By Kevin Williams
Lancaster County is a lush land of rolling hills and fertile farmland. The Amish and Mennonites have farmed it for centuries and the area is steeped in history and mystery dating back to pre-Revolutionary War times. Today, it is a land teeming with cultural diversity. The Amish and Mennonites still farm the land but Lancaster city, with its 60,000 inhabitants, boasts a growing community of immigrants and a thriving arts scene.
I spent 24 hours in Lancaster County recently and got to see a lot of these beautiful scenes and I thought I'd share some with you. Buggies among the Amish in Lancaster County are a distinctive gray-topped. Most of the Amish in Lancaster County live in the eastern part of the county, in the Ronks-New Holland-Paradise area, but there are Amish churches, really, dotted throughout. Here are some scenes from my 24 hours in Lancaster:
An Amish grey-topped buggy clip-clops down the road.....
Two Amish houses side-by-side. This is not uncommon at all. With a shortage of available lots in the county, families with build multiple houses for multiple generations.
Okay, the tree is in the way, but some Amish laundry hangs on a line...note the vibrant colors...
Laundry hanging on lines is a constant sight in the county...
An Amish school-house with children playing outside for recess. I'm always very cautious and respectful about keeping my distance from schools with memories of the Nickel Mines tragedy still lingering...I just think they don't need strangers lurking around to much.
Another view of recess time at the school
This is an interesting photo. Note the long wagon in the driveway, this is the "bench wagon", which is used to carry the benches used at church services. The wagon goes from place to place. Also in the wagon are some church songbooks, a lost and found box, and sometimes some eating cutlery. The wagon parks in the driveway of the person hosting church on Sunday.
Boots on the ground in Lancaster
Another shot of a beautiful Lancaster buggy
More beautiful laundry......love these high lines.
An Old Order Mennonite farmhouse outside of Lititz.
Beth
It was fun to see the pics of my neighborhood (Intercourse PA) you’ll have to come back, you missed a few of our the most unique dishes from here. Very much enjoy your site👍🏻
Kevin Williams
Thanks, Beth, I can't wait to come back....and you'll have to let me know what dishes to try!