Building Pleasant Hill

The Runyon family members arriving at Pleasant Hill in the early years of the 19th century would have been placed in various buildings that were available, notably, the "old fraim house" and a log house. Over the years, a regular shuffling of people from one dwelling to another was taking place. 

The Believers ranks apparently swelled to the point where some had to live during the warmer months in a camp. Shaker journals tell us that in September 1809, the Believers "built a log house, weatherboarded it & lathed & plastered it, which made quite a comfortable dwelling house. We moved in it in September. Bid a dieu to our camp." 

The old "fraim house" was occasionally occupied "by young Believers that would occasionally drop in for a time till at length the place was evacuated and the buildings mov'd away."  It was still in use in the fall of 1812 when newly-arrived converts Phineas and Charity Runyon were among its occupants. 

During 1809 the village's “First Stone House” was also completed (and may have been an early design by Micajah Burnett, the Pleasant Hill Shaker who went on to design the community's most impressive buildings). In August 1812, when the Center Family moved into the three story stone house, Embly Runyon was among them. Like many of the buildings, the first stone house was later re-purposed into the Farm Deacon’s Shop (it still stands today and is available for overnight accommodation. Likewise, the former blacksmith and wagonmaker’s shop was turned into museum shop and ticket office).

1809 "First Stone House" - now the Farm Deacon's Shop

1809 was a year of prolific building at Pleasant Hill. Journal records tell us that in the fall, a log house at the East Family was built for the special purpose of gathering the society's children (before this, the children were still living with their parents). The log house does not appear to have been used for the children right away. It is not until 1811 that Joseph Runyon (who had been serving as an Elder in the "fraim house") moved into "the loghouse to teach school" and other journal notes tell us the children were collected there in 1811. Their stay was apparently brief: On January 7, 1813 the North Family "mov'd up to the log school house ... it stood about 20 rods north of the three storyed Center stone house, then occupied by the School Family."

Runyons were again among those sharing the "fraim house" in December 1813 when Martin Runyon & family arrived at Pleasant Hill, with some remaining until January 1815. Later in 1815, Patience and Martin Runyon moved from the West Family to the North Family, Matilda Runyon moved from the North Family to the West Family, and Betsy Runyon moved from the East Family to the West Family. By the end of August 1816, a staggering 106 members comprised the West Family alone. Housing them must have been a full-time job.

The earliest buildings at Pleasant Hill faced west, in keeping with the tradition of the Shaker communities in the east.  But since prevailing winds in this part of Kentucky come from the southwest, the Believers asked for and were granted permission to reorient their structures. Turning the long sides to the west took advantage of solar heat, allowing more light to penetrate the interior. 

The Shaker Millennial Laws dictated materials and colors:  Dwelling houses should be either limestone or brick, outbuildings brick or painted clapboard (in colors of oxblood red, brown, ocher), interior floors should be stained reddish-yellow in the shops, and wood trim should be stained dark red for baseboards and blue for pinrails.

The East Family Dwelling, of Shaker-made brick, was completed in 1819 (and by 1826 Mercy Runyon was living in its Elders room). 

The Meeting House,  spiritual center of the community, was completed in 1820. Its first floor was constructed free of pillars to provide space for dancing during worship. Second floor apartments housed the village ministry which later included George Runyon.

In April 1826 a family was established at the grist mill composed chiefly of the former North Family. One of its elders was Sister Marcy Runyon.

The East Family Dwelling, the West Family Dwelling (completed 1822), and the Meeting House (1820) are all mature works of Micajah Burnett. The massive grey limestone Center Family Dwelling is considered his crowning achievement. Begun in 1824 and completed in 1834, the Center Family Dwelling served as the home of the First Order, "such persons as have had sufficient time and opportunity practically to prove the faith and manner of life of the Society, and who are prepared to enter freely, fully, and voluntarily into a united and consecrated interest." At almost 25,000 square feet, it was the largest building at Pleasant Hill. The limestone blocks ("Kentucky marble") were quarried locally from the Kentucky River palisades at the eastern edge of the Shaker property. William Runyon likely played a role in the fitting of the stones used in the Center dwelling, the foundation of the Meeting House, and many other structures at Pleasant Hill. In the 1850 census his occupation is listed as stone mason. 

The Center Family Dwelling housed as many as eighty Believers. Among them were William Runyon and Charlotte Runyon, and Joseph's wife Jane "Ginny" Runyon. Shaker journals tell us she moved from the shop to the Center dwelling in December 1842 and are precise to the point of saying she was given the "middle room 2nd story."  

The Trustee's Office, with its beautiful twin spiral staircases (also designed by the brilliant Micajah Burnett), was completed in 1839. This building served as offices and living quarters of the legal and financial leaders of the community, the trustees. Charlotte (Sally C.) Runyon was among the first to live here. Jane Sutton, Joseph Runyon, and Martin Runyon also served as trustees over the years. 

In total, the Shakers built over 250 structures at Pleasant Hill. Thirty-four of the surviving buildings were restored beginning in 1966. More on the architecture of Pleasant Hill can be found in the book Antebellum Architecture of Kentucky by Clay Lancaster (1991). And for some interesting column, balustrade, dormer, and staircase designs at Pleasant Hill check out Outside Sources for Shaker Building at Pleasant Hill by Mary Rae Chemotti (1981). For Shaker dwelling house architecture in general see Julie Nicoletta's article The Architecture of Control - Shaker Dwelling Houses and the Reform Movement in Early-Nineteenth-Century America.