DESTINATIONS // Living History
Go Squeeze a Sheep
Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm offers a glimpse into pre-Revolution PA and its German heritage
by RQ
EXCERPT //
New Yorkers and Philadelphians already know the Pocono Mountains as a place to get away that doesn’t require a five- or eight-hour haul for some relaxation. You’ve got your choice of bed-and-breakfasts, recreational camps, the Appalachian Trail, ski slopes, fishing, and antiquing. Delaware Water Gap, home to the famous Deer Head Inn—a long-time jazz oasis—is dotted with lakeside cabins and walking trails.
But if you’re looking for a place to bring the kids for a day that will take you back in time, try Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, which is dedicated to preserving the farming culture of Pennsylvania’s German communities. In the 1680s, migrants from Germany began settling in the colony in earnest, bringing with them their family farming practices and culture. The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) had destabilized German territories as Catholic and Protestant factions fought for control of lands under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire. In addition to the violence, widespread famine and disease sent many Germans on a quest for a better life in America, and, given the nature of the conflict they were escaping, Pennsylvania’s religious tolerance was of particular interest to them. (For a wonderful fictional account of this time in Europe, check out Teach the Children to Pray by Rebecca Harwick. Don’t let the title fool you, there are some racy pages in there, readers. War or no, love is always in the background). //
For full text and images, consider reading RQ in print, on a Sunday afternoon, sun streaming through your window, coffee in hand, and nary a phone alert within sight or in earshot… just fine words, fine design, and the opportunity to make a stitch in time. // Subscribe or buy a single issue today. // Print is dead. Long live print. //