Wool and Spice

Last week we took a little trip to Iowa for a checkup on Jack’s fake ankle and since we were in the neighborhood, visited the Amana Colonies, a community of seven villages where residents practiced a communal life. United by a common religion known as the Community of True Inspiration, the villagers came to Iowa in 1855 from Germany, after first settling in New York. They built thriving villages where residents received a home, medical care, meals, and schooling for their children. The adults were assigned jobs by the village councils; the men worked as farmers or skilled craftsmen, the women worked in the communal kitchens and tended the gardens.

The communal way of life ended in 1932 in response to modern pressures; the Depression and the desire of the younger villagers to change their way of  life. The villagers received shares in the Amana Society, a profit-sharing corporation which managed the farmland, mills and other businesses. The Amana Church still survives and the Colonies were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

The highlight for Jack was the Amana Furniture Shop and the expert craftsmanship of their grandfather clocks, bedroom sets, rockers, kitchen tables and much more. One bedroom set that I liked would cost about $16,000. Maybe in my next life.

After the furniture shop we spent most of our time going through the Heritage Museum, a complex of 3 original buildings where you can view exhibits about the Colonies and their people. No pictures allowed or I’d show you marvelous knit items from the  exhibit on needlework housed in the old schoolhouse below.

There were gloves and baby bonnets knit in cobweb yarn with seed beads so small they looked like a spot of ink. Men’s knee-length work socks in sturdy brown wool. Many crocheted items as well as quilts.

Both boys and girls went to knitting school where they learned to knit socks for their families and mittens that were sold to provide extra money. The gift shop had a pair of old two-color woolen mittens on display that had a  star pattern on the back and another pattern on the front. Unfortunately the only mittens they had for sale were done in acrylic and were still selling for $35 or $50. Disappointing.

We also saved the Woolen Mill for next time which wasn’t a disappointment for me since I’ve been there before and they concentrate on blankets and other woven goods.

The Colonies produced much of what they needed to survive and became known for their fine craftsmanship. They farmed, produced wool and calico, made wine and beer, raised sheep and other livestock. Today it’s an interesting mix of tourist schlock and history.

Actually, our first stop after grabbing lunch was actually this place. Two thumbs up on the maple nut fudge and one thumb up on the peanut butter fudge (mine, all mine).

Then Jack wandered over here and scored something sweet for breakfast the next morning.

It sounds like we ate our way through the colonies. We probably would have but only actually had time to make it to Amana which is the largest village. We saved some food (and history) for next time.

We’ll go back again sometime to the other villages since we’d like to see the communal kitchen in Middle Amana and the agricultural museum in South Amana. We take things in small bites  these days, particularly if it includes fudge!

Tags: Amana Colonies