Moving Around with Glenn, Linda and the Girls: June 18, 2012

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

June 18, 2012 - Bird-In-Hand and Intercourse, PA

We spent the day in Lancaster's Dutch Country, home to America's oldest Amish settlement, and specifically Bird-In-Hand and Intercourse, Pennsylvania. How, you ask, did they get these names? So glad you asked!

In the 1700's, most travelers were either English or German-speaking people or were poorly educated and could not read. As a result, signs had artwork that could be easily recognized. Inns were built every few miles for travelers and their animals to rest and 2 surveyers were discussing whether to stop at their present location or travel on to Lancaster to spend the night. One surveyer said "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush", so they remained at what became known as the Bird-In-Hand Inn and a sign was made for the front of the Inn portraying a man with a bird in his hand and a bush nearby in which two birds were perched. The community was founded in 1734.

Formerly known as "Cross Keys" from an old tavern, the country village was founded in 1754, and much speculation exists concerning the orgin of the name, none that can be substantiated. The first centers around an old race track, known as "Entercourse". It is believed that "Entercourse" gradually evolved into "Intercourse", which became the name of the town in 1814. The second theory concerns the joining of two famous roads which some feel was the basis for the town "Cross Keys" or eventually "Intercourse". The third theory comes from the use of language during the early days of the village. The word "intercourse" was commonly used to describe the "fellowship" and "social interaction and support" shared in the community of faith, which was very much a part of a rural village like this one.

Now, aren't you glad you asked?

Anyway, even though it was raining when we left the campground, we had a lovely drive through some very scenic Amish countryside, as you can see in the pictures (which are not great, since I was shooting them in a moving jeep with moving windshild wipers!) And once we arrived at Bird-In Hand, knowing that Amish people, in keeping with their religious beliefs, prefer not to be photographed or videotaped, I had to be careful documenting this "adventure" with pictures. All things considered, we got some pretty good pictures of this "really fun adventure"!

Nuff said...here are a few of the pictures and you can click on the link if you want to see more.