Modern Day Wagon Train Leads to Amish Living in Adams County, Ohio

04-16-2008

West Union, Ohio – April 15, 2007 – When Amish country has more tourists than Amish, some Amish begin anew in an out of the way place where serenity is as common as the morning dew.

 

Amish families have packed the horse and buggy in a modern day version of a wagon train to relocate to the vast countryside of Adams County, Ohio. One of the reasons this is a desired place to live is that it is an established Amish community, anchored by the stability of Miller’s Furniture, Bakery and Bulk Foods.

 

The community is highly concentrated on Wheat Ridge Road inspiring the nickname “Wheat Ridge Amish” some years ago. A trip down this road leads to the Miller’s shops but along the way, it is a self-guided tour of a simple and rewarding way of life in the slow lane.

 

“Yeah, we may get a good number of folks coming in from Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus or Tri-state area, but the traffic is sparse,” said Daniel Miller, owner of Miller’s Furniture. “It’s a lot of wide-open country and you can still hear God’s creations over man’s and that’s the way we like it. But we welcome our guests and take care of them the best we can.”

 

The Miller family has provided friendly service, lively conversation and quality goods for three generations. Their reputation over the years has grown, floating across the land like the aroma of their fresh baked pies cooked in the farmhouse kitchen 31 years. What started in that simple kitchen has grown into a 34,000 square foot furniture store, full bakery shop and bulk food store all within walking distance from one another on a 300-acre farm.  

 

The Millers offer incentives to come visit throughout the year. Every year, there are special events and sales during Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, Fall Cookout, End of Year Clearance and from time-to-time, quilt auctions and other special occasions.

 

Miller’s 2008 special events include:

·    May 23 - 26: Memorial Day Storewide Indoor and Outdoor Furniture Sale,
including 10% off all furniture in stock as well as orders placed.

·    August 28 - September 1: Labor Day Sale

·    August 30th: The 11th Annual Amish School Benefit Cookout

·    October 4: Customer Appreciation Day Honoring Miller's 31st Anniversary

·    November 28 & 29: Thanksgiving Sale

·    December 26 - January 1: End of Year Clearance Sale

Not much has changed in the 31 years since Harry and Lydia Miller settled here. In 1977, they started baking with their six children in the farmhouse. All it took was sharing their baked goods before people stopped by in droves to buy some bread, pies, cinnamon roll, you name it. Harry would often visit Holmes County, Ohio and bring back furniture, which sold, well, like hotcakes. The more trips, the more furniture, the more sales. And so the farming days for the Miller’s, raising cattle, hogs, sheep and such gave way to a thriving baking and woodworking business. 

 

The Miller family is in its third generation in their Adams County, Ohio home. Most of Harry and Lydia’s children run things now. Daniel is at the Furniture Store, Larry at the Bakery, and Harry Jr. at the Bulk Food Store. Malinda helps too. The other two sons, Gerold and David come back often to visit. All together, the six children have provided Harry and Lydia 20 grandkids. With that, the family business and legacy looks like it will continue for quite some time.

 

Visitors through the years come back, time and again, because Miller’s friendly workers believe in honesty and humility, which are the bedrocks of this small community. Often, the person across the counter made the product they’re selling; quality assurance that’s hard to find at a shopping mall.  

 

The Amish have excused themselves from modern conveniences, such as electricity, believing that a life of simplicity and hard work brings them closer to God.  Families and travelers come from miles around to visit their humble shops and to share the Amish way of life, if only for a day. 

 

Out on Wheat Ridge Road in West Union, Ohio the senses dance to the rhythmic spin of a buggy wheel, the harmony of a handcrafted armoire getting fine tuned, and a hypnotizing breeze that carries the oven-fresh-baked apple pie across the field. It’s a special place where time stands still and Sundays are still reserved for God.

 

To plan a visit to Millers Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods and a genuine Amish community dotting the countryside of rural Adams County, call 937-544-8524 or see www.ohiotraveler.com/ohio_amish_stores.htm.

 

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