An interesting article in the Washington Post, which I found via Clever Dude, on the newest trend in home-bulding: Amish-built modular homes.
This was a fascinating article, but I found it to be a little … well … uneducated. Anyone that’s been around Holmes County would question the Post’s comment that the Amish have been out of the home-building business. Having been a frequent visitor to Amish country in his college days — something about dating a woman from Berlin but we don’t talk about that around the house – Toby found the concept to be amazing.
Anything built by the Amish is perceived to be of higher quality, whether deserved or not. However, the hardest part of having them do large projects is the cost associated with transportation. However, having them build modular units is an exceptional use of resources. The finaly honed craftsmen are able to apply their trade, without having to arrange for a driver outside their normal area. And the purchaser gets a great product.
This could be the movement that will help modulars differentiate themselves from their mobile home brothern.
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February 9th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Hi Sadie/Toby
You are right on Amish home-building…in some communities I’ve been in, that seems to be almost the only thing the men do nowadays.
Amish biz has been on a sharp upward trend for the past couple decades as they have gradually been moving off the farm in Lancaster, North Indy and other settlements.
The quality perception issue doesn’t hurt–in the Amish Enterprise book that the article mentions, the vast majority of survey respondents ranked Amish products as being of higher quality than similar non-Amish products.
The Amish have a good thing going, and they know it. Good for them.
And good point on not having the expense of a driver. If they’re not going to hire an ‘Amish taxi’, most Amish contractors I know have to have a non-Amish worker/driver on the payroll as well. That means they’re paying social security, which the Amish employees are exempt from. Plus they must lease their own truck either directly or through a third party, or pay for usage of the non-Amish driver’s vehicle.
Erik Wesner/Amish America
February 10th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Erik,
Thanks for stopping by! I agree 100 percent. The Amish are simply like any other religious sect. You have good, bad, and the majority are right in the middle.
I grew up in eastern Knox County and spent a lot of time in Holmes County and learned alot … and it was amazing how similar to us they are. And of course the various degrees of Amish/Mennonite are also crazy.
My personal favorite was always the “Black Car Amish” that had a church out on St. Rte. 241. It looked like an FBI convention when you went by on Sunday morning.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
interested in bulding new home