up for the horse parking, so they are kept out of the elements. Weddings tend to be in the colder months, so it might snow or sleet. Have a couple of boys signed on as workers to care for the horses during the day. Don’t forget to fix them some food too – they’ll be hungry out there under the tent all day.

If you don’t have space, such as in a barn or a shop, for everyone to sit, you’ll want to rent a “wedding house.” These are movable addition-kits that go up in a day, and provide temporary event space, and then dismantle back into sections, kind of like a 3D jigsaw puzzle, but lifesize. If you need to rent one, place the order as soon as you can, a year in advance is not too early. Otherwise, you might not get one.

Some Amish weddings in Lancaster County will have English (non-Amish) guests attending, seeing as many local Amish families have friendships outside the community as well. If you happen to be lucky enough to get invited to an Amish wedding, just remember and appreciate as you sit there exactly how much work and planning went into the joyous day!

Strasburg

The area we know today as Strasburg was first settled by Germanspeaking 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, traffic 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 one of the principal stopping stations and, with the heavy wagon traffic, there were as many as ten taverns here.

SCOOTER TOURS

November 7, 14, 21 | December 31, 2024

226 Gap Road, Strasburg

At the Choo Choo Barn is Thankful Thursdays in November. Then in December is their Spectacular Christmas Display. Close to the end of December they will have their New Years Rising of the Rose out again! For more information visit www.facebook.com/choochoobarn or call (717) 464-4161 for details. Tell them the Amish Country News sent you!

No doubt the religious nature of the first 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 Swiss Mennonites came, the Alsatian city of Strasbourg.

Strasburg cont’d on page 19

Amish Wedding Season

By Edward Blanchette

Most Amish weddings take place at this time of year, from late October through December, after the autumn harvest. Traditionally, the days for weddings are Tuesdays and Thursdays, so there is time in between to get ready for and clean up after each. Even so, it can get pretty busy during the “wedding season”, with some Amish going to two or three weddings in one day!

A wedding is a particularly joyous occasion, for two baptized members of the church are joining in marriage, continuing the faith, and starting a new family together. While parents do not select who their children will marry, approval must be given, and the deacon usually acts as the go-between. At a church service after fall communion, the couples planning to marry are “published”, announced in front of the congregation. But much preparation, mainly by the bride’s parents has already begun, including the planting in early summer of several hundred stalks of celery, an important part of any Lancaster Amish wedding feast.

The church service itself, held in the home of the bride’s parents, is similar to the regular Sunday service. But the focus is on the serious step of marriage, for in

the Amish church, there is no divorce. The sermons and Bible passages emphasize the relationship between man and wife. When it is time for the vows, the couple comes forward. Each is asked if they will remain together until death, and if they will be loyal and care for each other during adversity, affliction, sickness, and weakness. The minister then takes the couples’ hands in his and, wishing them the blessing and mercy of God, tells them to “Go forth in the Lord’s name. You are now man and wife”.

After the service, the benches used for the service are put together to form tables. During the wedding meal, the couple sits at the corner of two tables called the “eck”, with their attendants on either side, and the unmarried boys sitting opposite the girls. The meal itself is a feast indeed, including “roast,” a mixture of bread filling and chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, apple sauce, and creamed celery. Some leafy celery stalks are also put in jars to decorate the table. Among the desserts are pies, doughnuts, fruit, and pudding. There are usually several wedding cakes, some made by the women, but often one from a bakery as well. They are usually eaten later in the day. It will take several seatings to feed 200, 300, or more guests.

In the afternoon, the young people have a singing, and soon it is time for the evening meal, for those who have stayed through the day. For the seating of the young people, the bride makes a list of couples who are dating or interested in each other. As their names are called, they take their place at the table. On the bride’s side are the married or “soon-tobe” married couples, while the groom’s side has the other couples. Hymn-singing again follows the meal, with the “faster hymns” predominating this time.

After spending the night at the bride’s home, the newlyweds awake the next day to begin helping with the clean-up from the day before.

The couple will spend upcoming weekends visiting relatives. Sometimes five or six houses are visited between a Friday and Sunday night. Wedding gifts are usually given to them at this time.

By the spring, the couple is usually ready to set up housekeeping in a home of their own. The groom would be growing his beard, a sign of marriage in the community. As in every culture, a wedding is a joyous celebration reflecting commitments, a new position in the community, and a new relationship as man and wife.

