The Amish shops often resemble those of a century ago with wood stoves, steam boxes, and jigs used to bend the hardwoods. Light bulbs are not present in the shops since the Amish do not use electricity, nor do they own cars or have telephones in the home. Propane lanterns are used when natural light is unavailable. Diesel or gasoline engines are used to power many tools, but hammers, chisels, and hand drills are common place, especially in the shops of western Pennsylvania where rockers are crafted.
Most of the wood shops are located on the beautiful Amish farms of rural Pennsylvania. Cornfields dominate the agricultural landscape during the summer season. Lily white homes and barns are scattered throughout the rolling terrain, creating a truly idyllic ambiance of authentic peace and contentment. Radiant standard-bred horses pull the ubiquitous Amish buggies over rural roads and through the streets of small towns. Huge and powerfully sculpted Belgian horses draw the hay wagons through the fields while the men harvest the crops. The Old Order Amish are hard working, humble, and non-aggressive people, devoted to God, family, and community.
My father's family - the Hochstetler's - were Amish from Nappanee, Indiana, the heart of Amish country in northern Indiana. Jacob Hochstetler was the first Amish family member to come to Pennsylvania from Switzerland in 1736. We have several Hostetler's - slightly different spelling - crafting furniture that is sold in Amish House, and the primary quilter is also a Hostetler.
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