By Kevin Williams
I was ending a long day in Indiana's Swiss Amish country and as I took a detour I spied a faded sign that said "Cedar View Variety." I kept driving, but then I kept thinking about that sign. Those little hole-in-the-wall Amish home-based businesses are the ones I love the most, that's where you can really capture the culture and learn. So about two miles after I passed the sign, I finally hit my brakes and turned around. And I am glad I did.
This faded sign caught my eye.....
I pulled into the driveway and saw a small outbuilding with an "Open" sign in the window. A young Amish woman saw our car and came out of the house. These are the Amish experiences I love. I had to navigate a driveway full of meandering chickens and curious dogs. Grain silos towered nearby and a other rusty buildings surrounded the big white farmhouse. These are the moments that have always captivated me when visiting the Amish., these tucked-away businesses that cater mainly to an Amish clientele. This story definitely fits that category. It's small space is packed with shelves of clothing and hats for members of the local Amish church. There were a few cookbooks and an ample selection of German-language hymnals, tracks, and Bibles. I was struck by the large selection of brand-name Melissa & Doug toys. There were also some coloring books published by an Amish publishing house.
These are the discoveries I treasure when visiting Amish Country: tucked-away stores run by the Amish for the Amish (and the occasional non-Amish visitor)
This store is located in northern Jay County, Indiana which is at the southern edge of the sprawling Swiss Amish community in the neighboring county and spills over into this one. The Amish here are ultraconservative, with womenfavoring black, dark blue, and brown clothing. Telephones are a rarity. Here are a few other scenes from this store:
These contraptions are ubiquitous among the Amish but it occurred to me later that this is the first time I'd ever seen one for sale. I just assumed that most people made their own. This is a "bicycle wheel dryer." Many Amish use this, fashioned from a bicycle wheel festooned with clothespins, to dry smaller items like socks, washcloths, and headcoverings. Pretty neat!
lots of books
Need a Sunday hat or a globe for your kerosene lamp?
German language reading material was plentiful....
I bought a coloring book and a little game for Aster and Beatrice and headed for home. If you ever find yourself in northern Jay County, Indiana, this store is worth checking out! I didn't get the address, unfortunately, but it is on CR E 500 N about 2 miles easy of US 27.
Hal
Could you tell more about the food culture in that county?
Kevin
Hi, Hal - The culinary culture here is Swiss Amish....I'll write more about it sometime...but recipes here have been passed down through generations..simple basic baking, some old Swiss recipes (knepfle, rivvels, knee patches)...thanks for stopping by! - Kevin