The Flour Mill

In the communal days of Amana before 1932, the Amana Society purchased anything deemed necessary  to run the Society efficiently such as raw wool, oil, starch, dyes, and such. Most of the grain was purchased from the outside for the flour mill, still standing in 1939. Cotton goods were purchased from the southern states and used in the calico printing process. Amana Society would also hire outside laborers to do industrial  and agricultural jobs.  Two flour mills, powered by the mill race in Amana, processed the community's  own small grains as well as those of neighboring farmers. Profits from these mills were used to purchase goods from outside the community. A 1923 fire destroyed the flour mill in Amana and the woolin mill causing great loss of capital. Below are some photos of the flour mill in West Amana.
                                  
                                  

CALICO PRINTING ROLLERS

In Amana, calico printing was done until 1916. One of the three processes used to print the fabric was roller printing, which took the place of the much slower hand block printing. The rollers were long, thin cylinders with steel pins making a repeat pattern to roll onto prepared fabric. A chemical resistant was coated over the pins of the roller that created the pattern on the white fabric. This acid prevented the dark indigo dye penetration in the resisted area. The opposite was also done in which large pieces of white fabric were dyed indigo, then a chemical resist rolled over it would bleach out the pattern areas to reveal white fabric stars, leaves, moons, or one of over 300 patterns. These methods are known as resist and discharge dyeing. The rollers are very rare and quite an interesting industrial artifact of the old Amana Druekeri or Print Mill. A wonderful gift from my husband can after his local antiquing excursion.

Antique Images of Amana Colonies: Heirloom Seed Bank of Amana

Antique Images of Amana Colonies: Heirloom Seed Bank of Amana: AMANA gardeners grew as much of their own harvested seed as possible. Some seeds were not available in USA catalogs so local varieties that...

Antique Images : Door Stencils

Antique Images : Door Stencils: The handmade locks placed on Amana doors were used throughout the villages, and often. Therefore, a unique smudge guard was designed to be p...

Door Stencils

The handmade locks placed on Amana doors were used throughout the villages, and often. Therefore, a unique smudge guard was designed to be painted around the lock to catch dirt and finger prints on the much used door. A cardboard template was placed around the lock, traced and then filled in with black paint.  This was as very ingenious way of catching dirt and cut down on daily cleaning of the door...a very unique solution and design.

Stammtisch

Stammtisch, German for regulars table, is a table for a social group that meets in the homeowners bar, basement, restaurant, or out building for a cocktail hour and social conversation. Sometimes a newly brewed wine or beer is sampled.
Traditionally, the meeting table is marked with a somewhat elaborate sign reserving it for regulars. Historically, such a meeting might involve socializing

 card playing (such as skat), and often political or philosophical discussions. The words "Stammtischpolitik" (Stammtisch politics) and "Stammtischniveau" (Stammtisch level), describe the simplified nature of Stammtisch discussions, and have an established metaphorical usage in describing simplified political and social discussions beyond the Stammtisch itself.

Today a Stammtisch is not connected to a specific social status. It is now all about community, intimacy and common interests.   

German Apple Fritters...

Apfelkrapfen are often considered a Bavarian specialty, although everyone knows them and fries them up at home. Slice the apples in the round, cover them with a batter and deep fat fry them for some instant comfort food. This batter has egg whites providing the airiness but yeast dough and puff pastry versions are also known. These are popular at the Amana Arts Guild Art Festival in August, a very special treat for a sweet-tart bite. These will be at other local Amana festivals.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 - 3 baking apples
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 eggs, separated
• 1/2 c. flour plus extra for dusting
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 T. sugar or vanilla sugar
• Pinch salt
• Oil or fat for frying
• Sugar and cinnamon for serving

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes















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