Horse and Buggy Country

Mennonite transportation

It's still interesting, even after 15 years here, to live in a neighborhood with a large number of Mennonite families.

In fact, our two nearest neighbors are Mennonite families. One family shares our lane -- they live about 1/4 mile from us. Our other Mennonite neighbors bought the farmland that originally went with our house. They live nearer to us, but we don't share a road so we don't see them quite as often.

The Mennonites around Hopkinsville often hire a car if they are going to town, and it has become a small industry around here to "haul Mennonites", as people say. It seems to be a good part-time job for retired people. Dennis has been doing some driving for our two neighbors. This brings in about enough money to keep gas in the cars.

I saw the horse and buggy in the photo above at a little Mennonite store near Fairview, KY -- the Pennysaver Market. Here's a bit of wisdom that is posted near their cash register: "The best way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your wallet."

This buggy is not too spiffy. It looks like it has seen some hard use. Our Mennonite neighbor boy who is Keely's age (21) has a really good-looking new buggy with a fancy polished wooden console inside it.

This young man has been dating a girl from the local Mennonite church for several years. Not long ago, his dad mentioned buying a little piece of land nearby and said that a house would be built there soon. We didn't ask any questions, but we are guessing that there will be a wedding after the house is built.

One final thing about buggies -- I believe that the Mennonites would call the vehicle in the photo a "carriage", not a buggy, but we English (non-Mennonite) people carelessly call them all "buggies".



Related posts:
Seen at Lowes
View Across the Field


One year ago today, I posted an old-time story about crossing the creek that our neighbor lady told me.