Ohio's Amish Appalachia

A full moon hovers above the hills near Londonderry

An Amish business near Londonderry

By Kevin Williams

I was traveling on US Route 50 on Monday night heading east across southern Ohio en route to Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Southeastern Ohio - the state's hardscrabble, hard-luck Appalachia region - has seen an influx of Amish in recent years, attracted to the area by cheap land.  So my interest was piqued when I saw a horse-drawn buggy sign in eastern Ross County near the town of Londonderry. I was unfamiliar with Amish in this area.  Then, in the gathering dusk, I spied a sign for "Yoder's Greenhouse - No Sunday Sales", a tip-off that it's probably an Amish-owned business. I followed the sign's arrow but in the dark I couldn't find it and eventually turned back, but not before getting this pretty shot of a full moon hovering over the hills.  So, I never did find the greenhouse. I may try on my way back during the light of day.  Do we have any readers familiar with the Amish in the Londonderry area?  If so, please report back!