................... Our Shaker Heritage ~ research on the Runyon family at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky ... and more!
Showing posts with label agriculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agriculture. Show all posts
5/04/2020
3/12/2018
Society of "Harmless, Dreamy Enthusiasts"
THE MILLENNIAL CHURCH [SHAKERS.]
The implantation of this society of harmless, dreamy enthusiasts, on the soil of Kentucky, and in the Mississippi Valley, generally, was a result of the Great Revival ... an ultimate outgrowth of the Presbyterian church. But little need be said about it. It has done no good, and comparatively but little harm, religiously. It was, especially during its early and medieval history in the west, of no small advantage to the agricultural, horticultural and mechanical interest of those neighborhoods in which its societies were located. The Shakers, wild and vague in their religious notions, but wise and practical in their management of their material resources, were the fore-runners in the improvement of live stock, agricultural and mechanical implements, and the methods of farming and gardening. On this account, if for no other reason, they deserve a brief notice.
They are a frugal, industrious people, and have acquired considerable wealth. Their religious tenets are too silly and absurd to be worth studying.
this description comes from History of Kentucky Baptists From 1769 to 1885 by J.H. Spencer, publication date 1886
The implantation of this society of harmless, dreamy enthusiasts, on the soil of Kentucky, and in the Mississippi Valley, generally, was a result of the Great Revival ... an ultimate outgrowth of the Presbyterian church. But little need be said about it. It has done no good, and comparatively but little harm, religiously. It was, especially during its early and medieval history in the west, of no small advantage to the agricultural, horticultural and mechanical interest of those neighborhoods in which its societies were located. The Shakers, wild and vague in their religious notions, but wise and practical in their management of their material resources, were the fore-runners in the improvement of live stock, agricultural and mechanical implements, and the methods of farming and gardening. On this account, if for no other reason, they deserve a brief notice.
They are a frugal, industrious people, and have acquired considerable wealth. Their religious tenets are too silly and absurd to be worth studying.
this description comes from History of Kentucky Baptists From 1769 to 1885 by J.H. Spencer, publication date 1886
2/19/2018
A Village of Rare Beauty and Neatness
"Pleasant Hill is a small village of rare beauty and neatness situated on a commanding eminence about one mile from the Kentucky River, on the turnpike road from Lexington to Harrodsburg and seven miles from the latter place. It belongs exclusively to that orderly and industrious society called 'Shakers' and contained in 1870 a population of 362, divided into families from sixty to eighty each. Their main edifice is a large, handsome and costly structure built of Kentucky marble, the others, generally, are built of brick and all admirably arranged for comfort and convenience. The external and internal arrangement and neatness of their dwellings, the beauty and luxuriance of their gardens and fields, the method and economy displayed in their manufacturing and mechanical establishments, their orderly and flourishing schools, their sleek and well fed stock are all characteristic of this singular people and evidence a high degree of comfort and prosperity."
This is how, according to History of Kentucky, Vol. 5 (published 1922, Chicago) by Charles Kerr, a Kentucky historian writing circa 1870, described Pleasant Hill in his write-up of long time resident Dr. Pennebaker. Pennebaker was brought to the society as a boy by his uncle, Dr. Shain, after his parents both died within a week of each other.
History of Kentucky expands on the description with: Outside of Mercer County this unique settlement is seldom heard of by Kentuckians, though at one time it was a thriving and prosperous community ... The first house was built in this settlement in 1805. The community supported its own flour, flax and saw mills, and was practically independent of the outside world. It was a community undertaking, and all the lands were owned and operated in common, and the products from the mills and looms were of a fine quality of wool, linen and cotton cloth. Today only a few of the old sect remain, the mills and shops having long gone to decay, though the houses of the village were built so substantially that they stand as firm as 100 years ago.
This is how, according to History of Kentucky, Vol. 5 (published 1922, Chicago) by Charles Kerr, a Kentucky historian writing circa 1870, described Pleasant Hill in his write-up of long time resident Dr. Pennebaker. Pennebaker was brought to the society as a boy by his uncle, Dr. Shain, after his parents both died within a week of each other.
