It was a beautiful day. Cold, but sunny all day. We went to Volant, PA - about 50 miles north of here. Volant is a tiny town on the banks of the Nashannock Creek. It was bought from the Indians in 1784 and a grist mill was built on the creek in the early 1800s. The community thrived until the Great Depression and by 1960s the mill had closed, the trains stopped coming, and the village was deserted and forgotten.
But lo and behold, in 1984 the mill reopened as an antique and gift shop. Several other shops opened and the town is now booming. I think it all must have something to do with the giant outlet center that is about 10 miles away on the interstate. People come from miles around to shop at the outlet stores. With so many shoppers in the area, it's just a hop away to get in some more shopping.
We had lunch at the Neshannock Creek Restaurant, which was in the lower level of a shopping building just up the street from the Volant Mill. The restaurant right on the Creek was not open on Sunday. The food was excellent - I had the Cod Fish Sandwich with cole slaw. This is a photo of the sign that I took so that I could remember how to spell Neshannock!
It's interesting to me that people live so simply and quietly in this country. There's so much talk in the media about consumerism, materialism, technology, and yet here are people right in the midst of us who do not drive cars and do not have telephones in their homes. There were "telephone booths" here and there for them to use. And yet you do not hear much about the Amish (at least I don't). I deliberately did not take many photos because of their desire not to be photographed.
I read that this community in Lawrence county is the 3rd largest of a certain sect. You could tell which homes were Amish because there were no cars or decorations. We will probably have to go back on a Saturday when their home "shops" are open. The little buggies had very small windows, but you could sort of see the drivers. They looked so young to me, and like people from another time.
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| Nashannock Creek - Volant PA |
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| Horse and Amish buggy on the banks of the Nashannock Creek |
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| Volant Mill |
very picturesque and peaceful
ReplyDeleteLancaster county is where there is a large Amish community, perhaps the largest in the country. It's a tourist area but the Amish have managed to ignore the "English" and go about their work unfazed. It's not uncommon for a modern supermarket to have a hitching post for horse and buggy! You might pass through the county on the way to Gettysburg if you plan you route.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed very peaceful and picturesque, Barbara. It's interesting to me that people live like this in this country. There's so much talk in the media about consumerism, materialism, technology, and yet here are these people right in the midst of us who do not drive cars and do not have telephones in their homes. There are "telephone booths" here and there for them to use. And yet you do not here much about them. I deliberately did not take many photos because of their desire not to be photographed.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good idea, Larry. I read that this community in Lawrence county is the 3rd largest of a certain sect. You could tell which homes were Amish because there were no cars or decorations. We will probably have to go back on a Saturday when their home "shops" are open. The little buggies had very small windows, but you could sort of see the drivers. They looked so young to me, and like people from another time.
It is as Larry says. Don't forget to visit Ephratha, if you do go that way. It is in the same area.
ReplyDeleteHi Beth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice write up on Volant. It's a neat place tucked away as it is and surrounded by beautiful countryside. I visit there periodically. I'm curious, where in Volant you had lunch.
Thanks for posting pictures too.
dba848@hotmail.com
The trip to Volant opened my eyes to the rich history and life in the countryside around here. We're going to have to do some more exploring.
ReplyDeleteWe had lunch at the Neshannock Creek Restaurant, which was in the lower level of a shopping building, just up the street from the VOlant Mill. It was a Sunday and the restaurant on the Creek was not open. The food was excellent - I had the Cod Fish Sandwich with cole slaw. I took a picture of the restaurant sign so that I could remember how to spell Nashannock. I'll post it with the group above.