Belt and Pulley Wood Shop

Holmes County is in Ohio. It is located the eastern part of Ohio about halfway between Cleveland and Columbus. The county seat is Millersburg. Holmes County primarily consists of steep hills and narrow valleys.

Regions

• Ohio's Amish Country

Cities

• Baltic
• Berlin - The Heart of Ohio's Amish Country
• Charm - Home to Keim Lumber
• Big Prairie
• Glenmont
• Holmesville
• Killbuck
• Lakeville
• Millersburg
• Mt. Hope

• Walnut Creek
• Winesburg

Understand

The Amish, known as "the gentle people', comprise nearly half of the county's population (total population estimated at 40,000+) making this region the largest Amish settlement in the world. The area also has many Mennonites, who are also a part of The Anabaptist Movement that moved here from Europe, at the invitation of William Penn . When travelling to and driving in this area, be alert for the horse-drawn Amish buggies, pedestrians on the roads, children walking and livestock crossing and being herded on the roads, all have the right of way on the roads.

When you are visiting the towns and attractions in Holmes County, keep in mind that most of the people selling trinkets and wares as well as the shop owners are not Amish, although some are Mennonite. Items such as cheese, smoked meats, quilts and oak wood furniture most likely are manufactured and finished locally. (Some quilts are made in China, if making a purchase that can run into the thousands of dollars, make sure you know what you are buying)

The items or places you find branded "Amish" may or may not in fact be Amish. Amish do not use the word "Amish" as a marketing ploy; this is something invented by the "English" (as Amish refer to non-Amish). Usually you will find that merchants add terms like Amish Made or Amish Country to link a product to the Amish.

Photography: You should avoid taking photographs of Amish, Amish farms, Amish events, and especially Amish children. Why? This is, of course against their religion. Even asking permission is treading on their religious culture and would be considered quite rude or even racist in nature. This is a different culture and ethnic group of people with deep religious principals. Please be as considerate of their religion, as you would expect one to be of yours. It may be a bit overstated but, waiving a camera around in Holmes County is about as popular as waiving around a gun in a Chicago bar. Most benefit auctions have signs posted, "No Cameras/No Photography", you will find the same at livestock/exotics auctions at Mt. Hope.

The BEST place to begin one's trip to Ohio's Amish Country is the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, located just outside Berlin (pronounced BURR-linn, NOT Burr-LINN) on County Road 77. They offer a very moving tour of the 360-foot cyclorama (called the "Behalt" mural), and have a great documentary film titled, "The Amish: How They Survive." Take the tour and buy the film if you want to learn about Amish culture.

Talk

Being in the center of Ohio's Amish Country, the world's largest Amish settlement, much of the population is bi-lingual, speaking both English and a dialect of German called "Pennsylvania Dutch." Smaller children speak only this dialect until starting school. The name "Pennsylvania Dutch" is actually a mispronunciation of "Deutsch" or German. Church services are held in "high German," as opposed to the dialect.

Get in

Nashville

Holmes County is accessible from: I-71, I-77, and US 30

• State Route 83 running north and south from US Route 30 in Wooster, through Millersburg, to US Route 36 and 16 in Coshocton.
• State Route 39 running east and west from I-77 in Dover, through Walnut Creek, Berlin and Millersburg, exiting the west side of the county in Loudonville toward I-71.
• US Route 62 running east and west from I-77 in Canton, through Wilmot and Winesburg, on to Berlin and Millersburg, exiting the southwestern corner of the county toward Columbus.

Get around

Holmes County has the largest concentration of scenic byways in Ohio. Every major thoroughfare, state or US highway, is designated as a scenic byway, making it a great place to tour by car.

See

Unique to this area, is the Amish/Mennonite Benefit Auctions. These auctions provide funds for a variety of needs in the Community. Some are consignments, some are strictly donations. Most have food/meals, ice cream, pies, prepared by the locals and are quite reasonable and tasty. The auctions take place throughout the warmer months. They sell everything from quilts to furniture to farm machinery. Ads are in the local paper "The Budget". If you have never been to a Benefit Auction, it will be a real treat!!

Hot Item!

• Rainbow of Hope Benefit Auction, In July of each year. Held at the Mt Hope Auction. Benefit Auction 330-674-5062, [1].
• Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale. Held the first Saturday in August, Central Christian School, 3970 Kidron Road, proceeds go to the Mennonite Central Committee fund to assist with humanitarian efforts. Quilt sale is held in large tent. Featured on National Geographic. 
• Behalt, ☏ +1 330 893-3192. "Sistine Chapel of the Amish and Mennonites" - Mennonite and Amish Heritage Center, 5798 County Road 77, Berlin, pjmiller@wifi7.com. For a stunning visual depiction of the history of the Amish and Mennonite people, visit the Heritage Center's cyclarama. Tours of the huge 360 degree mural (10' x 265') are narrated by Mennonite guides. The cyclarama cost $6.50 per person and is highly recommended. The center also provides a free 15 minute video about the area and its population. 

Sleep

There are a variety of choices for sleep that range from larger hotels to small bed & breakfasts. For something a bit different you may want to look into the Bed & Breakfasts which are numerous, or even renting a small farm house for a night or two, which can be very pleasant. Do your homework online, there are a lot of choices. If heading for a B&B, make sure you have good directions, the rural roads can be confusing. If lost, just ask an Amish fellow. He most likely will be very polite and set you right.

