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word got out, items purchased rooms inside the recently restored 1824 Centre Family dwelling at the
at this 1922 auction began to heart of the South Union Village Museum, the majority of which are
find their way back to Auburn original to the community and its members.
and helped to shape what is In 1965, a non-profit organization called “Shakertown Revisited”
today the largest collection of was formed and in 1972, it purchased two buildings and about three
Southern Shaker furniture acres of land on the original South Union Village site to house their
and personal possessions in now growing collection, and tell the story of the Shakers and the South
the United States. These Union community. Today, the Museum consists of 500 acres of
original artifacts now fill 40 original farmland and nine original structures.

OTHER VILLAGE SITES TO VISIT:

There are an additional four active sites that are available to visitors seeking to discover more about the lives of the Shakers:

WATERVLIET SHAKER SABBATHDAY LAKE
HISTORIC DISTRICT SHAKER MUSEUM
Albany, NY New Gloucester, ME
https://home.shakerheritage.org https://www.maineshakers.com

America’s first Shaker settlement, the Established in 1783, Sabbathday Lake
Church Family site is where the Shaker Shaker Village is home to the only active
Heritage Society’s offices are located. Set Shaker Community in the world. The
in the heart of the 770-acre Historic Museum was first organized in 1931 by
District, the property includes nine Sisters Iona Sedgley and Ethel Peacock in
remaining Shaker buildings, an herb hopes of educating the public about the
garden, open fields, an apple orchard, truths of Shakerism.
Ann Lee Pond nature preserve, and the The Shaker Museum’s collection is the only one created by Shakers
Shaker cemetery where the founder, Ann to represent their culture through firsthand interpretation and is the
Lee is buried. largest Maine Shaker collection representing the longest timeline
(1740s ‐ present), and the world’s only anthropological collection.

MOUNT LEBANON

SHAKER VILLAGE ALFRED SHAKER
New Lebanon, NY MUSEUM
https://www.shakermuseum.us Alfred, ME
http://www.alfredshakermuseum.org
While Watervliet was the first gathering
of Shakers, the Mount Lebanon community Like Sabbathday Lake, Alfred was
was the first to be formally and deliberately established around 1793. Famously, Alfred
organized into a communal living arrange- is where, according to Shaker tradition,
ment. At its peak, this was the largest Brother Joseph Brackett composed the song
Shaker village, comprising over 6,000 Simple Gifts. The Shakers at Alfred farmed
acres and 100 buildings. It was also the and tended their orchards, gardens, dairy,
spiritual center of the Shaker movement. kitchen, and shops. In time, hundreds of
The Museum contains the world’s most Shakers called Alfred home. The Village was
comprehensive collection of Shaker objects, closed in 1931 when the remaining Shakers
archives, and books. moved to Sabbathday Lake.

“Antiques Peek” continued from page 26
of brushes, which are still collected today. museums or living museums. Shaker
Barber brushes and clothes brushes are brooms and brushes that have survived and
among the most popular. Most such shaker are not in museum hands are often difficult
brushes had horsehair bristles. The shakers to authenticate. That is because such
also made many other brushes designed for Shaker-style items were so useful and
specific purposes, such as paintbrushes. popular that production of them has never
However, some Shaker brushes were stopped.
1870s
designed as multi-use tools. Those wood- If you are interested in decorating your
Shaker
Whisk handled brushes were built with sturdy home, Shaker-style pieces may serve your
construction methods so they could stand needs while staying within your budget.
Broom
up to long periods of use. They are also quite easy to find. In fact,
many craftspeople still go out of their way
Collecting Shaker or Shaker-Style to use the old Shaker methods today. They
Brooms and Brushes include several American craftspeople living
Collecting truly antique shaker brooms near the area where the Shakers first New Shaker Style
and brushes is not easy. Many that can be settled in New York. whisk brooms
selling on Etsy for $50
authenticated are in the hands of regular

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