Near Bowling Green is one of two Shaker villages in Kentucky. This one was founded in 1807 and was an active community until 1922. The Shakers had views that were very progressive at the time. Each Shaker village was governed by both a female and male leader. They shared responsibility for everything from spiritual to financial matters.
When this village was first founded, there were several family groups and one family was the Black family that lived separately until they merged into the existing families around 1820. From that point on, they lived side by side. This was a place were people of color had opportunities that would not have been available outside of the village. Each family was made up of some men and some women. However, living in a slave state (thought Kentucky did not end up joining the Confederacy), the Shakers at times participated in the slave economy by hiring farm workers who were slaves but not within their community .
The Shakers did live a life of celibacy so they depended on converts to grow. Many single women with children joined and it was not unusual that orphans would be left on their doorstep. Consequently, there were always young people and an active school in the village. Many of the children that came with their parents stayed once they reached adulthood but most of those that came alone did decide to leave once they turned 18.
Yes, they allow small well behaved dogs to visit the Village. We are finding that more often that not, Kismet is welcome.
The Shakers are known for their beautiful furniture designs and there were ample examples throughout the tour. They built their furniture and buildings the way they lived their lives, with simplicity.
Their religion was a flavor of Christianity. They believe in the duality of God and that God created both male and female in God’s own image. Therefore, God is both Father and Mother. Salvation was an ongoing process. During their worship, they did a kind of dance that caused others to name them “Shakers” and they took on the label as their own.
The Civil War was hard on this village, being located in area that saw constant fighting and soldiers from both sides who often came to the village to obtain food. But it was the arrival of the railroad that finally sealed the fate of the village as many left. I guess the appeals of the larger world were too much to resist.
Some of the other Shake communities in the northeast date back to 1790 and they often sent elders to help in the establishment of new communities. The last Shaker community in the US is in Maine, the Sabbathday Lake village is still an active community and was founded in 1794.
The Shakers always accepted technology and innovation. In the early 1900s, telephone service and electric lights arrived. The Shakers constructed over 200 buildings during there time her. Unfortunately, when the village was auctioned off at the end (with the proceeds going to the remaining Shaker residents), it did not end up in the hands of someone interested in preserving their history. Only 9 of those original structures still stand.