As we sat along the benches in the original house, Sherry explained
that
Amish pioneer Christian Stahly purchased this 80 acres for his
son Moses in 1873. The year before the village of Nappanee was established
on the new northern route of the B&O railroad. Three generations of
related Amish families have lived here. The search for religious freedom
and economic opportunity brought the Amish to northern Indiana 
from
Pennsylvania and Ohio. Their simple lifestyle and Swiss German origins are
reflected in the house, the Sweitzver barn and other buildings on the farm. In
the kitchen I found an old hand operated apple peeler and listened to Sherry as
she talked about the Amish feeling of Gelassenheit or submission to the will of
God. This, they believe, should permeate every facet of their existence,
including their material possessions. Thus they strive to avoid
contamination from the outside world, Electricity, and such luxuries as
running city water are seen as a connection with the outside world and violate
the Amish principle of separation from society. Electricity promotes the
use 
of
household items such as television and allows the outside "English"
values of sloth, luxury and vanity to infiltrate the household. Likewise the
automobile is considered an unnecessary luxury, and is shunned as a means of
transportation. This is not to say that they lacked for the finer things
in life. On the contrary, some of the finest workmanship in wood, quilts,
sewing, and other basic art forms have come from these communities. We stood for
a while and watched a young girl, in costume attire, carefully place a delicate
stitch in the design she was working. We were told that none of the docents were
Amish, thus allowing us to take pictures of them. Long hours of patience and
practice has produced a skill elevated to the highest degree. Talent
abounds all around 
the
community. Likewise the kitchen which on first sight seems barren, is the source
of some of the best eating to be had in the area. Wood stoves provided all
the heat for the house as bedrooms are not heated at all. The kitchens produce
some of the best breads and pies that can be imagined. All out of material
on hand. Few items are purchased beyond the basic necessities. The trail
from the Anabaptists of old Europe to the present day Amish is long and varied.
Some, feeling that the Anabaptists failed to follow the teaching in a sufficiently
strict manner created the Mennonites which still flourish in the U.S.
Later, others took exception to the Mennonites embrace of technology and their
energetic 
encouragement
of fellowship through world wide missionary activities, and thus the next branch
of the tree was created in the Amish who would arrive in
Pennsylvania. It is from this stock that the Amish Acres inhabitants came.
With the progression into the present day, the Amish, who have always existed as
strictly an agricultural society, found the land incapable of sustaining
their increasing population and thus had to branch out into cottage
industries. One of the first and most notable was that of the flat broom,
which is still made on site today. As we wound down for the day, we had to
make a stop at the local cheese store and purchase some of those delightful
cheese curds. Wandering back to the car munching on the curds I had to wonder
what it was like to live this simple style of life on a day to day basic.
For some it is a blessing and a retreat, for others I'm sure it becomes a burden
at times. In either case it is a choice only available to the free.
To live one's life in a style which suits one's own needs is a life style of
envy for many who have never tasted such freedoms.
To find out more about this adventure, check out www.amishacres.com
***THE END ***
