5 Surprising PLACES Amish Once Lived

Amish have lived in some unexpected places throughout their history. I tell you the stories of 5 of those - in 5 different countries.

0:00 Intro
0:12 - 1) Paradise Valley
4:24 - 2) Galicia
5:58 - 3) Horsefly
8:08 - 4) Fernheim Colony
11:20 - 5) The Big Easy

Resources:
The Amish in America: Settlements that Failed, 1840-1960 by David Luthy
A History of the Amish: Third Edition by Steven M. Nolt

Image credits:
Jim Halverson

[ajuma]

If you're looking for some Amish Fiction about the move to Mexico (which, from what I can tell, loosely follows what Erik said about the move) try The Daughters of Caleb Bender by Dale Cramer. I read the series years ago and it's stayed in my mind ever since.

[TheShilohdad]

For an interesting historical fiction series, Dale Cramer has written a trilogy entitled The Daughters of Caleb Bender that takes place in Paradise Valley. Cramer says that his great grandfather and grandfather were part of the initial settlement, and his father was born there. While the background is historical, the novels are works of fiction, but many things were based on actual events.

[donhuber]

We occasionally hear about "urban farming" in inner cities that are considered "food deserts". A few "urban homesteaders" have farmed vacant properties and abandoned industrial sites. Perhaps some day, some Amish, living near big cities, will give urban farming a shot and have a market in these food deserts and also at farmers markets where they could command top prices. I would think it wise if these types of distressed cities would give the Amish massive tax breaks to lure them in. Hell, they do it for WalMart and sports franchises.

[johnpinckney]

As always, another educational and entertaining video. One thought for a video would be Amish in unexpected places. And, how they've "adapted without adapting", for lack of a better term. I'm especially thinking about places like Lancaster, County, PA, which sess a lot of tourists every year. It would also be interesting to see which "non-traditional" occupations the Amish in such areas might pursue. One example I'm thinking of is back when WGAL-TV started on channel 4. (Short-lived, as the FCC saw their idiocy finding VHF signals don't "end at the horizon", as the Commissioners decreed! You can imagine the result with channel 4 stations in NYC and D.C.!) Perhaps they could've had an Amish person as an artist. (TV stations used to gave art departments!) Or, perhaps as a carpenter building sets. Or, even as a stagehand. Then, there's Strasburg Railroad. A lot of low-tech/zero-tech skills that are largely lost today, are needed to keep it going. Well Done, Erik!

[marjoriecarpenter]

I smiled when I heard you say that you have pronunciation problems. Hutterites is pronounced Who (like the sound an owl makes) tterites. We had a large community of them move down from Canada to the area where I lived in central Washington state. 😊

[raethibodeau]

Very interesting. New Orleans, who would have thought.

[lilbatz]

OMG. That swing set! (7:35) The tween swinging has got to be 8 ft from the ground.

Today you’d never see current ones that can almost launch you like a catapult if you jump off.

Does look like fun though 😊

[cindynielson]

I loved this video. The format you are using now is really good. I love all your knowledge of the Amish. It broke my heart about the kids taken from their parents due to not wanting them learning the same as non Amish. BC was so beautiful. The bishop walking from Indiana to New Orleans for church is crazy. Thanks for sharing. 🥰👍

[HanksHauling]

I have relatives (not closely related) in every location you mentioned. I'm originally Old Colony Mennonite, so I have relatives pretty much everywhere lol.

[JigsawPuzzleConnection]

Great video as always. New Orleans shocked me the most. Somehow the Amish and Mardi Gras don't mix.

[bernhardschmalhofer]

One extraordinary place where Amish once lived is Regensburg in Bavaria. An Amish community existed there in the 19th century. It is extraordinary to me, because Regensburg and the Gäuboden is close to where I grew up.

[DavA-DM]

Great account, and some I hadn't known of before now. The walking part - seems odd to us, but this seems to have been more common in the past. My 4th cousin Addison Coffin is on record walking several times between Indiana and North Carolina. Our 2nd cousin Levi Coffin (it seems) walked the distance too. Both of them were abolitionists, and this walking may have been part of that work.

[riggs]

The Paradise Valley community is very interesting. I have to wonder why, though, they had a problem with teaching geography of all things. 🤔

[nildagivens]

Happy New Year, Erik. Thanks so much for another interesting Amish video. I always get happy when I see you've posted a new video. I appreciate you!! 😊

[TheMtggrl]

Great information Erik, for me the New Orleans Amish was the most shocking for me. I think in the past I may have learned about the Amish going to So. America. Thank you for sharing this information with us, it definitely helps to further our knowledge of this bit of history.

[susanschuck]

Another absolutely fascinating video! So much to learn about Amish. Thank you Erik., Oh and New Orleans I think was my most surprising one. All were very interesting to hear about. Thanks for sharing once again.

[MRelemint]

I went on a Amish tour of a school in Ohio some years back & the guide who’s Mennonite noted their was once a Amish community in CA but it didn’t take and they left shortly after.

[karengunia]

Loved this interesting history. Thanks Erik!

[StevenBathurst]

I’m heard recently that I believe an Amish family moved to Belize few miles outside of town .I came a crossed it on one of the youtube channels. I cant remember the town . But if i see it again I will let you know.

[willbass]

My late father told me there was an Amish community in Seneca, Mississippi (Lamar Co). This was probably in the 1930-1940 era. It apparently had existed long enough and with enough people that they establish a small cemetery. After the community dissolved/moved out there would be a small group of Amish return periodically and tend the cemetery

My father's family lived north of Seneca. On one occasion, my g-father was working with a crew (re)building a bridge over Black Creek. One of their mules slid down the steep embankment, got tangled in its "running gear" (harness) and unfortunately drowned.
My g-father walked the short distance to Seneca and borrowed one of the big draft horses the Amish kept and hauled the dead mule up the harness was valuable (!)