Strasburg cont’d from page 17

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

Christmas Amish Style cont’d from page 15

up to that service are spent cleaning the house and preparing food for the noon fellowship that follows the three-hour long service. While many help clean up afterwards, that host family would not have any time left in the day to enjoy their family or to travel to another district to see aging parents or siblings.

Gift giving is also quite minimal. Children may get a special toy from their parents such as ice skates or knitting supplies. Aunts and uncles might give younger children small gifts such as a wallet or a

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

handkerchief. But that’s the extent of gift-giving. The emphasis is on God, Jesus, and family…in that order. When I asked my friend if she had ever given her own parents a gift, she had to think about it and, finally, laughed as she said, “Why no! I don’t think us children ever did!”

Over the past twenty-five years, I have continually learned from these amazing people who are so strong in their faith and their commitment to each other. This year, I intend to follow their example by simplifying my own Christmas and making certain that Christ remains at the center of it.

Sarah Price is a best-selling author of Amish Fiction. Some of her titles include Fields of Corn, Valley of Hope, The Tomato Patch, The Quilting Bee, Amish Circle Letters, and A Gift of Faith: An Amish Christmas Story. Her books can be found on Amazon.com, BN.com, and Kobo.com. She can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fansofsarahprice and on her blog at www.sarahpriceauthor.com.

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.

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 difficulties, 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

National Small Business Saturday

November 30, 2024

Mark your calendars! And remember, you can make every day a small business day, in beautiful Amish Country!

Tell them the Amish Country News sent you!

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

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 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 office 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 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 office, and later the telephone.

Getting the first post office up and running was a difficult 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 office 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 roll-up 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. Calling All

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 effects, unique "ghost–like" characters, all on five screens.

EXPLORE the Amish Country Homestead, the region’s only Officially 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 magnificent back roads through Amish Farmlands with a certified 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 first, and still foremost, interpretative source of Amish Culture.

Amish Farmlands Tour

Book Your Tickets Online

Journey along back country roads, deep into the Amish Farmlands to discover sights rarely seen. Under the watchful eye of your certified guide, you’ll gain insights into the “how” and “why”of an 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 1/2 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 official “Heritage Tour” by the County of Lancaster. Visit an Amish farm at milking time, stop at a Cottage Industry, and finally enjoy a visit and chat with one of our Amish friends in their home.

Duration: 3 hours Monday – Saturday 5:00 p.m.

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

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.

Smokehouse

BBQ and Brews

Please see right hand page.

The Country Store

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 03/15/25. PLU ACN757

Breakfast with Santa

TExperience the Magic of the Season at at Plain & Fancy Farm

he holiday season is right around the corner, and there’s no better way to kick off the festivities than by joining us at Plain & Fancy Farm on Route 340 for a heartwarming Breakfast with Santa event on December 7th at 9am. This cherished tradition promises a delightful morning filled with good food, holiday cheer,

December 7, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Location: Plain & Fancy Farm, 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17534

Website: https://www.plainandfancy farm.com/onsite-activities/breakfast -with-santa/

Tickets: 717-768-4400

and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus himself.

At Breakfast with Santa, families and friends can come together to celebrate the joy of the holiday season in a cozy, rustic setting. Here’s what you can expect:

1. A Delicious Breakfast Buffet: Start your day with a hearty, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet featuring a mouthwatering selection of breakfast favorites, including French toast casserole, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, sausage, sticky buns and more. Plus, enjoy a hot chocolate station.

2. Visit from Santa Claus: The highlight of the event is undoubtedly the chance for kids

of all ages to meet Santa Claus in person! Santa will be on hand to listen to children’s Christmas wishes, pose for photos, and spread holiday cheer.

3. Memorable Photographs with a Professional Photographer: Our professional photographer will capture the magic of the moment as your child visits with Santa, ensuring you’ll have lasting memories to treasure. The digital photographs are included with your tickets.

4. Festive Decor and Atmosphere: Plain & Fancy Farm will be decked out in holiday splendor, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that will

Breakfast with Santa cont’d on page 28

Amish Christmas Kindness

Every Christmas I try to present here some simple look at the Amish Christmas. Far removed from our commercial celebrations filled with trees, lights, and Santa Claus, the focus is on religious meaning, family, and community. For all of us, Christmas is also a time to think about those who are less fortunate. One of my favorite stories concerns a “deed of kindness” in an Amish community in Wisconsin at Christmastime. It is reprinted from the book THE AMISH IN THEIR OWN WORDS...

