This year, with the ground beginning to green up, I thought I'd make another visit to compare. This historical museum itself wasn't open yet (that's not till April) but from the parking area I could get a look at some of the sites I saw before.
I loved the starkness of the white against this building and the angles of the photo. The springtime version is almost painterly in a much different way.
Here's the round barn, one of the notable features of the Shaker Village.
As you can see, it's quite a difference!
I wish I could have better captured the yellow building in the winter shot in the spring. I'm not quite sure why it didn't show as well this year!
And here are a few of the outbuildings, including the meeting house.
If I did the blog match up "Good Fences," I would be sure to add this one!
This time I was able to window peek. You can get a good idea of the beautiful Shaker workmanship.
Hancock is not the oldest Shaker Village. That distinction belongs to the Shaker colony at New Lebanon, New York.
Much of this area has been taken over by the Darrow School, a boarding and day college prep school. The campus was on the site of the largest and most industrious Shaker community in the country.
The Shakers had set the plans for a school in motion more than a decade before the left the site in 1947. Many of the original buildings evolved into classrooms, dining areas, dorms and sports facilities, although all renovations were conducted in consideration of the Shaker principles of simplicity, function, beauty and stewardship.
Also on the property is a Shaker Museum and a barn that is currently under reconstruction.
If you keep on the same country road, you will come to Abode of the Message, a Universal Community founded in 1975. It is housed in additional Shaker buildings from the New Lebanon community.
The group grew out of the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 70s. Its intent is to bring about spiritual awakening thruogh the Sufi teachings and to the devotion of love, harmony and beauty. Included in the area is a conference center, communal living and dining facilities, classrooms for workshops, and meditation retreat areas.
Here you can see a bit of the layout of the area as it was in Shaker times. The school is in the middle and Abode of the Message at the far right of the drawing.
I leave you with a country road, quiet on a Sunday morning.
And a few words from the Sufi community. Good words to remember!
This post is linked to Thoughts of Home on Thursday! Check out the link for tons of wonderful interesting posts and creative ideas.
25 comments:
It was fun to compare and contrast the photos taken during 2 different seasons! What a beautiful little area to check out. The photo of the yellow building is a good reminder that snow can and does enhance the beauty of surroundings!
How wonderful, what an interesting place, thanks for sharing and bringing us along so to speak! Great pictures, all of them.
Cool to see the winter/spring pics together!
Thanks for taking us along.
What a difference a season makes. Great contrast photos. We visited the Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire when my sister lived there. That was ages ago. Your photos show how beautiful the village in Hancock is.
Pretty photos. That's a reason to visit New England.
I have never been to Massachusetts. The pictures really make me want to go.
Thanks for sharing.
So glad you were able to make this trip again -- and thanks for this fascinating series of contrasts! A shift in seasons makes a huge difference!
You did a wonderful job of showing the contrasting scenes in their different season. Very well done.
You are bringing back some great memories my friend, of a landscape of quilted beauty in any season, even in winter. The hills, the curves of a farm fence, the ghosts of the past. Oh how we had such a great life there! LOVELY!
Hi! I just found your blog through Jemma. We moved to the South Shore of Mass. a couple of years ago from Texas. Can't wait to go through your previous posts to get some road trip inspiration. Your pics are great!
Jeanie,
I am so enjoying your Roadtrip East series so much.
You make history come alive once again for me.
I also enjoy seeing the starkness of Winter and the colors of Summer.
When one lives in a climate with defined Seasons it is an interesting contrast.
Here in Texas, we sort of stay the same, minus the leaves falling off the trees.
Thanks so much for joining us today at Thoughts Of Home On Thursday!
Jemma
It was fun and interesting to see the side-by-side photos. It occurs to me that winter may be nature's way of de-cluttering. It certainly does make the buildings the focus of attention when they don't have to compete with flowers and leaves.
Spring is in full swing here now, and it's wonderful to see all the changes. The changes in the light and the sky are as noticeable as the newly-blooming flowers, and the return of the prairie grasses. Even our ditches are blooming -- more about that later!
Hi Jeanie, Amazing contrasts and such beautiful scenes. I have never been to this part of our country, i've got to get there! Today we are enjoying the spring rain which will bring the May flowers, I can't complain. Great post.
Enjoy your day……..
lovely to see photos of your trip
i think snow brightens up a sleeping earth, nice to see images both ways
Beautiful paired photos! Especially fascinating: the way that idealistic communal living experiments characterize American history over and over again.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I've never been there....it sure looks like a beautiful place. Great photos. xo
Have a great Friday and weekend:)
I've only been to MA a couple of times - mostly Boston - it's a wonderful place. Have a great weekend!
Hi Jeanie! Oh, I loved this post too! We weren't very familiar with The Shakers till we moved up here. There's quite a few old communities to visit. This one looks like a great place to visit! You're showing lots of places to visit up here!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Some of the photo comparisons were evident, while others looked like very different buildings had been added or removed. I spent a lot of time looking, so I was surprised they all didn't compare to the two photos of the round barn. Perhaps it was the angles, but I was surprised.
I truly enjoyed the trip, though and was so delighted you took us along and shared your awesome photos with us.
I would like to ask your permission to add your blog to my left sidebar. I never add anything to my blog unless I have permission.
I remember when you visited this community before and i loved the photos then. These photo's show a beautiful season. I can almost feel the weather...
I like the road trips you guys do. I sometimes wish we had time to do some around here...maybe in another era.
Dear Jeanie,
Thank you for taking me along on your road trip. What a beautiful sight this is! You should put one to canvas.. You are so talented, I think it would be lovely.
It was such a joy to see you had come for a visit.. Oh yes, I love the bunnies also.. We have cotton tails here.. They are so sweet. Love the little white fluff tail. I am so happy you enjoyed.
Blessings,
Penny
Wow! I always enjoy road trips with blog friends because we get to see places we wouldn't normally see. The terrain and the buildings in your pictures look completely different from anything here in Texas. Those huge wooden buildings are beautiful!
So glad we've met recently through Thoughts of Home on Thursday. :)
Thanks for taking us back again, Jeanie! This is a place I've long wanted to visit--one day, I still hope! :) LOVED seeing your side-by-side photos and taking in the views in different seasonal aspects. It's a place to be deeply enjoyed in any season, I think. The Shaker aesthetics and lifestyle appeal to me so much. And NICE words at the end to contemplate and live. ((HUGS))
Wow before and after I always think it's fun to revisit places and spot the things you missed the first time, or in this case, see the difference the season makes to what takes your eye! That's a great shot of the Guy in red cycling up the icy road!
See you soon.
Wren x
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