Dutch Treat or Going Dutch…. take your pick

In the 1600’s, being of an independent mind rather than toeing the line to the official state religion in Germany could get you in big trouble. So, when the followers of the Mennonite and Amish beliefs heard about the religious freedoms in the British colonies, especially Pennsylvania, they called their travel agent and booked the first boat they could get. Thus the “Pennsylvania Dutch” region was born.

Centered primarily around the Lancaster area in southeastern Pennsylvania, today’s Mennonites and Amish are mostly into farming with corn, tobacco and dairy cattle being the main items of production. Driving through the region today, we were amazed at how prosperous the farms looked. Every one that we saw was very clean, neat and tidy… no broken down barns, no rusting equipment laying around, nothing needing painting or fixing up. It was obvious that they definitely have a pride of ownership when it comes to their farms. If you were to think of the most bucolic picture ever painted by Currier and Ives, a Pennsylvania Dutch farm would be the ideal.

There are some differences between the two groups that we didn’t really understand until today. The Mennonites were the first group organized with the Amish breaking off due to a difference of opinion over various matters. In a nutshell, the Mennonites started getting a little progressive in their beliefs whereas the believers that eventually formed the Amish sect held to more traditional beliefs. Thus today, Mennonites use electricity, drive cars and otherwise enjoy some of the modern conveniences of life whereas the Amish reject most modern ways and are more likely to be the ones that you see driving along the highways in buggies or walking and have no ugly power poles in front of their houses. Regardless, both are extremely hard workers and are doing quite well in modern day America. Pictures in the gallery.