It was around Christmas and our family had just retired for the night. We were awakened out of our sleep by the sound of seemingly heavenly music outside the house. We got up and. after coming to our senses, realized it was the community’s young folks caroling for us. I was with the young folks at the time and began to question why they hadn’t included me. I felt very sorry for myself.

After they left as quietly as they had come, one of us opened the door to peer out into the night, stumbling over a large tub and containers. What was it? Upon investigating, we

discovered them filled with ground meat. We had suffered a fire loss and here they had assembled at one of the neighbors to work up a beef for us. We felt unworthy of such a gift but filled with gratitude at the thoughtfulness.

Needless to say, I was very ashamed over the first feelings I had toward the young folks.

Sometimes it takes a jolt like this, a deed of genuine kindness, to waken us to our real sense of values and make us appreciate our blessings more.

Christmas continues to be a time to reflect on our blessings, think of others, and brighten the lives of those for whom Christmas may be a difficult time, such as the family in the above story. Just as small drops of water from a sprinkling can will help a plant to grow strong and healthy, so do our little acts of kindness spread the spirit of Christmas, as we discover that people who we may call “strangers” can easily become our friends.

From all of us at Amish Country News, our sincere wishes for a joyous holiday season!

Breakfast with Santa cont’d from page 26

get everyone in the spirit of the season.

Tickets for Breakfast with Santa are available for purchase by calling 717-768-4400 or online at PlainandFancyFarm.com. Tickets are priced at $25-30 and on sale now. Tickets include professionally taken digital photographs, visit with Santa, breakfast buffet, tax, and gratuity. Please note that advanced reservations are required, and space is limited, so book your tickets early to secure your spot at this festive gathering.

“We are thrilled to again be hosting Breakfast with Santa at Plain & Fancy Farm,” said Julie Klusewitz at Plain & Fancy Farm. “It’s a special time for families to come together, enjoy a delicious meal, and create lasting memories. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Plain & Fancy Farm for a joyful start to the holiday season.”

Don’t miss out on this magical holiday event! Breakfast with Santa at Plain & Fancy Farm in Lancaster County promises to be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. For more information please visit the website PlainandFancyFarm.com or call 717-768-4400. Need overnight accommodations? Consider top-rated AmishView Inn & Suites which is also located on Plain & Fancy Farm.

Bird–in–Hand

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

decorate an ornament and sample Mrs. Claus’ fresh baked cookies & milk. More info: www.turkeyhillexperience.com or call (717) 684-0134. Tell them the Amish Country News sent you!

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

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-in-Hand, 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 office was established in 1836 as the Enterprise Post Office. “Enterprise” was then the official 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 official 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.”

By Clinton Martin

Urban culture and the Amish would appear to have nothing in common, and certainly would not be expected to intersect with each other. But, due to The Fresh Air Fund, New York City youth do run into farmland life. Many children from the most densely populated underserved communities in New York City have tasted rural American life through a week or two at an Amish (or other Plain Sect) farm in Lancaster County.

The children spend their summer visit milking cows, taking the buggy to town, sitting down to community meals, and otherwise living the country life among their Amish host family. It is not uncommon for a child to participate in the Fresh Air program for multiple summers, often visiting the same Amish family each time.

The Fresh Air Fund provides opportunities to low-income families free of charge, a program that started in rural Pennsylvania in 1877. A local minister, Reverend Willard Parsons, had taken note that the youth of New

TOWN KEY

Bird–in–Hand Pg 29

Intercourse Pg 20

Paradise Pg 38

Strasburg Pg 18

New Holland | Blue Ball Pg 48

Lititz Pg 44

Ephrata Pg 46

SusquehannaRiver

Renninger’s

Getting Ready for Christmas

By Brad Igou

There are many activities involved in getting ready for the holiday season. In Amish one-room schools, children are rehearsing for their Christmas programs, to which their parents are invited. This is one of

the few times you will ever see Amish children on a “stage” and “performing” for an audience. Plays, poems, and songs are part of the fun, mostly in English, although some may be in the Pennsylvania German dialect.

School programs begin with a welcome, sometimes by one of the younger “scholars.”

I’m glad it isn’t size and weight And age that counts today,

Ready for Christmas cont’d on page 40

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Shopping for Gifts in Amish Country Satisfies the Appetite

By Clinton Martin & Edward Blanchette

If there’s one reason why visitors love coming to Amish Country, it is the literal and figurative smorgasbord of foods available here. Many also consider the shopping experience here well worth a visit. For many visitors, it is a combination of both, that makes their time here so memorable. Yes, shopping and food are often one in the same in Amish Country.

