Family Vacation: Shaker Village Part I

Here we are having just arrived at Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. The family is standing by a portion of the 25 miles of rock fence that is built throughout the Shaker community. It was incredible to see just how many rocks were all over this area.

The first building we entered was the Craft Shop where we purchased tickets to tour the Village. This wasn't your usual tourist gift shop but rather held quite a collection of very nice items! Here's my mom examining an egg basket that had a $320 price tag on it. She makes baskets just like this--but charges a more reasonable price.

I enjoyed looking over all the yarn but just couldn't justify the purchase when I didn't have a project in mind. Although now I wish I had bought a pair of knitting needles from this shop to have a souvenir from Shakertown.

Hannah is standing by more unique baskets. I think Granny picked up some neat ideas here for future basket making. Notice the larger basket on the floor that uses an old rolling pin for the handle! I would love for my mom to make one incorporating that idea. Also, notice the basket just behind the rolling pin one, and you will see it has an old ladle woven into its side. Baskets on the table are covered with old white pot lids! Very interesting and something to scout around for at yard sales.

The Craft Shop also contained many Shaker Boxes for sale - the ideal souvenir to take home from Shakertown. Does anyone own a real Shaker Box? They are sold individually in various sizes or can be bought nested together. I had an idea to buy some for gifts for my sister and friends for Christmas. Well...the itsy-bitsy one... the very smallest one for sale was $40, and one beautiful larger Shaker Box was priced at $198! Can you imagine?! Sorry, sister and friends! But...we all came up with an idea for the woodworker in the family. Hey, maybe Dad can experiment and make Shaker Boxes for all of us!

Our next stop was the Meeting House built in 1820. It was the spiritual center of the community where the worship services were held, which included the charismatic trembling or shaking and the whirling dances which resulted in the name "Shaker." This lady on the right was an excellent interpreter. She described how the men (the brothers) would sit on the benches behind her on one end of the meeting house, and the women (the sisters) would sit on the other end. The Shakers lived a life based on separation from the world, communal ownership of property and goods, celibate purity, and confession of sins. I had never studied anything about the Shakers so all the information was new and interesting to me.

The acoustics in this building were unbelievable. This lady coming down the Meeting House steps sang many of the Shaker songs to demonstrate how the Shakers would sing and dance during their meetings. The most well-known Shaker song is Simple Gifts, which was her final selection; the performance was one of my favorites on the tour.

To Be Continued: Shaker Village - Part 2: Boxes, Brooms, and Quilts

~Deb

Comments

[julie]

Deb, I just love family vacations like this. What a fun place to go. We are thinking about planning a trip to the creation museum too. I'm not much of a caver either. It gets to me after awhile. Those ceilings get mighty low to me and then I start thinking, hmmmm earthquake? Anyway, it sounds like you all had a great time. Can't wait to see you !!!

[Tammy]

I learned somthing new today,I only knew of the Shakers from New England -Never knew there was a village in Kentucky.

[Leslie]

Now, this sounds quite interesting! I like the basket with the rolling pin handle.
I want to watch your Mom work on a basket. What a treasure that would be for our family to see~especially for Anna! Can't wait to hear part 2!

[Jane]

We enjoyed the pictures especially of the baskets since we are new to the basketmaking craft. You will need to post some of your Mom's when you get back home!
Have a great week!
Jane

[Sharon]

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! This is the kind of vacation I like.