Liz and Brandon.... brought box after box..... of Beautiful... ca. 1700's and 1800's....
German Books...from the steamy... old attic... yesterday...
oh my...
Just holding them...in my hands.... was such a gift.
There are many... many more.... yet to come.
This Sale... really touches me.
I...get a little melancholy... at times....
while thinking... how long, these 'treasures'... have resided here... in this Old... Home....
maybe...the very first home... ever built here... in The Amana Colonies.
and...soon.... like so many others....here...in Amana... that have sold their original household contents...away...over the last many decades.... these, too will leave...forever.
{there are few... left.... }
The Amana Colonies.... remind me much... of the Shaker Community.
They lived Communally....
in 7 Villages...
They purchased...about 26,000 acres... of the Most...Beautiful....Fertile... Iowa Land....along The Iowa River.... in 1855, or so...
{Wally's Home... was built before that date...with hand cut sandstone.... that was milled, near his Home...It was a Bakery at one time... and The Bachelor's House....it was added on to... in the 1950's... }
They were self a sufficient ....Community.
Made their own Furniture...Baskets... built a Woolen Mill........and produced Calico...fabric, as well... they made all of their own clothing....
Bedding.... Woven Rugs....had their own Smokehouses... Dairies.... Vineyards... and Massive Gardens... Everyone did their part.... they all had 'duties'... assigned to them...for the 'Community'....
Some... were in charge of the livestock.... some... laundry... the gardens....
They Worshiped together.... and... ate every meal... together. {There were 50 Communal Kitchens...throughout the 7 Villages. }
Between 1865 and 69... I read, they hand dug.... a 7 mile canal...'Mill Race'... from the Iowa River.... to power the Woolen Mill...and other businesses...
throughout the Colonies...
{Dad always... admired the Mill Race.... }
oh my...
They had their own Blacksmith shops.... Bakeries....Wash Houses...and Communal Kitchens... that they all contributed to.
They never earned a wage.... they didn't need to... everything was provided to them...
Some folks...confuse them with The Amish...
They were not Amish. They are also of German descent, but...not Amish.
I'm not a historian... so... I could be wrong on some of the details... I encourage you to read about them.... It's Good... Reading.
: )
I hope... these treasures...from Wally's Home.... will be remembered....
and Treasured... as 'Amana'... pieces.
I was at a Show... several years ago, as a dealer bought a Beautiful... Amana Basket.... from another Iowa dealer... who had it labeled... {proudly} as 'Amana'...
Then... when I saw it later, at the new owner's booth... she had repriced and labeled it...simply... as an
' Early Handmade Basket'....
didn't mention...it's Amana History...
oh my.
It lost all of it's... provenance... with the stroke of a pen.
how sad.
Love...to ya...
Barb C.
{Estate Sale is Sept. 11, 12, 13 and 14. }
 |
| We found the Wonderful Old Shelf... in the Cellar. It's all hand dovetailed.... I would guess.... from the mid 1800's.... just like it's contents... : ) we piled in... yesterday. |
 |
| I cleaned this old box... out. It was full... of Early... Woodworking hand tools.... Tiny...little ones... with hand turned handles...... hand forged.... iron ones...... oh my...... |
 |
| There are many.... Amana Rugs.... Liz and Brandon found the one.... we think... was original... or very early... in the house..... It's a bit rough.... but.... it has had quite a 'Journey'... after all..... : ) |
 |
| Liz found these old Amana Baskets... yesterday..... They are wonderful... |
 |
| There are a lot of linens... and some early clothing.... I have found...so far.... |
 |
| Found this Walford, Iowa... WATT pitcher.... in a box, yesterday... Walford, is the town situated in the middle...of the 11 mile stretch between, Fairfax, {where we live} and Amana... ! |
 |
| We are finding some.... Amazing...Old...Bottles..... |
 |
| Rock Island.... Love It! |
 |
| This Bowl... is Stunning...... |
 |
| Amana... Baskets... Stand... and Tin..... oh my... all Made... right there...... |
No comments:
Post a Comment