Still touring

Yesterday's pictures left off after touring Bill's home. Then we headed for Bill's basement. Bill is a tinsmith and has his shop in the basement. Bill is also a bit of a pack rat and has most everything else in his basement.

A rare Amana wringer washer was the first thing that caught my eye.

 Some of Bill's wares with the patterns used hanging on the wall.

 some more of the tools of the trade.

 Bill has apparently liked Quaker Oats his entire life.

Once we left Bill's we headed toward one on Middle Amana's communal kitchens. This one was left intact just as it was in 1932 when the communal way of life ended. On the way we passed by the Hahn Bakery.

Each community had a bakery that supplied bread and baked items to all the communal kitchens in their particular village.  This bakery is still in operation as it has been since 1866 and is still run by a Mrs. Hahn, a descendant of the original founders. Mrs Hahn is 70 years old and she is up every morning at 3:00 am baking bread in her brick oven. If you ever have eaten at the Ox Yoke Inn this is where their bread comes from.

The we headed into the communal kitchen. The kitchen had a staff of 4 or 5 people and prepared meals for 25 to 30 folks per meal. The patrons were assigned a feeding time and were given 15 to 20 minutes to eat. No talking was allowed.

 This is the brick stove with some of the cookware that was used  in the day.

 This is the drain sink where vegetables were prepared and dishes washed.

 Another view of the kitchen, compact and functional.

This oven was built right on site and is still in working order.

 A typical weekly menu. Sunday you got three meals and the rest of the week you got five. Time was very regulated throughout the day and would have been the same day after day.

 An typical dining table, plain and unadorned. The men and women sat at separate tables and again no talking was allowed. Eat and git was the rule.

 An original Amana icebox.

Today we are having a race to see which can get the highest, the temperature or the humidity. Right now they are tied at 80 and it's working hard to make being outside uncomfortable. I might have to make my way to the ice cream cooler at the quick stop on the corner to better enjoy the good life.