Buy

Due to the geographic location of Ohio, some of the finest hardwoods in the world grow there and to the North. The Amish/Mennonites have developed a large cottage industry around hard woods. Furniture stores are scattered throughout the county offering these products which are usually manufactured without electricity. Some of the more unique and finer items can be found at the numerous benefit auctions throughout the warmer months, that are held to support the Amish/Mennonite schools, rest homes and medical needs of the community.

The Budget is a local newspaper, printed in Sugarcreek, Tuscarawas County and sent to the world wide Amish/Mennonite community. It is printed in English and available by single copy or subscription. There you can find most of the local happenings and Auction advertisement. It is very helpful to new visitors and those wanting to understand the Amish/Mennonite community.

Amish Oak

Quilts. Know what you are buying. Ask a knowledgeable party about them. There is quite a difference in the value and stiching. There is an annual Mennonite Relief Quilt Sale held at Kidron each year, that has been featured on National Geographic. If you go, parking is remote with a hay wagon ride to the sale/auction tents. Dress conservatively, wear old shoes.

Cheese. Award winning cheese of numerous variety is available, most made locally.

Jams, jellies and vegetables abound.

Bakery items. You will find numerous bakeries around the county. Just part of the Amish/Mennonite tradition. Made with sugar rather than corn sweetener. Great treat. Bring a cooler.

Horses/livestock. Traders heaven for those interested in livestock and "exotic" animals. The auction barn at Mount Hope seems to be the center for this activity selling herds of cows, sheep, goats, chickens, eggs, bakery items and so on each month surrounded by a somewhat primitive flea market. There are numerous horse sales and "exotic" sales throughout the year.

• The Budget, P.O. Box 249, 134 N. Factory St., Sugarcreek, OH 44681, ☏ +1 330 852-4634, fax: +1 330 852-4421. Amish/Mennonite Newspaper - printed in English- weekly paper.[2] Ask for the Amish Edition, same price, more info. 
• John's Furniture Gallery, Quality Amish-made furniture in oak, cherry, walnut, maple, white oak, plus upholstered furniture, Howard Miller clocks, home accessories. Open M-Sa 9AM-5PM Ohio, [3]
• Green Acres Furniture, Mt. Eaton (southeast Wayne County, accessed by State Route 241). One of the few places in Amish Country where furniture still is made and sold on the same location. Tour the workshop by request. www.GreenAcresFurniture.com
• Farmerstown Furniture, 5,000 square foot of Holmes Counties finest crafted furniture. They will custom build and finish. They also have a large inventory of furniture-restoration hardware. Farmerstown Furniture LTD, 3155 SR 557, Baltic, OH 43804 (three miles SE of Charm); voice mail +1 330 897-0406; hours: M-Sa 7AM-5PM closed Sunday.
• Lehman Hardware, toll-free: +1-888-438-5346. One Lehman Circle, Kidron. Full line of non-electric appliances, wood-burning stoves, oil lamps, furniture and hardware. 
• Mount Hope Auction/Farmers Produce Auction, P.O. Box 82, 8076 St Rt 241 Mt. Hope, OH 44660, ☏ +1 330 674-6188. Weekly auctions of livestock, horses, machinery, surrounded by primitive flea market. Other special auctions of furniture and exotics throughout the year. 
• Guggisberg Cheese, 5060 SR 557. Award winning cheese factory and showroom. 

Do

Shop till you drop. That is pretty much the goal of the majority of visitors to Holmes County.

In German it is pronounced:Ummmmmmm!

Visit the furniture stores. They feature locally produced hard wood products that are generally of very high quality. Farmerstown Furniture is one of the oldest stores in the area, and sold Amish-made furniture to local customers long before Amish furniture became so popular. The owners are Amish, and they are very nice people. Other good stops would be Homestead Furniture just outside Mt. Hope, Green Acres Furniture in nearby Mt. Eaton (southern Wayne County) and Walnut Creek Furniture. While Farmerstown Furniture specializes in much of the more-traditional looks, the others mentioned here feature many updated styles and finishes. If in Charm, stop at the restaurant across from Keim Lumber for some of the County's best food.

If in Sugarcreek, visit the consignment store behind the grocery store, for local crafts. A bit hard to find, but worth the effort.

Stop at the bakeries, try a fry pie. Local treat!!!!

Drink

While there are a few bars in Holmes County as well as carry-outs, Holmes County is not a "party town" due to its very conservative population.

Stay safe

State Route 39

Since the Amish/Mennonites are pacifists by nature, the threat from them is nonexistent. Your main threat is on the roads from sightseeing drivers not paying attention to the often slow or stopped traffic. Food purchased at the numerous road side bakeries, cheese plants or home made canned items like jellies or preserves should be considered quite safe. If you buy farm eggs, they will likely be very fresh and tasty.

Animals:Keep in mind that this is not a petting zoo type situation. The animals may bite, kick or step on you, or especially your children. Never allow your child to walk up on a horse, buggy, or other farm animal. Animals in pens may be more accessible, but can pass on other diseases. Touching should be avoided.

Go next

Part of what has kept Holmes County and surrounding areas rural is the lack of major highway access -- both a blessing and a curse. Major access points are U.S. Route 30 (an east-west route), I-77 and I-71, both of which run north/south, and connect with US 30.

State Routes 62 and 39 are the major thoroughfares in Amish Country, and following them will get you to all the major tourist destinations, and offer some wonderful side roads. Don't be afraid to venture off the paved roads and hit the gravel -- this is the best way to experience the Amish countryside. Don't worry; sooner or later you are bound to find a main road again!