Our Visit to a Shaker Village
@mustardseed and I decided to go on a holiday with our family to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Kentucky. This particular village was home to the third largest group of Shakers between 1805-1910. The Shakers are a Christian sect founded in the 18th century in England. There are only a few members left as Shakers live a life of celibacy. Shakers were influential in equality for the sexes, establishing ladies in their leadership in the middle of the 18th century. All Shakers live a communal, and pacifist lifestyle.
Pleasant Hill has 3,000 acres in the heart of Kentucky. The separate buildings you see housed different clans. Much like we have our last name that identifies us, the women and young children that lived in these houses would go by a certain family name.
The church is located at the center of the village. Men and young boys lived to the west, women and young children to the east. They would cross paths often during the day as there is a central road that connects the entire community. There are 34 existing buildings on this property. The Shakers originally built 260 structures.
Farmers still use the massive gardens that the Shakers cultivated. This garden was around 300 feet long.
The Shakers are known for their beautiful architecture and woodworking skills. There are many Shaker chairs and stools that have been handed down generations. I have a chair that I bought at auction. It is incredibly comfortable to sit in.
My family lives close to Lancaster Pennsylvania, which is a central point for the Amish community in the Northeast U.S. They are often able to find antique Shaker furniture. My grandmother even taught us how to weave foot stools to emulate the design of a Shaker stool.
me for more great content. Sources: Visit Shaker Village
History of Shakers
Thank you for posting lydon.sipe. These are lovely photographs. Appreciated the commentary.
All the best to you and @mustardseed.
Thank you @bleujay. I am glad you enjoyed them.