May 30 - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Welcome to Pleasant Hill Shaker Village!

All the images herein were captured at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in Harrodsburg, KY. These original buildings were erected around 1800. Their superlative construction atop Kentucky limestone has enabled them to stand the test of time. We enjoyed a morning and early afternoon with Pete and Willie amidst the beautiful grounds.

Did you know:

• Shakers were originally the Wardley Society
• They became the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing
• Folks called them Shakers because they sang and cavorted around during services to such tunes as:
• Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
• All Shook Up
• Shake Baby Shake
• Shake Rattle and Roll
  while they were attempting to rid themselves of demons. The moniker stuck!
• Shakers believed in celibacy, albeit they had many adopted children. That's how they perpetuated there religious sect.
• They were believers that all men are created equal and thus, accepted all races and colors into their ranks.
• They were neutral during the Civil War while feeding, clothing and nursing both sides.
• They were pretty fair carpenters, builders, masons and farmers as well.

 The grounds are beautifully manicured by the current preservationists

There are only 1 or 2 remaining Shakers alive today. Their beliefs make recruitment a bit difficult in our modern society.

Yet another durable, stately structure that has lasted two centuries

 A current resident

The Pleasant Hill Shaker Village is fully functional today. Not only can you tour the buildings and grounds, you can also stay in the minimalist lodging facilities and partake of the hand grown delights of their working farm and gardens. Part of the tour included a comprehensive lecture/demonstration of growing your own food. They demonstrated planting, harvesting, composting, etc. all in a very impressive circular fashion. They buy only seeds and few, if any, powered equipment is utilized during the process. They are loyal to the original Shaker methodologies.

 Scottish style stacked stone fences rule in Lexington and the surrounding area.

A handsome circular stairwell inside the entrance to the restaurant.

Pleasant Hill provided a truly beautiful 3-4 hours of education and exploration. Their attention to detail has, in and of itself, provided a lasting legacy.