Today we took the highway to Lancaster which is the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. This part of Pennsylvania was settled in the Colonial years primarily by religious groups of German descent seeking religious freedom. The customs and convictions of these people have been retained today and are reflected in their dress, their work and the ways in which they spend their leisure time. Simplicity and singular speech are but two characteristics of these people.
The road took us through a number of small and larger towns crossing the Susquehanna River to Lancaster.
During the Revolutionary War Lancaster was the largest inland city in the Colonies. It was the capital of the nation for 1 day on September 27, 1777 as Congress fled Philadelphia after the Battle of Brandywine. It was the state capital from 1799-1812. The city is in the heart of Lancaster County and is known for its Amish and Mennonite populations and picturesque farmland.
Here in Lancaster we departed the main road for the scenic roads leading us through the towns of Smoketown, Bird in Hand and Intercourse (The Intercourse name came from either the entrance to the racecourse (the Entercourse) just outside the town or from the joining or intercourse of the Old Kings Highway and the Wilmington-Erie Road.) Thought you might like to know that the name was not what you thought. We then take the back roads to Strasburg where we head back to Gettysburg.
All the towns we go through seem alike and yet different. All contain some very old pre Civil War homes over 160 years old and others built around the early 1900's and after. Taking pictures of just a few houses really does not do this justice. It is hard to describe but each is alike and different. Some are free standing, some are attached like townhouses and some have acreage around them. Some have large porches, some have turrets, some have bay windows, some are small and some are quite large. For the most part they are well kept up, but some definitely need some attention.
What is different in the Amish country is seeing the Amish either walking, riding scooter type vehicles or driving many different types and sizes of horse drawn open and closed carriages. Today being Sunday, the Amish were not in the fields, but rather driving their vehicles along the highways and farm roads. Obviously the horses are well used to cars as none seemed to be the least bit disturbed by the noises and fast speed.
The farmland here is truly picturesque and beautiful with lots of corn and other crops, very green and lush. We saw many farms with very large horses which we know are used by the Amish farmers to plant and tend their crops.
We stop in Bird in Hand at this antique store which Ron thought was interesting especially the old gas pumps out in front. The store was just one of several where we stopped.
Tomorrow we will return to this Old Barn Antique Store which was closed when we passed it on our return to Gettysburg. There are also several others that I want to explore before we leave this area.
Please excuse some of the pictures which may seem foggy as they were taken from behind the windows in the car as we drove by.
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