HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE

June 22, 2014By Roland Pabst4

A piece of American history.

The Hancock Shaker Village is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Berkshires is a beautiful area on its own. Lenox, with it’s famous Tanglewood concerts, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Stockbridge and West Stockbridge,with the great Six Depot Roastery and Cafe (see my earlier blog); the Norman Rockwell Museum; and the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, just to mention a few, make for a pleasurable and totally relaxing trip. In the middle of all this is the National Historic Landmark of the Shaker Village.

A short extract from the Hancock Shaker Village webpage.

History

“The Shakers are one of the most intriguing religious movements in American history, and considered among the most successful societies ever to have flourished in this country. The religious expression took the form of singing and dance.

Shakers came to America from Manchester, England, in 1774. They called themselves The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Coming. In 1774, Mother Ann made a monumental decision to lead Shaker converts on a journey to America, seeking the freedom to live, work, and worship according to their main religious tenets: celibacy, communal life, and confession of sin. They also believed in racial and gender equality, simplicity, and pacifism. They dedicated their lives to creating a working heaven on Earth amidst the boundless opportunities presented by settlements of the New World.

The Shakers have made important contributions to American culture in their art, architecture, craftsmanship, music, government, agriculture, and commerce. They are renowned today for their plain architecture and furniture.

At the peak of its success in the 1840s, the Hancock community owned more than 3000 acres with about 5000 Shakers in total. More than 300 lived in Hancock. The Shakers do not marry. They governed themselves, but they did not try to avoid paying taxes, however they did not vote”

Today the Shaker Village operates as a living-history museum with 20 authentic Shaker buildings, costumed interpreters and a rich collection of Shaker furniture. Enjoy the garden with different smelling herbs, be surprised how well engineered the Machine Shop is. Renewable Energy was not a foreign word to the Shakers. Check out the incredible design of the Round Stone Barn, School Houses, Horse Barn, Discovery Room if you come with children and the Wood Poultry House & Farmyard.

This a great piece of American History.