For starters, take the fact that Amish Country is well-known for making the Shoo Fly Pie famous. There are bakeries, perhaps hundreds of them, located throughout Amish Country that bake the sweet treats. In fact, it seems you can’t really call yourself a good country bakery without offering the staple molasses pie. Dutch Haven, which many consider the place where the Shoo Fly Pie legend all started, is still the area’s busiest baker of the pies. They make 40,000 (+/-) Shoo Fly Pies annually, some of which are shipped from their bakery to eager customers

throughout the country. Dutch Haven is easy to find along Route 30, with swinging windmill arms beckoning.

For the salty, crunchy, snack that satisfies the sweet, salty, savory taste all at once, there’s nothing like a good pretzel. Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, founded in 1861 and located in Lititz Pennsylvania, is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America; and the Sturgis Family is the oldest pretzel baking family in America. Here you’ll be able to learn about the Sturgis pretzel history & old-fashioned pretzel recipes. Soft pretzels, hard pretzels, and even chocolate covered pretzels, all things pretzels. Along with souvenirs, ideal for gift-giving at this time of year.

Amish family-owned bakery now in the second generation of ownership, making simply scrumptious & savory chicken, beef, and sausage pies in various sizes, available frozen from their bakery. In addition to an assortment of baked goods, soups, sandwiches, and

other tasty edibles. Located at 3427 Lincoln Hwy East, Paradise, PA, Zooks Homemade Chicken Pies has a clean & spacious location, open and ready to welcome you with all of their tasty and mouthwatering offerings.

And finally, if you think you can’t find a cheese to suit your palate in Amish Country, maybe you need to broaden your horizons a bit. You’ll need to visit cheese caves in Germany, Italy, France, Holland, not to mention Wisconsin and California. Or of course you could simply taste them all with a visit to the Town Clock Cheese Shop.

As Amish Country’s multi-generation authority on cheese, located in Gap Pennsylvania, Town Clock Cheese Shop provides visitors with a selection of cheeses from all around the world, plus a nice variety of local Lancaster County options too. There’s never a better time to visit Town Clock than now, because their selection is at its largest at this time of year.

Ask Uncle Amos:

By Clinton Martin

Uncle Amos: Visitors often remark how lovely many local homes look with a candle burning brightly in every window. Of course, the vast majority of these are electric window candles, but they still look most attractive. Following is the best answer I can give you to this commonly asked question…

Many years ago, I read a newspaper article about two Bed & Breakfast owners who had put candles in their windows for Christmas, as did many other people during the holiday season. But since they were B&B’s, and candles were a traditional sign of welcome in the old days, they decided to keep the candles in their windows all year long to greet their overnight guests.

This certainly looked attractive from the road, and probably other local folks decided it would look nice in the windows of their homes as well. More people started to do it, and eventually it became a “common sight” across the county. So, I guess the basic answer is, “People do it because it looks nice.”

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.

Different sources credit different 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

Dutch-Way Food Drive

December 14, 2024 – 9:30 am - 1:30 pm. The Octorara Area Food Cupboard will be having a food drive at Dutch-Way Farm Market in Gap. We will have volunteers in the lobby entrance that can provide a Food Drive Shopping List and a drop of location for donations at the exit.

For more information, please go to Octorara Area Food Cupboard or call (610) 857-4000.

Europe, to the area of the Palatinate in Germany. Here many Protestants had settled following the declaration 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.

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 first “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.”

Paradise cont’d on page

Paradise, Lancaster County PA Fall & Winter 2024/2025

ALL YEAR LONG!

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 fine items such as: furniture, glassware, Railroad, Mining and Fire Fighting Memorabilia, coins, sterling silver, clocks, advertising, jewelry, fine china, toys, books, postcards, trains, Christmas, pottery, linens, primitives, kitchenware & much, much more! It is impossible to tell you everything they have to offer. 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!! They offer convenient parking for over 100 vehicles, with a spacious area for campers, trailers, and tour buses. You will find 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! As if your shopping experience couldn’t possibly be any better, a Gift Shop and Restaurant are located on the premises to make your memorable day complete!

