These scenes were taken by site visitor Diann near the Amish settlement of Mount Victory, Ohio, southeast of Kenton, Ohio. Â This is about an hour north of Dayton. Â I got to know the Hardin County community fairly well a couple of years ago when I spent a couple of days there. Â Here's the thing that bugs me this morning as I write this: Â I can't remember WHYÂ I was there!!! Â I remember everything about my visit, so I don't think my brain is going bye-bye on me. Â I remember spending a day exploring Hardin County's Amish settlement and I think I spent the night in a hotel in Lima but for the life of me can't remember why! Â AArrrggh, maybe it'll come back to me. Â On the other hand after visiting Amish settlements hundreds of times over the past 20 some years maybe I can be forgiven if the reason for a trip escapes me.
Some distinct features of the sprawling Hardin County-Mount Victory community:
1) Buggies generally don't display the orange safety triangle emblem here.  Instead they rely on grey reflective strips in stripes on the back of their buggies.  So be on the look-out here.  It is here that at night I've seen buggies with kerosene lamps attached for greater visibility (Okay, now it's really driving me nuts:  what was I doing out at night in rural Hardin County, Ohio!?  Arrggh....with most Amish businesses closed at night I'm not usually exploring the back roads...for safety reasons, my night vision is not the best)   Anyway, this is one of the photos that Diann took of the buggies.  Not all buggies in the settlement are open, many are closed.  But on a gorgeous day like this if I had an open buggy (roof-less), I'd sure choose it!
The settlement has a bit more of a conservative flavor to it. Â You can see this Amish home with some laundry hanging out back.
This community is also home to Mary Slabaugh's Amish bakery, a popular spot with locals  and tourists alike .  You can watch a video tour of it here.
Sheesh, I started out this post just wanting to share some scenes and info about an often overlooked community, but now I am going bonkers trying to figure out why I was visiting in the first place. Â It'll come to me. Â Usually I don't just go to an Amish settlement for the sake of going (I do more of that now than I used to), usually I have a reason (I'm giving a library talk in the area, doing a book-signing, conducting business, etc), but nothing is coming to mind. Â Hardin County is rather off the beaten path, so it's not someplace one usually just "finds themselves in." Â And I certainly can't think of why I would bother staying in a hotel when I'm only 90 minutes from home!
This a photo from the Tinker Toy Shop, a combination toy store and furniture shop tucked away in a barn on a back road outside of Kenton.  If  I'm ever going to buy custom-made Amish furniture I think this where I am going to go!
Okay, I've stalled long enough. It still hasn't come to me why I was there. Â If I remember, I'll share!
Kentucky Lady 717
A great article written Kevin.....I love the cabinet in this picture...I could use one of these...I have to go there now...do they sell bakery items too ?
Kevin
Thanks, no bakery items...I think there were some homemade jellies and relishes for sale, but no baked goods!