I have been to most major Amish settlements in the USA and Canada and many minor ones. Â Chances are, if you mention the Amish community, I've been there. Â But a couple of larger ones have eluded me and they are both in Missouri.
Seymour, Missouri is in the far southwestern part of the state near Springfield. It's off the beaten path a bit and I've just never been in the area. I'd be interested in visiting Seymour sometime because it is essentially a sibling settlement of Berne, Indiana, which I've spent tons of time in. Â So I'd expect the language, traditions, and customs to be essentially the same with maybe some Ozark spin. Hopefully someday I will get to see Seymour.
The other large Amish community I'd like to visit sometime is Jamesport, Missouri. Jamesport is a more traditional Amish outpost and, unlike Seymour, I have passed by Jamesport on US 36 just to the south, so shame on me for not visiting:( Â Thanks to BethR's photos I can at least sort of feel like I've been there! Â A big thanks to Beth for sharing! Â The above photos show the sleepy city hall and some classic Missouri scenery around Jamesport.
I love Beth's photos because they capture the quirky charm that almost every Amish community offers in its own way. Â Her eye for that detail is exquisite. There's a go-with-the flow sense of humor that I've found many Amish exude and the above photo sort of illustrates that. Â No enough room on the buggy bench? No problem, we'll just stick a chair up there!:) There's always room for one more!
And no need to rush, never mind the phalanx of motorcycles behind us, we'll just keep plodding along. Carry on!:) Or maybe the driver is the honorary grand marshal of some sort of newfangled parade!
Stay tuned tomorrow for some more images and observations from Jamesport. I have some interesting contrasts I can draw between some of the scenes there and what I've seen elsewhere.
Kris
We have two different groups of Amish here in Seymour, Locally referred to as A amish or C amish depending on what highway they live on. We also have a large mennonite community.
Kevin
Kris, that is interesting. Could you elaborate on the differences between A and C?
Jan Smith
I have been to the settlement in Jamesport several times, it's a wonderful day trip!! The Amish are very friendly, wonderful people! We love to shop in their stores, and when you walk into one of the bakeries, you are greeted with wonderful smells of fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, and bright smiles!
Wendy
Jamesport is one community I actually might get to visit one day. We are in Missouri every 2 years to visit family, and it's only an hour or so away.
Sherri
I have visited Jamesport, MO, and agree it's a very nice place to see. Spent a day there visiting shops, having lunch and enjoying the scenery.
Brenda Miller
Andy
As an Amish youth of 18 we used to live in the Jamesport, MO. area. I still have two nephews and their families that live there. My wife and I along with 20 other members of the Order of the Eastern Star of Arkansas will be going there over Labor Day weekend. The last of this month. We will be driving up on Thurs and doing our shopping Fri and Sat and drive back home on Sun. This is about the fifth or sixth group over the years that we have hosted to the Jamesport, MO. area. The first photo is City Hall on the west side of north main st. The buggy leading the motorcycles is headed north of town towards Hwy 6 that can take you to Trenton north or Gallatin if you take it west. You will need at least two days to do your self justice to visit all the shops of interest and be able to eat at the local restaurants. Enjoy if you can make it some time.