Where do I begin? This post is a combination of culture and religion.
Our stay in Shipshewana was down the street from the Menno-Hof Amish and Mennonite Story.
The Anabaptist (Rebaptizer) movement began in 1525. Dissention was growing in the Catholic Church, causing Martin Luther in Germany, and Ulrich Zwingh in Switzerland, to call for the break from Rome, promising a renewal in the church.
There were several debates between 1523 and early 1525, in front of City Council regarding mass, infant baptism, and paying for salvation. The City Council did not agree, and said no to any changes. Dissenters rebelled, and, Luther and Zwingh found it necessary to call in the state to bring order back.
In 1525 and 1526 the dissenters only baptized adults who voluntarily chose salvation. These actions received violent opposition from the Catholic, and Protestant rulers. The Anabaptist Movement is born.
Beginning in 1527 the Protestant church began executing Anabaptists. This is when the Anabaptists came together and ratified adult baptisms, and no violence in the church. Despite the persecution, the movement expanded throughout Europe between 1527 and 1529. With expansion came torture, imprisonment, and executions.
In 1528 some of the Anabaptists sought refuge in the area which is currently known as the Czech Republic, beginning communal living. 1533 saw the arrival of Jacob Hutter, who took over leadership of the struggling congregation, and eventually the group was known as Hutterites.
1534-35 saw violence in the Dutch Anabaptists. In 1536 Menno Simons joins the movement, and restores peace within the church. His name was then linked with the main wing of Anabaptist, hence Mennonites.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Anabaptist scatter eastward in Europe to avoid persecution. There is a split of the Mennonites in Switzerland in 1693. One side of the split chose to follow Jakob Ammann, hence Amish.
The Anabaptists were invited to America by William Penn. You see William Penn, a Quaker, was given land by King Charles II in North America, repayment for a debt. Mr. Penn named the land he received Penn Sylvania (Penn's Woods), we know it as Pennsylvania. William wanted to experiment by creating a peaceful society, inviting Quakers and other religions oppressed by state churches. The Mennonites heard of the offer, and in 1683 set sail for America.
Here in the United States the Mennonite/Hutterite/Amish have settled predominately in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
Like most religions, the Anabaptists have split into five sects: Amish, Beachy Amish, Hutterites, Conservative Mennonites, and Mennonites. Their ideals range from very basic, to accepting some of the world's ideas.
The Amish folks do not believe in cars, and only travel in buggies, the Beachy Amish, if they have a car, focus on dark colors, and the Hutterites and Mennonites drive cars.
The Amish/Beachy Amish, and Hutterites keep their clothes simple, and are generally white and black, solid in color, sometimes pastels are acceptable. The Mennonites can be found wearing clothing fitting with the surrounding society, some simple, some fashion conscious.
Some sects vote, while other choose not to. The Mennonites may even run for political office.
Amish women are influential in the decision making process in the home. Both men and women believe the home is a sacred center in the family life.
Education can range from 8th grade level (Amish), to higher education (Mennonite), if the individual chooses.
We learned from some of the folks at the center that most Amish folks do not want their picture taken close-up.
As we continued our walk though the facility, I was surprised at the number of Mennonites worldwide, 2.1 Million Mennonites, in 87 countries. Two thirds of their members are African, Asian, and Latin American.
It was interesting to learn how they chose ministers. First, members are nominated, with two or more votes. Next, there is an Ausbund (Amish songbook) placed on a table for each candidate. In only one of the songbooks is a slip of paper containing Bible verses, Proverbs 16:33 and Acts 1:24. The candidate that chooses the songbook with the slip of paper is the next minister. The minister will take on the new duties, as well as continuing his normal work.
As communities there are rules that apply to all within the district, called Ordnung. For example, there may be a prohibition against wall to wall carpet, and window coverings. Pressurized lamps may be used in lieu of electricity. There may be limited decorations on the walls, none of which may be of people. We learned through our travels around the area that the Amish may be restricted to what kind of buggy than can have... in one district their buggy can have a roof, others must be uncovered.
Now let's talk about the teen years. It's possible that you may have seen shows where the teenagers are allowed to go out into "the world", to experience how WE live... this generally occurs around age sixteen. This time of experimentation is called rummsphringa meaning to run around. Many times the youth come back and change their choice of sect from Amish to either Beachy Amish, or Mennonite, because they are more lenient.
There is a lot more to see at the cultural center, and I recommend it to anybody willing to learn other cultures.
The stroll through the gift shop was worthwhile too... 90% of the items there were handmade. To get the rest of the story, go to: https://www.mennohof.org.
TAKE A BREAK...COME BACK AND CONTINUE READING.
Our last day before we headed to Ohio, was a visit to a Swiss Village Museum (https://www.swissheritage.org).
Inside the museum is a bit of the heritage of the area. Back in 1852, 80 Swiss sailed to America, and eventually settled in Berne Indiana. The 41 day trip to America cost the traveler $37.00. Community was built around music in this area. One of the lost musical instruments is the accordion. The two shown are Mother of Pearl.
