We spent the entire day in main Amana doing the tourist thing. First we drove to the far east end of Amana where we visited the Woolen Mill, Millstream Brewing Co., Kitchen Sink, and Furniture & Clock Shop. The Amana Woolen Mill was our first stop. We watched a short video on the history of the mill, and the equipment and process used to make woolen items. The mill was established in 1857 and all kinds of woolen goods were made there until 1923 when a blast at the nearby flour mill destroyed most of the mill buildings and equipment. A W-3 loom used to make blankets survived the blast and a later model of it is on display in the room where blankets are still being made.
Woolen and cotten blankets, throws, and scarves are now being made at the mill and the modern computerized looms make them in short order. Amana Woolen Mill products as well as other clothing items are stocked in the sales store--fashionable styles for men and women, and hats and accessories.
W-3 loom at the Amana Woolen Mill
Computer-driven blanket loom at the Amana Woolen Mill
A 6.5 mile mill race was begun in 1865 and completed in 1869, dug by the Amanas and drawn off the Iowa River. It provided water power to the woolen and flour mills. Year by year the mill race silted in, and dredging was done with difficulty until a steam-powered dredger was purchased by the Amana society. A team of men lived and worked on the dredge, with the nearest colony providing food for the workers. It is said that the portion of the race nearest West Amana is the deepest because the food was so good in that colony area.
After the mills cut back operation in the 1980's the mill race was used for hydro-power electricity, enough for about 125 homes. The levees for the mill race were damaged by heavy flooding of the Iowa River in 1993 that made electricity production impossible. Its usefulness was ended. Patrice took this photo of the race and a smoke stack for the woolen mill near it.
Amana mill race
After some shopping at the mill we wandered across the street the the Millstream Brewing Co. where we sampled and purchased some beer (Amber and Stout).
Millstream Brewing Co.
Marge an Jerry tasting beer at the Millstream Brewing Co.
We visited the Amana Furniture and Clock Shop makes the world famous and beautiful Amana grandfather clocks and wonderful solid, traditional furniture--made from solid walnut, cherry, and other hardwoods. A gallery observation deck allows visitors to observe the woodworkers at their jobs. Some of their work benches are from the early era of the original furniture builders.
We had lunch at Serena's again. The local restaurants serve lunches family style, with cottage cheese, coleslaw, sauerkraut, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, bread, jam and the entree. We just wanted a light lunch, and today's beefy onion soup was wonderful.
In central Amana we visited antique, craft, and gift shops and stopped for some ice cream. The hot and humid day was tiring us out by this time so we decided to visit a couple quilt shops and the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse, and call it a day. The Good Quilts shop had mostly outdoor metal ornaments, thrift-shop junky stuff, and about 25 quilts for sale--all made in China! Patrice and Marge left there rather quickly. The Heritage Designs Quilting and Needlework shop "an inspiration" said the ladies. Dozens of quilts and wall hangings were displayed as models for the kits for sale. The old barn was bright and airy, and the bolts of cloth, notions, books, embriodery threads, fat quarters and eights, were engaging and fun for the ladies to look at.
We ended our visit to Amana at the Meat Shop and Smokehouse where Patrice and I bought some of the famous Amana sausage, bratts, and ham. Patrice and I drove 15 miles to the town of Marengo to scout out our route for tomorrow--looking for smoother road for pulling our fifth wheels than when we came in.
We enjoyed our visit to the Amana Colonies, and we notice with sadness some of the inevitable changes in the flavor. There are fewer of the local Amana people running the businesses--many outside businesses rent the buildings. It is harder to find many of the older buildings--they have been covered with aluminum siding, and the trellises that were a recognizable feature are gone. There are many more modern homes in the outlying colonies. Thank goodness the museums are preserving some of the old ways--we loved going into the communal kitchen and the cooperage, for instance. More recreational tours and walking and hiking trails are offered. Change is inevitable, and survival by offering more tourist opportunities is understandable.
Tomorrow we forge ahead, ever westward.
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