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    Home » Recipes » Plain Culture

    Degraff, Ohio - Part I

    Published: Feb 9, 2016 · Updated: Feb 9, 2016 by Kevin Williams | Leave a Comment

    By Kevin Williams

    There are a cluster of Amish settlements around Indian Lake in west-central Ohio.  One is around Belle Center, the other is around Mount Victory, and a third one is around Degraff.  I have been to Belle Center and Mount Victory. I had always heard that Degraff was the "less prosperous" community.   In fact, one non-Amish person warned me that Degraff is where the "bad Amish go."  I wasn't quite sure that meant and it was probably just hyperbole, so I went to Degraff gung ho to make some new friends and explore.

    I will say, though, that upon arrival I quickly realized that this was a very conservative community.   Ther

    A handful of Amish businesses are in Degraff, but not many...

    A handful of Amish businesses are in Degraff, but not many...

    A typical Amish home in Degraff

    A typical Amish home in Degraff

    e seems to be some influence from Berne, Indiana's Amish settlement here (Berne is only an hour away by car) with the insular mindset and open buggies.  There were many homes that seemed half finished, with no siding, for instance.

    Open buggies are the norm in Degraff, a trait also found in Berne

    Open buggies are the norm in Degraff, a trait also found in Berne

    It put me to mind a little bit of Beeville, Texas's ultra-conservative Amish. Degraff is not a Swartzentruber community, but they are on the very conservative end of the Amish spectrum.  More about my visit to Degraff tomorrow.

    « Weekly Blogroll: Cookies, Cookies, Cookies! And Amish lessons, rural living, and making a top!
    Degraff, Ohio - Part II »

    About Kevin Williams

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

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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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