COUNTRY Amish tour - Tomah, Wisconsin
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11 The Amish chose the Tomah area for the rich and fertile farmland, low real estate prices, and the lay of land. They also chose this area because it was far from a city of any size, which might influence their youth to the worldly ways – and yet close enough to a small town that has exactly what they need. A bank, post office, grocery store, hardware store and a feed mill. The Amish in this area have rapidly increase in population in the past years, now growing to over 200 families. The average family will have as many as 10- 14 children. The Amish community is divided into several church districts. Each church district is led by a Bishop, two Ministers, and a Deacon. Most Amish are farmers, but many have taken up a craft or trade to make their living. The Amish way of life revolves around the family and their church community. Quilting bees, barn raisings, and Sunday services in the home are just a few of the ways the Amish keep the family unit strong. The Amish school their children in their own one room schoolhouse where all eight grades are taught. The children start school at age 6 and will usually complete all of their schooling by the time they are 13 or 14. No higher education is allowed as this might lead to losing them to the English culture. The three basics: reading, writing, and arithmetic are all that are required in the Amish schools. Next, you will find a self-guided driving tour through our Amish community south of Tomah! COUNTRY Amish tour
Transcript of COUNTRY Amish tour - Tomah, Wisconsin
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The Amish chose the Tomah area for the rich and fertile farmland, low real estate prices, and the lay of land. They also chose this area because it was far from a city of any size, which might influence their youth to the worldly ways – and yet close enough to a small town that has exactly what they need. A bank, post office, grocery store, hardware store and a feed mill.
The Amish in this area have rapidly increase in population in the past years, now growing to over 200 families. The average family will have as many as 10-14 children.
The Amish community is divided into several church districts. Each church district is led by a Bishop, two Ministers, and a Deacon. Most Amish are farmers, but many have taken up a craft or trade to make their living.
The Amish way of life revolves around the family and their church community. Quilting bees, barn raisings, and Sunday services in the home are just a few of the ways the Amish keep the family unit strong. The Amish school their children in their own one room schoolhouse where all eight grades are taught. The children start school at age 6 and will usually complete all of their schooling by the time they are 13 or 14. No higher education is allowed as this might lead to losing them to the English culture. The three basics: reading, writing, and arithmetic are all that are required in the Amish schools.
Next, you will find a self-guided driving tour through our Amish community south of Tomah!
COUNTRYAmishtour
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To begin your tour, travel south down Superior Ave/Hwy 12. Leaving Tomah, this road not only speeds up, but changes to Hwy 131. You will know when you are entering the Amish community by the yellow caution sign with an Amish buggy on it. At the top of the hill you will need to turn left onto County Hwy A.
Travel 2.3 miles down County Hwy A before taking a right on to King Road. King Road is where you will find the majority of the Amish families’ homes in our area. Your trek on King Road is only about 8 miles, so be sure to drive slow and take it all in. Be aware of the sharp turns and pedestrians.
At the end of King Road you will be taking a right onto Hwy 71. Since this is a Highway you will need to increase your speed here. You can travel about 3 miles before turning right, back on to Hwy 131 north to Tomah or you can continue on the trip to Down a Country Road Amish Gift Shops & Tours.
If you choose to go further, continue on Hwy 131 (which turns into Hwy 71/131) through the communities of Wilton and Ontario. After about 11 miles (in the village of Ontario) turn right onto Hwy 33. Follow Hwy 33 for around 8 miles, this will lead you to Down a Country Road Amish Gift Shops & Tours (on your left hand side).
GIFT SHOPS &AMISH TOURS
12651 St. Hwy. 33, Cashton, Wi 54619downacountryroad.com • 608-654-5318
While on your tour of the Amish countryside south of Tomah, please be sure to watch out for horse-drawn buggies, wagons, and pedestrians. They travel slowly and should be approached with care. Sundays are especially heavily trafficked due to Amish families attending religious services, visiting relatives, etc.
Amish homes are easily identified by their lack of modern machinery. They are usually painted white. The majority of the Amish farms also have windmills. Be sure to take note of “additions” to their homes; an addition generally means a son has married, and the family now needs an additional room for a new couple.
On the next page you will find a map to guide you on your way.It’s an Amish Area Woodworking, Craft and Greenhouse Map (last updated in 2012)!
