I was standing far back from the barn construction, sulking over my idle camera. I felt a bit shut down. An older woman, imposing, with white hair pulled up in a large SUV with her husband.
He got out of the car and ignored me; she pulled out an IPad and starting taking photos. I was surprised.
“I’m a neighbor,” she said. “I know the family well. I live just up the hill. When I first met them, they told me they didn’t like people taking pictures of them. I told them I was going to take photos whether they liked it or not. I wasn’t going to sneak around.”
Wow, I was impressed and somewhat taken aback. She was direct and honest, two things I admire.
Her husband walked up to the site and watched the workers.
It turns out she was once the town historian and was one of those fabled strong women who don’t care to be told what to do and usually aren’t.
I certainly related to that, cowering as I was with my camera stuck in the car, aching to take some photos.
I fought back my darker impulses, but I did walk up behind my other neighbor and snuck in the shot above once I was sure all the Amish faces were turned away.
I had one foot in the road, and I took a waist shot like all the great street photographers learned to do. It came out well.
I had fun today.
This is clearly a huge moment for Moise, he’s been planning for months, and the planning was superb. