Lexington, KY - As a volunteer Pleasant Hill Singer from 1996 to 2006, I enjoyed many visits to the restored Shaker Village near Harrodsburg, Ky. Many from Lexington have traveled there, but few visitors from Fayette County have seen Kentucky's other historic Shaker village -
South Union in Logan County, outside of Bowling Green.
The Shakers started South Union in 1807, just a few years after Pleasant Hill, and it closed in 1922. At its peak, the South Union Shakers had constructed 230 buildings. The Shakers were celibate, shared all property communally and believed in equality for all -
regardless of gender or race. They wrote many of their own religious songs and sang those without instrumental accompaniment. The Shakers were industrious, rising very early for a full work day. In addition to working a self-sufficient farm, they also created many items for sale, such as seeds, wood boxes and furniture. The Shakers often gave to the poor in their community and welcomed visitors to their meeting house where they prayed and sang.
A guest and I worked our way through many rooms of Shaker exhibits in the Centre House, which holds 40 rooms, has 20,000 square feet and displays many lovely examples of Shaker craftsmanship -
such as quartersawn oak floorboards and solid wood banisters. Horizontal wooden wall peg strips are peppered throughout the rooms, a traditional Shaker fixture on which you could hang coats, hats or even chairs when sweeping the floor.
The Meeting Room is located on the second floor and is almost like the in-house chapel, where the Shakers would sing and pray. Both Meeting Room and the Shaker Meeting Houses have bright and bouncy acoustics -
perfect for their singing worship. Just in view outside the window of the Centre House is an old mulberry tree. This is a reminder of the 200 mulberry trees planted by the Shakers on the premise ,used while they dabbled in silkworm production. Nearby buildings include the Milk and Smoke House. This two-story, brick building, built in 1835, showed lots of practical Shaker artifacts. There are small signs at the locations where some buildings no longer stand, giving the name of the building and construction date.
Across Shaker Museum Road is the 1846 Ministry Shop. The Spartan furnishings contrast with a cheerful yellow-painted floor. And behind that building, past the orchard, visitors can now view the newly restored 1875 Grain Barn.
As the afternoon waned we decided to relax at the Shaker Tavern, located just around the corner from the museum. We were warmly welcomed by hostess Jo Ann Moody, who is very knowledgeable and can provide answers to questions about the inn and restaurants and other tourist stops in Bowling Green. The Shaker Tavern was not actually a residence for the Shakers but rather a business investment, as they jobbed out the construction and took advantage of the commerce and tourists arriving on the railroad. The Shaker Tavern then operated for 30 years. The railroad lines are close to the inn's front porch. We heard the train run by a few times but I didn't find it bothersome. Jo Ann fixes a wonderful breakfast; if you stay there you may find other guests to meet and chat with.
Shaker Museum at South Union is located at 850 Shaker Museum Rd. in Auburn, Ky. For more information, call (800) 811-8379 or visit www.shakermuseum.com. They are open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday -
Saturday (1 - 5 p.m. Sunday) from March through November. Shaker Tavern Bed and Breakfast is located at 396 South Union Rd., Auburn, Ky. Call the Tavern at (800) 929-8701 or (270) 542-6801. The base room rate ranges from $70 to $80; two adjoining rooms with bath is $130.