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Show hy Don Once a successful experiment V.".1 Wi .V . v '" ' m tnrtav it - About religious communism, tn'rivAC nn WHs 80 miles west of Davenport, Iowa, is one of America's most unusual rural communities. ld It's the Amana colony, where a vigorous culture, fertile Iowa soil, and an industrious band craftsmen have proof skilled farmers duced a phenomenal success story. The beginning of the Amana story goes back to 1714, when a new religious sect called the True. Inspirationists was founded in Germany. Based on principles of religious communism, the society was driven from Europe and immigrated to New York state in 1842. A decade later, the group moved to its present picturesque location on the banks of the Iowa River. Chartered there as the Amana Society, the community prospered under its system of benevolent communism. f rft pmtfirnrisfi Old-Wor- and-fnast- ; r ., , ... I - V T; , i er . - - UV4 .',' " . Jfr til , . V" ,: V. . o 'f "K',r. , 7 1! Amazmg Imana O Colony Until the turn of the century, the Amana colony was relatively isolated from the outside world. Then, with the advent of modern transportation and mass communication, the younger Amanas discovered that free enterprise offered many opportunities and advantages they laeked. In 1932 the society's 1,900 members voted on whether to keep religious communism or switch to free enterprise. landslide! Free enterprise won by a Today,,, as in the past, the lifeblood of the Amana colony is vested in agriculture. Of the 25,000 acres owned by the society, 19,500 are under cultivation or in pasture. The colony's fanners don't live on their farms, however. They reside in seven Amana villages and "commute" to the fields. industries help diSeveral versify the colony's economy. One of the oldest and most widely known is the woolen. mill, where woolens are nationally recognized, woven by craftsmen whose skills have been handed down from generation to generation. Another is the butcher shop which turns Amana-raise- d hogs into Westphaliah-styl- e hams, bacons, and sausages, and business. carries on an international mail-ord- er Much of the wood from the society's sawmill goes to the cabinet shop where speed is sacrificed for quality in the making of fine furniture. Modern home freezers and room air conditioners also are manufactured in the colony. Amana business, Refrigeration, Inc., a $20,000,000-a-ye- ar has nearly 1,500,000 home freezer units in dwellings 90-perc- non-agricultu- ent ral high-quali- ty I. r- -- - 1 The colony's Mwmill produces approximately of lumber a year, much 400,000 board-fee- t ri mi mft of which is used to build furniture noted for its excellent quality and workmanship. throughout- - the CQuntr.yWhileJ.h trolled by4he Amana Society it was sold to a pri- -, vate concern in 1950 a large percentage of its 750 craftsmen are of Amana stock. T 5 Li i iiospiiamy sianas wun quality as a .oywora of-- the Amana people.' Visitors are welcomed into Amana homes, and the colony's restaurants and inns are noted for their friendly, generous service. Once one of the most successful communistic experiments in America, the Amana colony ranks today as a wonderful example of prosperous, pro- V Anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000 Westphalian hams T are cured t yearly- - in the smokehouse. FAMILY WEEKLY MAGAZINE JUNE 12, 1955 Automatic milking machines for the 120-comilking herd - ease Uoyd -- Sees'- daily l choresw - 1 1 1 1 |