I was just going through old photographs and archival material this morning and found a photo that Doug from New York shared with me of "brown buggies" around Cuba Lake in the Empire State. The fishing must have been quite good at the lake because there are a lot of buggies here! The open buggy seen in the picture also seems to be a style found among the New Wilmington Amish. While the vast majority of Old Order Amish drive buggies that are black in color, a few generally more conservative churches use different colors to punctuate their differences. These buggies in New York belong to a church that is a "daughter settlement" of the larger group in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Gray is another buggy top color that is relatively common, especially in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There are groups in Pennsylvania that use white buggy tops and even one small group of Amish that use bright yellow buggies.
This is a buggy that one of our readers spotted near Cecil, Maryland. I understand the Amish in that area generally have ties to the Lancaster Amish, but the white-color of this buggy has me scratching my head. Unfortunately, the photo she shot was awful far and small. I've enlarged it as best I could. I can't even tell 100 percent whether the buggy occupants are Amish (although I'm not sure who else they'd be).
Judy Bierd
Good morning Kevin, I have always been interested in the different colored Buggy tops. We have visited this market many times. You will find all colors and types of buggies. Just had to share. http://amishamerica.com/big-valley-auction-at-belleville/
Melissa
Having lived in Ohio/Pennsylvania growing up, I loved to ride through the Amish towns and see all of the different styles of buggies that each had. Most Amish can tell just by looking at a buggy if it is one from their district or from another district. To me, except if they were a different color, they all looked alike. However, to the Amish, they were different if even in a very slight way.
Kevin
You are correct, Melissa, most Amish can tell where another Amish is from even from the slightest buggy variations...I'm not that good yet:), although I can generally narrow down good guesses as to where a buggy might be from from the style...
Joy Hill
Kevin thanks for such an interesting column and some great recipes. I'm wondering if any of your readers could provide me with a source for Cinnamon Pickles? While driving thru NY state many years ago I stopped at an Amish farmhouse where many baked goods and many canned goods were being sold. I bought a jar of the pickles and they were wonderful! I cannot find them anywhere!! 🙁 I live near Plain City, OH. ..(lg Amish area), visited Berlin area, often, and IN area, but no Cinnamon Pickles to be found! Thanks for ANY help! Joy
Barb Wright
Hi, Joy! I actually make cinnamon pickles..and will dig out the recipe asap. It may take me a day or so to post it because of my holiday baking,etc.,but I promise to do so!! I love that you actually know what they are..most people don't. If you want,send me your mailing address via Kevin's email(I hope that's ok!)and I would happily send you a jar!! See you soon..Farmhousebarb
Zelka Cani
Hi Kevin. Do you have any pictures of the yellow buggies? I would be interested to see.