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.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS Closed Thanksgiving Day, November 28th. Open Black Friday, November 29th: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Christmas Eve, December 24th & Christmas Day, December 25th. Reopening Thursday, December 26th at 9:30 AM. Closed New Year’s Eve, December 31st & New Year’s Day, January 1st. Reopening Thursday, January 2nd at 9:30 AM. ~ Gift Certificates, Layaway and Shipping Available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (717) 442-8805 during business hours or visit CackleberryFarmAntiqueMall.com

Not Just An Antique Mall It’s Your Destination

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.

of the Largest & Finest Antique Malls in PA Dutch Country! (717) 442-8805

Paradise cont’d from page 38

As time went on, it became evident that the road could not accommodate the increasing traffic 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.

City to the Amish cont’d from page 31

York City, when not born into wealth, struggled with certain challenges. He felt a free “country vacation” to the farmland would do a world of good for them. He asked his parishioners in the small country church to support his idea monetarily, to which they consented. The first year, they sponsored 60 children.

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

Today, the program has surpassed 1.8 million children in total since this first effort nearly 150 years ago. Children must be between the ages of 7 and 18, reside in New York City, and qualify based on household income. The program’s administrators say that 96% of youth said they spent more time outdoors than usual during their visit to Friendly Towns and 94% of

REDEEMING LIVES THROUGH REDEEMED FINDS

Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm

take the term for paved roads or “macadam” from his last name. The turnpike officially opened in 1795 and was the first long-distance, hard-surfaced road in the country.

youth said they felt more comfortable traveling to new places after their visit.

The Fresh Air Fund recently completed a strategic plan to set a vision for the future and, as part of that plan, they reached the difficult decision that it is time to focus their resources on their thriving camp programs and will no longer be offering the Friendly Towns program moving forward.

Ready for Christmas cont’d from page 34

‘Cause then I might not have the chance

To stand up here and say... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Here is one of the many poems that might be heard:

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. Freedom Thrift New Holland 114 Ranck Church Rd.

Freedom Thrift on 30 2853 Lincoln Hwy E. Ronks, PA 17572 717-686-9387

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This Christmas season let us try To do some golden deeds, To carry someone’s burden, To help someone in need. There are always those who need us As we journey on life’s way, And the friends we win by helping Make us richer every day.

So, when you see a saddened face As Christmas time draws near, Do your best to lift the load And spread a word of cheer.

After the songs and short skits, the program concludes... Now that our program’s over, I came to say good-bye, And what I feel like doing, Is heave a great big sigh. Take our mistakes as kisses. No harm was meant by them. I hope you did enjoy the day So, you will come again.

From all of us at Amish Country News, we wish you the happiest of holidays!

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

Country Lane Furniture (Tues & Thurs till 8pm) 717–867-5701 | CountryLaneFurniture.com

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

717–898–1900 | DutchApple.com

Gish’s Furniture

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

Ghost Tour Lancaster & Strasburg

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

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

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. Amish Experience

717–768–8400 | AmishExperience.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

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

Shady Maple Farm Market

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

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.

Choice Buffet 2024, a 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Best Buffet in the US, TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice 2023, and a Lancaster’s Best Buffet by Clipper Magazine 2023.

Wine, Beer and Cocktail Menu

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 3/15/25. PLU ACN704

Winter Hiatus: Good Amish Cooking Tastes Like Home

By Brad Igou, revised by Ed Blanchette

The cold months ahead mean that quite a few Northerners go south to Florida for the winter. It may surprise you to know that some of the Amish make this their permanent or temporary home as well. While the Amish are found in over 30 states, the Amish community in the “Sunshine State” is unlike any other.

On Florida’s West Coast is the city of Sarasota. Every year it hosts several million visitors from all over the United States and beyond. They come to enjoy “the whitest beaches on earth.” But the city is also known for its cultural activities, and the Ringling Museums with their collections of art and circus memorabilia. In fact, a large number of circus people make Sarasota their winter home, too.

Within the city limits of Sarasota is a neighborhood known as Pinecraft. Narrow streets and small houses in a grid layout mark this as the area’s “Amish community.” In truth, the area is not populated solely by the Amish, but it is the Amish and Mennonites in their traditional clothing that catch the eye.

The Plain people here come from many different states, so you see a great deal of variety in the styles of clothing and prayer coverings. Even an expert might have difficulty in identifying the people from the various Amish and Mennonite communities.

You will see familiar Amish names on many of the mailboxes. One house had a wooden sign over its door indicating the occupants were from Ronks, Pennsylvania, right here in Lancaster County. And it is not just the older people who may be seen in Florida, but some families and groups of teenagers as well.

Many people gather at the park or local post office, the entire exterior wall of which consists of post office boxes for the many residents. Sundays, since the houses are much too small for church services, you’ll see people attending the “Mennonite Tourist Church.”

