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    Home » The Plain Columns » The Amish Editor

    Any Concrete Ideas?

    Published: Apr 9, 2013 · Updated: Feb 2, 2021 by Kevin Williams | 10 Comments

    Someone sent me this photo awhile back.  I can't find the note that came with it, but the gist is that this woman had noticed the cement or concrete little outbuilding on an Amish farm near Berne, Indiana. It's the small building on the hill, which to these eyes looks man-made.  She said she noticed that other farmhouses had similar structures outside.  To be honest, I'm stymied.  Not sure what it is.  My guess is that it might be an old ice-house, but that's only an educated guess. Seems to be about the right size for it.  While I rack my brain, I am sure someone among our audience will know within minutes. We have a lot of knowledgeable people who visit the website.  So, any guesses anyone?
    It's one of those buildings that I've probably passed a gazillion times but it's so nondescript I just haven't paid attention. I am going to include an enlarged version of the photo below, but enlarging it sort of stretches out the dimensions of the image.  Still, it is easier to see.

    « The Amish Cook: Week of April 8, 2013
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    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Theresa

      April 09, 2013 at 2:53 pm

      Kevin, that could be a milk house. a friend of mine has a farm with all the orginal buildings on it including one that looks just like that, it's the milk house .

      Theresa

      Reply
    2. Angie Yoder

      April 09, 2013 at 2:57 pm

      My uncle said it is either an ice house or a smoke house. Those would be my two guesses as well! 🙂

      Reply
    3. Debbie from Ky

      April 09, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      Doesn't it seem like that hill could possibly be a root cellar for storing large amounts of root vegetables? The building on the other hand, if it were a smokehouse would have a smokestack. I see one but it seems to be a chimney from the house. Interestng picture, I am headed to Holmes County in a few weeks, will be on the lookout for something similiar. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Debra Winter

      April 09, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      Maybe it's a milk house where the bulk tank goes after they milk the cows. It's usually cement so that it stays cooler in warm weather.

      Reply
    5. Liz

      April 09, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      I had to google this, and came across an interesting article on books.google.com/books?id=SC0uAAAAYAAJ. I googled, "milk houses made out of cement", and this is what I found. It states that milk houses are suppose to be elevated. So I believe this is definitely a mik house.

      Reply
      • Kevin

        April 09, 2013 at 4:54 pm

        Liz, good call on your part..sounds like that's our answer!

        Reply
    6. Keith

      April 10, 2013 at 9:28 am

      Kevin, my guess it is a water supply tank. It is located next to the wind mill and is on a hill. Hill appears man made. The reason it is sitting on this hill is for better gravity water flow to wherever needed in the farm yard.

      Reply
    7. mary Rexrode

      April 10, 2013 at 1:46 pm

      That makes more sense

      Reply
    8. Marilyn

      April 13, 2013 at 3:16 pm

      Kevin: Driving to Geneva today I looked for this building, but did not see it along US 27 South. Throughout early spring (April & May) I will get onto the country roads and try to locate it. I'll stop and ask! (But I also think it is a water supply tank.) I am thinking it is located somewhere south of Berne. Could not travel the country roads this morning as the Wabash River is flooding and county roads are closed.

      Reply
    9. Cindy Hetherington LaMay

      April 13, 2013 at 8:24 pm

      I think that it might be a "Root Celler". Notice that it seems to be place on a man made hill. Or it might be a "Wash house", due to the windmill being so close to the building. Can not wait to find out what the building is used for! I live in an area were there are many Amish Farms and I don't think I have seen this type of a building around here.

      Reply

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    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

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