Sometimes you need to visit the past to face the present. My wife and I love doing location-scouting daytrips for future films. They give us an opportunity to be together while exploring our adopted region. For the last several years we’ve turned our late October outing into a three-day Getaway. This year it was in nearby Kentucky. We began at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, among some of God’s most magnificent creatures; and then went on to our 200-year-old accommodations at the historic Shaker Village near Kentucky’s birthplace. Our three-day weekend getaway was all we’d hope for–and something more (see further thoughts after the photos we took).
Click on any image to enlarge it, or to start slide show.
The Shakers’ getaway came when they separated from the Quakers in England and came to America in the late 18th century. Believing they were called to build heaven-on-earth, they strove to live out their ideals in Kentucky, among other places. Some of those ideals were noble and progressive—equal rights for women and minorities, classless society. Others were quirky and unsustainable—celibacy, a lack of distinction between spirituality and unchecked “spiritualism.”
Our Shaker Village guides were wonderful: From Holly, our historian-storyteller (and retired Methodist minister), to Ryan, a deep-voiced Shaker musicologist whose singing brought tears to our eyes.
Throughout the weekend, we steeped ourselves in 19th century Shaker life; even our room was furnished in simple-but-beautiful Shaker furniture. We learned and, in a sense, experienced the rise and fall of something appealing, yet destined to fail.
In our quiet escape to the past, we pondered the noisy present–the raging fears, and hopes and dreams of this mad, unpredictable year–and somehow, in our visit to the past, found renewed strength…
To face the present.
*The photos are mostly from our Getaway, but some are from recent daytrips.
Our family met for a large Thanksgiving celebration in Shaker Village a few years ago. What a great place to visit. Looks like you had a fun getaway.
Looks lovely
I love horses 🐎
thanks! loved loved the horses..
I want to go there. Do you think they’d sell me the bridge? I love that bridge.
Sure. In fact, I’ll sell it to you, Andrew. What’s your bid?
$20 ? there’s an ATM just up the street, could get the money right now … 😉
Lovely!
You brought back many fond memories of our stays at Shaker Village, our visits to horse farms, my first teaching job near Danville, KY–all while Steve was in seminary at Asbury. Subsequent trips to the area with our children offered the extra pleasure of passing on family history. It’s time we went back!
Wow! We really visited Reugg Country, didn’t we, Nancy?
The photos are wonderful. New Hampshire has a Shaker Village as well, in Canterbury.
Thanks, Liz. I’ve heard there are several other restored Shaker sites. A village in Maine is home to the final three surviving Shakers.
Yes, I’ve heard of the Maine village, but I can’t remember the name of it off the top of my head. What surprised me when I toured the Canterbury Shaker village was the number and range of products they made and sold.
Great pictures. Really looks quite lovely. Thanks for sharing.
It really was. Thank you, Lori.
Beautiful! We have a Shaker Village in my neck of the woods as well – Hancock Shaker Village. 🙂
I’ve heard of it. Might visit when in that neck of the woods.
It looks amazing. Wonderful way to spend a weekend getaway.
It was, Carla.
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What a lovely trip! We visited the Kentucky Horse park with our kids years ago, and I still have fond memories.
What fantastic pictures! thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Lilly.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
My pleasure, Al. Truly.
Yes, pondering the serene practicality of Shaker life at its best is a source of strength in this frenetic world.
If it is ever convenient to be in western Massachusetts, don’t miss the Hancock Shaker Village. The Round Barn there is an architectural wonder. As sometimes happens when a building is genuinely (not Bauhaus-pretentiously) functional, being inside this huge barn feels much like being inside a Gothic cathedral.
I was there once many years ago. Impressive indeed.
Hi Mitch,
Great stories and pictures. Many happy and memorable trips to you both. I hope you found some great places for film locations.
In Christ,
Gary
We did, Gary. Thanks!
Kentucky is beautiful. I was born and raised in Huntington, WV, on the Kentucky border. Trips to Lexington and Louisville were always delightful. I knew nothing of Shakers until we moved to New England. Of course the history here is wonderful.
It is indeed, Jennie.
🙂
Thank you for sharing this. It looks a wonderful, tranquil place. Would like to visit myself sometime. Blessings from Joy
Thank you, Joy, you too!