History of Kentucky expands on the description with: Outside of Mercer County this unique settlement is seldom heard of by Kentuckians, though at one time it was a thriving and prosperous community ... The first house was built in this settlement in 1805. The community supported its own flour, flax and saw mills, and was practically independent of the outside world. It was a community undertaking, and all the lands were owned and operated in common, and the products from the mills and looms were of a fine quality of wool, linen and cotton cloth. Today only a few of the old sect remain, the mills and shops having long gone to decay, though the houses of the village were built so substantially that they stand as firm as 100 years ago.
2/16/2016
With chickens in a yard
“Portrait of Jane Sutton with chickens in a yard
between buildings,” part of the Winterthur Shaker photographs and postcards collection.
This photo looks like it must have been taken at the southwest corner of the
Trustee's Office, as that is the only large brick building that has a back addition flush with
the front on its west side. This is the spot where visitors approach from the
parking lot today.
The photo appeals to me for three reasons. First, it
shows action - farm work in progress - rather than the typical "sit on the
steps for your portrait" shot. Second, Jane is a Runyon descendant (granddaughter of Joseph and Jane/Ginny). Third, it shows that Pleasant Hill was a working farm
in the way that you might expect a Shaker farm to be... orderly but not
perfect, and not pristine as a visit to the restored village today might suggest.
7/19/2014
Accounting Records
Income and expense analyses for the year ended March 31, 1841 shows that the Pleasant Hill Shakers made:
$124.26 on leather transactions
$1,074.07 from the sale of linseed oil
$2,177.18 from the sale of hogs
$1,570.50 from the sale of cattle
$379.00 on horse transactions
$2,468.55 from the sale of garden seeds
Revenues from the sale of leather, cattle, horses, and garden seeds were consistently good throughout the period 1830-1850. Revenues from the manufacture and sale of linseed oil were extremely good during the late 1830′s when linseed oil sold for $1.00 to $1.25 a gallon.
Income from the sale of hogs was consistently good during the period until 1848 when a prohibition against the use of hog meat was made mandatory in all Shaker communities. This prohibition eliminated one of the best sources of revenues for the Pleasant Hill Shakers [Ham, p. 189].
In 1842, the community paid out $2,162.50 for 7205/6 roods of stone fencing at $3.00 per rood. A rood is a unit of length varying locally from five and one-half to eight yards. Over twenty miles of stone fencing was constructed around Pleasant Hill over a twenty-five year period from 1826 to 1852 [Ham, p. 136].
More on Shaker Accounting Records at Pleasant Hill: 1830-1850 can be found here.
$124.26 on leather transactions
$1,074.07 from the sale of linseed oil
$2,177.18 from the sale of hogs
$1,570.50 from the sale of cattle
$379.00 on horse transactions
$2,468.55 from the sale of garden seeds
Revenues from the sale of leather, cattle, horses, and garden seeds were consistently good throughout the period 1830-1850. Revenues from the manufacture and sale of linseed oil were extremely good during the late 1830′s when linseed oil sold for $1.00 to $1.25 a gallon.
Income from the sale of hogs was consistently good during the period until 1848 when a prohibition against the use of hog meat was made mandatory in all Shaker communities. This prohibition eliminated one of the best sources of revenues for the Pleasant Hill Shakers [Ham, p. 189].
In 1842, the community paid out $2,162.50 for 7205/6 roods of stone fencing at $3.00 per rood. A rood is a unit of length varying locally from five and one-half to eight yards. Over twenty miles of stone fencing was constructed around Pleasant Hill over a twenty-five year period from 1826 to 1852 [Ham, p. 136].
More on Shaker Accounting Records at Pleasant Hill: 1830-1850 can be found here.
5/12/2014
On This Date in 1818 ...
from the Shaker journals:
"William Badgett was appointed farm Deacon in place of Philip Lineback who mov'd to the West Family and the insuing winter William Badgett was releas'd and all the farms belonging to the Church was given into the hands of the public Deacons."
"William Badgett was appointed farm Deacon in place of Philip Lineback who mov'd to the West Family and the insuing winter William Badgett was releas'd and all the farms belonging to the Church was given into the hands of the public Deacons."
4/04/2014
This Month in 1859 ...
As early as 1811 the Pleasant Hill society had joint ownership with Union Village of the bull named Shaker. They also used Buzzard. Both of these animals were prominent in the herd books of that time. In April 1859, when William Runyon and C. Todd went to Alexander's [local cattle sale] to get Sirius, it was presumably not to purchase but to make arrangements for stud service.
from The Kentucky Shakers, Julia Neal, 1982
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