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King
King
94
Norwalk
A
181715
1619
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14
1312
11
23
24
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10987
65432
1
214140
38
36
35
37 39 42
43
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45 46
48
49
56
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50
51
52 53
33
34
30
32
31
2829
27
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73
7271
68
6961
6259
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67
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74
Mendota
Meadow
Mascot
Mascot
ST MARY’SRIDGE
Nesbit
Nep
tune
UCashton
Olympic
Niagara
Niagara
Newport
Orange
Nickel
New
port
Omega
Nevada
Nev
ada
Omnibus
W. Norwegian Valley
Irish Ridge
Parker
Little
Ridge
24 V
alle
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Sand Hill
Mas
t
Dell
Del
l 24 Valley
Sale
m R
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Woods Ridge
Wan
grid
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Cary
Wang
Kelbel
Knapp Valley
Scharping
Ogden
Dell
Dell
Hill
top
Dell
Dell
Hoff Valley
Hof
f Val
ley
Opus
Opa
que
Opera
Opal
131
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A
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71
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21 Tomah
K E Y
Self Guided Amish Driving Tour (pg. 11)
Elroy-Sparta State Bike Trail
Amish Stops
Back toTomah
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Wilton
Ontario
13171
131
3333
131
5758
CRAFTS1. Down a Country Road2. Keim’s Krafts & Trout9. Valley Farm Parts11. Valley View Greenhouse14. Meadow Valley Furn.36. Jacob Detweiler41. Hickory Bent Furniture51. Christ Hershberger55. Sunrise Bakery71. Rolling Acres Wood
QUILTS4. Country Side Bakery17. Harness Shop30. Irish Ridge Sweet Shop41. Hickory Bent Furniture71. Rolling Acres Wood
WOODWORKING3. Valley Woodworking5. Chair Caning6. Pleasant Hill Log Cabin7. Brush Creek Antler Mount.14. Meadow Valley Furn.15. Hidden Valley Wood.16. West bend Furniture19. J&D Hickory Bent Furn.21. Oak & Bedroom Sets
22. Detweiller Workshop 223. Custom Kitchen Cabs.24. Gingreich, Neil & Mahlon26. Log Cabins28. Rueben Miller29. Meadow Ridge Cabins32. Hill & Valley Furniture38. Detweiller Workshop 339. Shady Maple Workshop40. M&M Bedrooms41. Hickory Bent Furniture44. Coffee & End Tables45. Shady Nook Lawn Furn.48. Levi J.R. Miller50. Hershberger’s Carpen.51. Christ Hershberger59. Customer Barn Board Furn.60. Cedar Chest61. Nisley’s Country Wood.63. Ridgeland Oak Wood.64. Custom Woodworking65. Oak Woodworking66. Country Lane Wood.67. Rustic Cedar Furniture68. Daniel Yoder Cabinets69. Hershberger Cabinets71.Rolling Acres Wood.72. Miller’s Rustic Furniture73. Valley Wood Products
BAKERY/CANDY4. Country Side Bakery30. Irish Ridge Sweet Shop33. Amish WM35. Hill & Vale Bakery37. Miller’s Produce & Candy49. Andy Miller Candies54. Maple Grove Bakery55. Sunrise Bakery66. Country Lane Wood.
PRODUCE/FOOD 13. CDC Grocery Outlet17. Harness Shop33. Amish WM
36. Jacob Detweiler37. Miller’s Produce & Candy42. Cashton Produce Auct.43. Old Country Cheese46. A&M Bulk Foods52. Pine Grove Candy Shoppe51. Christ Hershberger57. Pasture Pride Cheese58. Produce
GREENHOUSES11. Valley View Green.12. Brush Creek Green.24. Gingreich, Neil & Mahlon25. Miller’s Greenhouse
27. Irish Ridge Green.31. J&R Greenhouse50. Hershberger’s Carpen.53. Hickory Valley Green.70. M&M Greenhouse
MISCELLANEOUS7. Brush Creek Antler Mount.8. Borntreger’s Leather10. Band Saw Sharpening18. Y Saddle Shop20. Saddle Repair Shop47. Green Pastures Poultry56. Tarps & Upholstery62. Sunrise Metal Shop
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AngeloAmish map
