• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Amish 365
  • About
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • Amish Marketplace
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Amish Recipes
    • Amish Culture
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Everything Amish » Plain Culture

    Only Two Shakers Left?

    Published: Jan 4, 2017 · Updated: Jan 4, 2017 by Kevin Williams | Leave a Comment

    The massive Shaker dwelling house, built in the 1800s, is where the last Shakers reside...

    The massive Shaker dwelling house, built in the 1800s, is where the last Shakers reside...

    By Kevin Williams

    I have mixed feelings on the whole topic of Shakers (as they exist today).

    There are two Shakers now left following the passing of Sister Frances Carr yesterday  I think maybe, Arnold Hadd, the youngest Shaker wants to be the last of the line.  While I understand that the church's position on celibacy ultimately killed its growth, with today's renewed interest in spiritualism and individualism, I find it difficult to believe that there would not be dozens, if not  hundreds, of people willing to live and commune on quiet, beautiful Sabbathday Lake in Maine.  The hoops one has to jump through to officially join the Shaker church are pretty onerous, as they should be (you wouldn't want a bunch of people with weak spiritual principles descending upon Sabbathday), but I still find it difficult to believe that no one is making the cut.  So Hadd will likely live out his days in Sabbathday and then that will be it, a rich chapter of American spirituality, gone.

    When I was there last year there was a young man who the remaining Shakers had high hopes would stay and become the newest, youngest Shaker, but I've not read any mention of him in news accounts.

    Anyway, click here to read the news about the last Shaker passing away.

    And here is an article I wrote two years ago about my visit to the Shaker compound in Sabbathday.

    The rich culinary legacy of the Shakers is one that will endure long after they are gone and we will explore more of that on Amish365 this year. Click here for a recipe for Shaker Baked Beans.

    « SIGH, Bye-Bye Beerman
    Weekly Blogroll: Amish Sayings, Tea Ring, Double Treat Cookies, Scenes From Paradise and More! »

    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

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Latest Amish Recipes

    • What is Shunning? And Do the Amish Still Shun?
    • Amish Ham & Potato Skillet Supper
    • What Language Do The Amish Speak? (German or English?)
    • Amish Honey-Molasses Cake (Easy Sweet Treat!)
    dutchcrafters

    Download The "Almost Amish" Ebook

    Footer

    Footer

    About

    • About The Amish Editor
    • Download "Almost Amish" Ebook
    • Amish Communities
    • Amish Marketplace

    Contact

    • Work With Us
    • Contact

    *As a member of various affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2000 - 2020 Amish 365 | Powered by Touch The Road