Berne was also known for furniture manufacturing. For the longest time there were three furniture manufacturers, now there is only one, but loads of furniture stores.
For you woodworkers out there, how would you like to use wooden power tools... foot driven of course.
That's right... band saws made from wood. The second band saw is located in one of the out buildings.
Some of the buildings in the village were moved from various spots within the community. The outside portion of the tour was via a guide and golf cart. The first building we stopped at was a school house. Back in the early 1800s the state had a requirement that schoolhouses would be approximately two miles apart. This schoolhouse was a typical learning center for the the late 1800s.
See if you can find something different in the photo below.
did you find it? look in the first line... I pledge allegiance to MY flag... vice to THE flag. Now that you've been schooled, we will move on.
You may notice that the teacher's desk is on a raised platform, that is because this schoolhouse was also used for plays.
Next stop was the Luginbill House, which was a pre Civil War build in 1857.
Back in the day when they built their homes, they were timber framing, siding, and insulated.
Whatever was available was usually used for insulation. Above mud, straw, and extra pieces of wood. Now this old house was not always this way, before they moved it to the current location, it looked pretty run down.
This house was a step up from their original homestead, which will be on display a little later, but back to the newer home.
Like most homes at the time, the kitchen was a hopping place in the morning, afternoon, and evening... in other words, all day long. Not in the picture, is a small water trough looking bin. What is so important about this little trough you ask... it wasn't used for water, but for dough. The woman of the house would make up a huge dough ball and keep it in this trough. All she needed to do each morning was grab a hunk, and make a loaf or two for the day. When that dough ball was gone, she made another one, they were never without bread.
The next room was a multi-purpose room.
As you can see this room was the livingroom, dining room, family room, and the bedroom. Upstairs were more bedrooms.
How many of you out there thought some of the chores you had to do as a youngster stunk, was it as bad as this morning chore, which one of the sons were usually tasked with.
Some of you may know this item as a "chamber pot" or "night pot". Either name you call it, it had to be emptied each morning. Oh, I forgot to explain what this pot was used for... mom and dad didn't want to run to the outhouse at night.
During the hot months cooking was done in the outside kitchen.
Laundry was also done in this out building.
Many communities had a cheese maker amongst them, here was no different.
Tools of the trade for the man that lived here.
You may have noticed I said "the man" earlier, that was because he had to be a single cheese maker, there was limited living space in the cheese factory.
The area in the 1800s was primarily farming, and one of the crops harvested was apples. Picked apples were brought to a cider press for processing. The cider press in the village was built in 1864.
The Hauenstein cider press is still operational today. Our guide was telling us about her childhood days loading apples into the press bins. Not many of us would have been excited to do her job, simply because of the many bee stings she received.
From the storage bin they are moved to the press.
The square is the press area. A layer of apples would be put in with straw on top, then the next layer of apples with more straw, until it is filled. The timber at the top of the photo is what presses the apples, and weighs in at approximately 2,000 pounds. It is operated by a screw at one end. There is a square block on top of the layers of apples.
When the screw is turned it forces the one end up, forcing the other end down. Most things under pressure will start to sweat, emitting juices, nothing different here.
Obviously there will be straw in the juice in the trough, however, the straw is filtered out before it goes into the gallon jugs. Some of the farmers could not afford the press cost and would pay in cider. Mr. Hauenstein would take the cider and store it for future sale.
I promised you a look at the first Luginbill house after they first arrived in America.
That tub under the spinning wheel had a duel purpose, washing clothes, and washing people. When it was bath time the baby usually got bathed first, other kids next, and dad was often last... and the water may not have been changed between bathers.. oh joy.
I'm not sure the handicap ramp was part of the original cabin.
One visiting any of the 1800s villages occupied by Swiss immigrants, a church could be found, probably Anabaptist. In this village is one of the first Mennonite churches in the area.
This Mennonite church was built in 1860. To be Mennonite meant that men and women were separated at the door, and sat on different sides of the church. I do like the way they did their sermons... straight out of the Bible. The preacher read several verses, and the deacons stood up and said "Amen".
For those that weren't obliged to follow community rules, they had a place for them to stay.
Public humiliation from one's peers was their form of punishment. These rooms were located outside, the troublemaker on display.
Doctors were in limited supply back in the 1800s, and towns were lucky to have a doctor. For this community it was Peter Sprunger M.D.. The son of immigrants, he turned to studying medicine after the death of his first bride, who died during the birth of their fourth child. 
As well as being a homeopathic doctor, by necessity, he would also become the community dentist. Speaking of his dental experiences, they have a valuable piece of equipment on display.
This is not a child's chair, this was the doctor's dentist chair. The patient would sit down, legs stretched out, and low enough for the dentist to do whatever was required.
As well as being a homeopathic doctor, by necessity, he would also become the community dentist. Speaking of his dental experiences, they have a valuable piece of equipment on display.
It was a neat little journey back to the past... but it was time to head back home and prepare for our next adventure.
