The Amish Farm and House is an old house built in 1805, I think, by a Quaker family that was purchased by an Amish family at some point in the 1900s. No lives there now. It is on a 15 acre farm that has now been surrounded by a Target shopping center. There is an Amish schoolhouse on site that isn't a real schoolhouse, but was built by the Amish just for showing tourists what they look like. There was an Amish school teacher (retired, I guess) there to answer questions but we missed her.
I think probably the biggest misconception about the Amish is that they live in the 1800s because most people know they use the horse and buggy and don't use power line electricity, but that's not exactly true. They use gas extensively, for example, they use gas stoves and ovens and use propane refrigerators like we have in the RV. Their houses often look just like ours, but the one in the pictures doesn't because it was built so long ago. The lights and electric items were put there after the Amish family left the house. Also, the Amish, at least here in Lancaster County, use power tools and equipment for farming if they run on gas. They'll also run power tools off inverters that are powered from batteries or gas power. So, they use ovens, stove tops, refrigerators, washing machines, sewing machines, etc. inside the home and power drills, air compressors, etc. outside.
School house for about 25 students from 1st through 8th grade. Amish students only go through the 8th grade.
Farm! The kids loved this part. This was all a self-guided tour outside, so we hung around here for a while.
The countryside around here is beautiful. I don't think these pictures capture it very well, but these farms dot the countryside everywhere.
Interesting city names around here.
Beautiful country. Very interesting names.
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