Auroraadvocate.com - Kaleidoscope: Learn traditions of Amish, Mennonites

by Ken Lahmers

Editor

Although it doesn't go back as far as the Church in Aurora, the Aurora Mennonite Church has a rich heritage that spans more than 100 years.

The Mennonites came to Aurora in the 1890s. According to the Aurora Mennonite's Web site, they established a Sunday school and church in 1906.

The original portion of the existing church was built in 1912. Several sections were added over the years, the last in 1987.

Recently, on a trip to Holmes County's Amish country, I visited the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center outside of Berlin. One can learn all about the two cultures there.

The Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites are all part of a religious movement begun in the early 1500s in Europe called Anabaptists.

The first Mennonites came mainly from Swiss and German origins. The Amish separated from the Mennonites in the late 1600s.

The latter group, commonly called "the plain people," are known for their plain dress and rejection of modern technology and conveniences.

The Mennonites got their name from Menno Simons, a Dutch priest who converted to the Anabaptist faith. Modern day Mennonites number about 1 million worldwide.

The A & M heritage center is a modern building which offers guided tours focusing on the history and customs of the two cultures.

Its highlight is a 10-by-265-foot "Behalt" cyclorama (circular mural), one of only four in North America, painted by German artist, the late Heinz Gaugel, over a 14-year period.

Behalt means "to keep, hold or remember." The beautiful mural documents the history of the Amish and Mennonites from 1525 in Zurich, Switzerland, to the present day.

The earliest history depicts adult baptisms, which the Anabaptist movement was famous for, through religious persecution, which forced the groups to migrate to Russia and North America.

The center also offers a 15-minute video about the Amish and Mennonites. Books on the cultures, crafts and souvenirs are available in the gift shop.

Outside the main building, one can tour the one-room South Bunker Hill schoolhouse and a well-preserved barn, inside of which is a restored pioneer era Conestoga wagon.

The wood-sided schoolhouse is similar to the ones my mom and dad attended in the 1920s in rural Tuscarawas County.

Other area attractions

Holmes County's Amish country has become highly commercialized in the 23 years since I covered news there for The Budget.

The 10-mile stretch of Route 39 between Walnut Creek and Millersburg and other areas are lined with craft, quilt, furniture, cheese, meat, wine and other stores; restaurants; and dozens of signs advertising them all.

Some of the best country-style food around is served up at the restaurants, and that's one thing I really miss about living outside the region.

Many residents complain about the traffic through Berlin and Walnut Creek, which is particularly heavy on weekends during warm weather months.

However, the tourist industry brings a lot of money into the region, and provides jobs for a lot of people.

Visitors should beware, though, that many items sold at the shops are not locally made, but are imported from other countries.

Last week, I wrote about the Victorian House mansion in Millersburg, which is a neat place to visit. In addition to it and the A & M heritage center, there are other worthwhile attractions.

One unique place is Wendell August Forge on Route 62 north of Berlin, which for 80 years has hand-forged works of art, including one-of-a-kind gifts and collectibles.

Guided tours are offered. Visitors will see various processes of making small metal items, including die engraving, hammering, surface flattening, edging, coloring, polishing and forming.

Visitors also can see historic exhibits relating to the company, a large Amish buggy and LGB model train, and hammer their own pieces of metal art.

The Holmes County countryside once was dotted with several cheese factories. Two of the ones remaining are Guggisberg on Route 557 near Charm and Heini's on Route 62 north of Berlin.

Of interest in Millersburg is a museum housing a special collection of carnival glass created and produced from 1909 to 1912 by designer John W. Fenton.

I spent Thanksgiving Eve at the Hotel Millersburg, a quaint three-story, 27-room inn built in 1847. Guests can view photos of the differently-decorated rooms on its Web site, then reserve the one they want.

A picturesque rails to trails hike/bike path runs through the west side of town. It might be the only one in Ohio that accommodates horsedrawn buggies.

It runs north to Fredericksburg in Wayne County and south to Killbuck in Holmes.

Located in the center of Walnut Creek in a mid-1800s era house, the German Culture Museum features displays of local memorabilia, tools, furniture, a Martin Luther Bible and displays about the Anabaptists.

Tourists can see animals from around the world at the Farm at Walnut Creek and Rolling Ridge Ranch north of Berlin, and tour an Amish home and farm at Yoder's Amish Home on Route 515 near Trail.

The latter tiny town also is home of the famous Troyer's baloney firm established in 1912.

Down in Killbuck, about 4 miles south of Millersburg, is the Killbuck Valley Museum, which features five large rooms of displays, including local history, geological artifacts and stuffed wildlife.

Scenic terrain abounds

If visiting museums and shopping aren't your forte, just driving the backroads of Amish country can be relaxing. But watch out for slow-moving buggies!

When I covered news in that area, I traveled just about every back road. The terrain resembles the Swiss Alps in a smaller scale.

Many valleys are picturesque, but one of my favorites is the Doughty Valley along Route 557 between Berlin and Charm.

You can see farmers working in their fields -- making hay and shocking oats, wheat and corn -- with horse-drawn equipment.

And you'll see well-kept farms with two houses.

You see, when Amish children are married, the parents in the main house sell or give it to one of the children. The parents then move into the smaller "daughty house."

For those who want to make Holmes County a multi-day experience, there are some quaint inns and bed and breakfasts.

One of the most famous is the Inn at Honey Run, which features a rustic lodge surrounded by woods. Its off Route 241 north of Millersburg, and Aurora Mayor Lynn McGill has told me he and his wife have stayed there.

Victoria Station at the Sugarcreek Village Inn gives guests the opportunity to sleep in a late 1890s vintage railroad car.

End of the Amish trip

My trip to Amish country ended in Uhrichsville and Dennison, Tuscrawas County towns which are not Amish in nature.

Since its establishment in 2008, the Uhrichsville Clay Museum has kept alive the history of a dead industry -- sewer pipe manufacturing.

As I discussed in a "Kaleidoscope" in July 2008, that region was once known as the Clay Capital of the World.

About 30 sewer pipe and fire brick plants once operated there. Only one clay plant -- Superior -- and a handful of brick plants operated by Belden remain in Tuscarawas County.

The museum features early clay products, a map and photos of the old plants, photos of clay mines, clay folk art and grave markers, and a video of former clay workers' remembrances.

The museum brought back memories of the plants which were operating when I was young, including Robinson, Evans, Larson, American Vitrified, Royal and U.S. Concrete Pipe.

E-mail:

klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155