Nancy and I have always loved to see the Amish and how they lived. We went to a Shaker Village South of
Lexington. It was started in 1906 with 3 missionaries and 41 converts. It eventually got up to over 600 recruits.
The last 7 sold everything off in the early 1920 and the last one died in 1927. In 1960 a nonprofit foundation
was formed to get the land back and restore it back to how it was. The Shakers did not believe in the "sins of
the flesh" and were celibate. This made recruitment very hard. They did get some children in from new
converts, but evidently they lost many of the children to the world. They believed in dancing as a form of prayer
and did many wild gyrations. Hence, the name of shakers was given to them by their neighbors. It was not a
name they liked. They grew all of their own food and hard work and perfection in their work was part of their
religion. The men and women lived in separate parts of the family house totalling about 80 people or so. They
seemed similar to the Koressian Unity, that was formed near my home town of Fort Myers, Florida. They were
also done in by the celibate thing. It was a pleasant trip. The foundation also maintains about 80 rooms and a
modern restaurant on site.
Lexington. It was started in 1906 with 3 missionaries and 41 converts. It eventually got up to over 600 recruits.
The last 7 sold everything off in the early 1920 and the last one died in 1927. In 1960 a nonprofit foundation
was formed to get the land back and restore it back to how it was. The Shakers did not believe in the "sins of
the flesh" and were celibate. This made recruitment very hard. They did get some children in from new
converts, but evidently they lost many of the children to the world. They believed in dancing as a form of prayer
and did many wild gyrations. Hence, the name of shakers was given to them by their neighbors. It was not a
name they liked. They grew all of their own food and hard work and perfection in their work was part of their
religion. The men and women lived in separate parts of the family house totalling about 80 people or so. They
seemed similar to the Koressian Unity, that was formed near my home town of Fort Myers, Florida. They were
also done in by the celibate thing. It was a pleasant trip. The foundation also maintains about 80 rooms and a
modern restaurant on site.
Pleasant Hill Shaker Village
This was their breeding ram.
Great stone walls. The rocks were place like this on top to
present sharp edges to the animals. Once jabbed by one, they
would always give them a wide berth.
present sharp edges to the animals. Once jabbed by one, they
would always give them a wide berth.
Heritage oxen breed.
Centre family dwelling.
Meeting House.
Interpretive guide who gave us the history of the Shaker
movement.
movement.
The basement was largely food preparation area.
Cook stove purchased from Confederate army after the War of Northern
Aggression.
Aggression.
Stove for cooking large liquid items.
Nancy's Mother had skillets like this for cooking biscuits.