A Warm and Woolen Adventure

Summer is my favorite season!

The Amanas are always busy with people, the Lily Lake is in bloom and every sunset is even more beautiful than the last.  One of my favorite summer activities is visiting the different stores in the village and seeing all of the products made in Amana.  The other day, I decided to trek down to one of Amana’s most iconic businesses – the Woolen Mill.

The Amana Woolen Mill opened in 1857 and supp
-lied the community with many woolen goods.

The Amana Woolen Mill opened in 1857 and provided the community with a variety of woolen goods that they used in all seasons.  Whether residents wanted a blanket for a picnic out in the field or a thick scarf for the cold winter wind, the Woolen Mill supplied the colonies with quality woolen items for any situation.  Originally, a man-made canal known as “the Mill Race” powered the Amana Woolen Mill and eight additional businesses before electricity was available.

Originally, the Amana people
brought weaving looms all the
way from Germany!

When the Community of True Inspiration traveled to the New World, they brought looms from Germany.  Once they group grew too large for their home in Ebenezer, New York (a small colony near Buffalo), they moved to Amana and hauled the looms with them.  Members of the community worked in the mill for many years and wove blankets, scarves and many other items.

Throughout American history, the Amanas supported the troops, providing goods made at the Woolen Mill.  Wool blankets were sent to both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War, as the Amana people were against violence and would not fight.  In both World Wars, they supplied woolen goods to the U.S. military and other Allied forces. And in 1982, the Woolen Mill was contracted by the U.S. Army to make 380,000 blankets for troops.  The mill worked non-stop for two years to complete the order!

In 1923, disaster struck the Amana Colonies.  The flour mill, located next to the Woolen Mill, exploded and set the surrounding buildings on fire!  Fire departments from nearby counties were called in to help fight the fire, but little could be done.  Eleven buildings were destroyed and only the weaving department of the Woolen Mill was left standing. The people were left in shock and heartbroken.

The community began to rebuild the Woolen Mill immediately.  In 1934, the Amana Woolen Mill Salesroom opened and travelers were able to buy different woolens made in Amana.  This was allowed following the Great Change when Amana ended its communal ways of life and joined the rest of American society.

The Woolen Mill makes a wide range of beautiful
scarves that will keep you warm during the winter.

Today, the Amana Woolen Mill continues to make lots of different wool goods that you can buy.  They make the warmest scarves, perfect for Christmas presents.  They also sell great wool ponchos for those breezy fall days. And of course they weave the best wool blankets in the whole wide world!

After making the long walk back to the General Store, I scurried down to my hole and got ready for bed.  Lying on my own little Woolen Mill blanket, I had the best sleep I’ve had in a very long time.

Zzzz...