October 2006 .............

Pleasant Hill: Shaker Village - The Shakers were innovators; unconventional radicals who challenged society's norms. Intensely religious, Shakers earned their name from their tendency to shake and tremble during zealous devotional fervors. They are credited with the invention of the flat broom, the circular saw and the clothes pin. This is America's largest restored Shaker community, with over 30 restored buildings. One can dine at the Trustee's Office (they suggest reservations, we made them but wouldn't of needed to, and the food was pretty average), watch craft demonstrations, take a horse-drawn ride and converse with costumed interpreters. The village is an interesting place to spend some time. There is a charge to go in the Village.

Berea: The Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, it's located 35 miles S. of Lexington, "where the bluegrass meets the mountains". The area was established in 1850, and in 1853 a tract of land was given to a minister and in 1855 he established a church, and a tiny village. He named the town Berea after a biblical town where the people "received the Word with all readiness of mind" In 1855 Berea college was founded, and became the only integrated college in the South for nearly forty years. Today, Berea College provides a full-tuition scholarship to every student, admits only low-imcome students, and requires all students to work in a college job. Today the college has students from more than 60 countries and many faiths and is continually ranked as one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the nation. There are tours of the college available and I am told they are well worth taking. We weren't there on a day they give tours.
Pictured below, Draper classroom building and Frost building.

Berea: A walk around town is like a walk back in history. Another interesting building is the Historic Boone Tavern, which is part of the college, and is staffed mostly by students. It was built in 1909 as a guest house for the college, and has been in operation since. It is known for serving a blend of traditional and creative southern cuisine. "Spoonbread", a signature item is served with all meals. We had never tasted it before and begged the server for more. We recommend you stop for a meal, however it is quite pricey. It is named for it's location on the Daniel Boone Trail.
One of the shops we stopped at was  the Warren May shop, he makes and sells furniture and Appalachian Mountain Dulcimers. Warren is a native Kentuckian that has been at his craft for over 30 years. All his Dulcimers are hand made, and have a hand carved scroll, and four coats of hand rubbed lacquer. He has made over 13,000 and they are all signed and dated. A trip to his shop is pure joy, listening to him play the old songs on the dulcimer, and the furniture he makes had such a great finish, you can't keep your hands off. Dean fell in love with the dulcimer sound, so purchased one. His is walnut, now he just has to learn to play it.
The other stop we made while in Berea was Churchill Weavers. It was founded in 1922 and is one of America's oldest and most prestigious hand weaving studios. They make beautiful, soft scarves, blankets, etc. That said, the place gave Laurel the creeps, people sitting all day running a loom, same thing over and over. The items they sell in their gift shop are very pricey.

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