Most people stay pretty close to home. They do, of course, use public transportation, but within their neighborhood they often get around on large wheel “tricycles.” These have a Tastes Like Home cont’d on page 50

Lititz

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

February 14 – February 23, 2025

Throughout the 10-Day Celebration, they’ll be plenty of awesomeness you’ve come to expect, like Wow-Worthy ice sculptures, yummy food, and of course plenty of shopping in the downtown shops! Just a Wonderful Winter Funderland in Lititz!

For more information visit lititzpa.com/event/ fire-ice-festival-2025/ or call 717-626-6332. Tell them the Amish Country News sent you!

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.

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,

Christmas at the Cloister

December 9 & 10, 2024 – Historic Ephrata Cloister, 632 W Main St, Ephrata Gather in the historic 1741 Meetinghouse for a celebration of the season. Experience the Christmas story through Scriptural readings, stirring music by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus, and carols. Conclude the evening with light refreshments in the Visitor Center. For more information & details visit mainspringofephrata.org/event/christmas-atthe-cloister-3/ or call (717) 721-6196. Tell them the Amish Country News sent you!

owned by the Ephrata Borough and serving as home to Mainspring of Ephrata, economic development 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 offer 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

Get a Warm Hug from Nature at Eastland Alpacas

By Clinton Martin

Eastland Alpacas doesn’t always keep regular hours at their farm boutique, but during the holiday season there is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to enjoy the farm’s exquisite selection, no “by chance” risk at this time of year!

Eastland Alpacas is a 30 acre farm less than eight miles from Spooky Nook Sports Complex. In addition to raising alpacas, the farm also has an on-site boutique stocked with unique items made from alpaca fiber - sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves,

socks, sofa throws, stuffed animals, yarn (ranging from raw fiber to roving and yarn from the farm’s own animals, plus a wide color selection of authentic Peruvian yarns.) Visitors of any age are welcome to visit the farm, the alpacas, and the farm store.

Holiday Open House hours are November 2, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. November 3, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, and November 9, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, November 10, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm. During the Open House, visitors can come and see, feed and even lead the Alpacas (like walking a dog!) Farm wagon rides are offered. A food stand benefitting a good cause

dishes up good eats, the Alpacas show off by going skillfully through an

obstacle course, and of course the farm store itself is open with hundreds of wonderful gift items.

Regular store hours continue November 4 through December 31, 2024. Monday through Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Sundays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Open Year ‘Round by Appointment. For GPS directions,

use 2089 Risser Mill Road, Mount Joy, PA. Call (717) 653-2757.

New Holland & Blue Ball

v November 30, 2024 – All Day Event

Kick off the holiday season with Christmas on Main! Join us at the Town Centre for a day full of festive fun, shopping, & holiday cheer. For more information & details visit www.facebook.com/p/Christmas-on-MainNew-Holland-PA-61553351893802/. Tell them the Amish Country News sent you!

New Holland, settled in 1728 by John Diffenderfer 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 Diffenderfer, 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!

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.

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TESTIMONIALS

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"It seemed like I was always tired and had no energy. Often felt irratable, like my body was craving for something but not getting it. Then I started with Nutrition Wellness Center and I now feel like a new person. More energy, and my body overall feels like it is getting what it needs. Another thing we like so much about N.W.C. is that they test each person separately, not like with so many other programs that are one size fits all. Give them a try if you have tried a lot of different things and you aren't seeming to get the results you are wanting." - Viola P. N ame,-----------------------------------------D ate of Birth, Phone•-----------------------------------------A d dress·---------------------

Top 3 health issues & how severe t he issue is on a scale o f l to 70 (70 being the worst) Circle IJOUr answer l 1 2345678970 2 �.;;;;;;:-:;:e

1-800-222-3610 Call or Mail to: Nutrition Wellness Center 3665 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34233

Ask Uncle Amos cont’d from page 37

My parents live in the semidetached “Dawdi” house (I guess you “English” often call it In-law Quarters.)

Before my mother put candles in her windows, she asked me if I would

do the same. My mother didn’t want people driving by to see candles in the windows of just one side of the house!

The fact that so many visitors notice the candles proves the point of their attractiveness. I know some visitors have purchased electric window

Tastes Like Home cont’d from page 42

box on the back to transport items. I saw one lady pedaling down the street with a card table behind her.

In the Pinecraft neighborhood, there is a Farmers Market on Saturdays. During the week you’ll also see some “roadside stands,” similar to what you see here in Lancaster, except that oranges and grapefruits are common items for sale.

If you visit Sarasota’s Visitor Information Center, you will surely notice brochures for the “Amish restaurants.” They include Der Dutchman, Crager’s Restaurant, Dutch Haus, and Yoder’s. These restaurants also advertise “Amish cooking.” While these restaurants may not be owned by the Amish, you will see Amish and Mennonites working and sometimes eating there.

Several of the restaurants offer special menu items on certain days of the week, such as chicken and dumplings, or liver and onions. Some have received

candles to take back home with them. Perhaps you’ll start this tradition in your community, too!

The Old Candle Barn is where we bought ours, and you’d do well to shop there too. The Old Candle Barn carries many varieties of candles, from on-site hand-dipped traditional flame tapers, to the latest in battery powered look-alikes. The Old Candle Barn also carries many home décor items, primitives, accents, potpourri, and helpful merchandise to turn a house into a home.

Visit the Old Candle Barn, located at 3551 Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340), Intercourse. There is plenty of parking. The store can be reached at (717) 768-3231 or by www.oldcandlebarn.com.

awards from various local reader polls, such as “best meal under $20.”

The proprietors, it was said, of Yoder’s Restaurant even had a newsletter a few years back. A story told of a misprint in one of their advertisements, promoting a special Wednesday “bib meatloaf” dinner. Obviously, the employee had mis-typed “bib” for “big.” When asked about her mistake, she replied, “We serve bibs with that meal. That’s our sloppy meatloaf.”

Many Sarasota residents order pies from these restaurants for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition to Florida’s popular key lime pie, they also make a variety of fruit and creme pies, such as apple, strawberry, rhubarb, and even shoofly. So, on your next trip to Florida, if you get a craving for some shoofly pie, you can always head for Sarasota. But don’t expect to see any horse-andbuggies going down the road!

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.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE for Lancaster County, PA

This holiday gift guide is filled with local treasures and artisanal products from Lancaster County that will help you find the perfect gift for even the toughest friend or family member from hand-stitched Amish quilts to sweet gooey shoofly pie.

Three stores that we recommend checking out for your holiday gift shopping are The Quilt Shop at Miller’s, Anna’s Gifts and Sundries and Locally Made Food Shop. You can find them all on Route 30 in The Shoppes at Miller’s.

The Quilt Shop at Miller’s is a hidden gem for all things quilt related. With a curated selection of hand-stitched quilts, quillows, and handmade artisanal crafts, this charming store has been a beloved destination for both locals and visitors seeking unique gifts and home décor. Here you can experience

the heartwarming traditions of quilting and the joy of holiday gift giving. Their commitment to quality and craftsmanship shines through in every piece they offer.

Locally Made Food Shop focuses on items made here in Lancaster County,

including Miller’s Bakery. You’ll find jams, jellies, spice mixes, tea, coffee and of course baked goods like shoofly pie and chocolate pecan pie. Additionally, there are Lancaster County made kitchen items including wooden cutting boards, Lancaster Cast Iron pans, and more. At Anna’s Gifts and Sundries, you’ll find great locally made jewelry and accessories.

Lancaster County Gift Giving Guide by Personality:

1. Cozy Crafter – They will appreciate the hand-stitched quilts by Amish and Mennonite artisans. Explore a stunning

array of quilts, ranging from traditional Amish patterns to contemporary designs. These quilts are not only beautiful but also functional, providing warmth and comfort throughout the winter season. Not quite looking for a full quilt? Consider a wall hanging, bed runner or throw. Can’t make it into the store? Shop their quilts online at QuiltShopAtMillers.com or arrange a virtual shopping experience.

2. Home Chef & Foodie – Handmade items for the kitchen including aprons, spice mats and potholders in a

multitude of colors. You can find these locally made gems at both The Quilt Shop and Locally Made. These make great gifts on their own or add spices or jams from Locally Made Food Shop to create a gift that your loved ones will remember for years to come.

3. Pint Size Pals – The Quilt Shop has handmade soft cloth books and quilted stuffed animals. Whether it’s a baby blanket or a quilted growth chart wall hanging, you are sure to find the perfect unique gift to bring smiles to their little faces.

4. Faraway Foodie – Send a Miller’s Shoofly Pie or their World-Famous Chocolate Pecan pie to someone

who misses the sweet taste of Lancaster County. Not a pie fan? Miller’s Raisin Bread with icing is a local favorite. Purchase your pies today at LocallyMadeFoodShop.com or call 717-687-6621.

5. Distinctive Style Seeker – At Anna’s, you’ll find jewelry by Lancaster County Artisans. One of our favorites is The

Color Green’s wire-wrapped handblown glass jewelry. Anna’s also carries seasonal items like scarves, gloves, and hats to keep your loved ones cozy.

6. Custom Taste – With locally made jellies, jams, fruit butters, coffee, olive oils, teas and more, you can create your own personalized basket at Locally Made that is perfect for your special someone. Plus, you can add home décor and kitchen items from Anna’s

too. Don’t know what to choose? Pick one of our pre-made gift baskets. We also offer curated gift boxes so you can ship the flavors of Lancaster County to friends and family across the US.

7. Too Hard to Shop for – Gift cards purchased at The Quilt Shop, Anna’s or Locally Made are good at all 3 retail shops plus Miller’s Smorgasbord,

AmishView Inn & Suites and Smokehouse BBQ & Brews. This allows your loved ones to select their own special gift, eat at Miller’s or even put it towards a getaway at AmishView.

The Shoppes at Miller’s is a great place to discover authentic, handcrafted,

and heartfelt gifts that define Lancaster County. This holiday season, take your gift giving to a whole new level with handcrafted creations and tasty treats from Lancaster County.

Image source: Freepik

Amish Entrepreneurial Spirit Reflects

Side of A Hard Day’s Work 8

Amish Wedding: Behind the Scenes .......... 16 Amish Wedding Season 17

Ask Uncle Amos: Why are there candles in the windows of so many homes in Lancaster? 37

Cackleberry Farm Antique .............................. 39 Christmas Amish Style (Revisited) 15 Community Events 18, 20, 29, 38, 44, 46, 48

Haven: An Amish Country Landmark 3

the Magic of the Season at

Quilt Shop at Miller’s is filled with hundreds of quilts

Ephrata cont’d from page 46

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 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

Publisher's Message

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.

A Step Back, to Move Forward for the Holidays

By Edward Blanchette

It’s hard to believe that the final issue of “Amish Country News” for this year, 2024, has arrived. What a year it has been. But as I sit here and take a moment to collect & reflect my thoughts, while still catching my breath, it dawns on me about just how thankful I am to have survived this fast and crazy year that is 2024, let alone

all that life brings us. From everything that has bombarded us this year, the world, nationally, community wise, and yes, even with family & life in general, not all of which has made the positive mark. I am pleasantly surprised that there was actually so much positive achieved, as I take stock of all that was the year “2024”.

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Published by Dutchland Tours Inc.

Clinton Martin, Editor–in–Chief clinton@amishnews.com

For advertising information contact Edward Blanchette

Director of ACN & Business Development ed@amishnews.com • 717.344.0871

Tammy Johnson, Graphic Designer

290,000 copies distributed annually by subscription, and over 200 hotels, motels, information centers and businesses in PA Dutch Country. Copyright ©2024 All contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior approval of the publisher.

Not to get too deep into personal issues, but from everything going on in our world, as a whole, it can certainly be overwhelming at times and down right make you feel kind a loony-tunes. If you get my meaning? So, how does one find the bright side and positives, instead of being overtaken by all the negative? That in itself can be a challenging ordeal. We’ll in my opinion, that depends on a number of things, as perception can be a fine line - best traveled by big feet. What I mean, is that sometimes we get so caught up in everything, that we forget what is most important. And again, that can be a broad brush, of sorts.

But when you break it down to more of a simpler viewpoint, it’s kind of what I say to my soccer teams. “Sometimes, you have to pass back to move forward”. In a sense, breaking it down

to the basics. So, I reflect back on what gets me through it all. My Faith, my Family, all the communities of people that come within the circles I engage in, and the never-ending resolve to always forgive and not sweat all of the small stuff that life tends to throw our way. For isn’t that what the holidays, and yes even life itself are truly about? For without “Faith”, “Family”, and “Community”, we would all just probably burnout and fizzle into the nothingness of oblivion. Right?!

So, as you deal with the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, and even life itself, and you feel yourself becoming a bit overwhelmed, remember to stop, here and there, take a deep breath and breathe.

Find forgiveness in your heart and with others. Be thankful that we get to share all of this with the people and beliefs we hold dearest to everything we strive for in this wonderful gift that we call life. I’m so glad we can share this journey together. I wish nothing but the best over the Holidays for you and your family! Now and for the year 2025. Be safe, be well, and stay positive. Until the next issue, may God bless you all.

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.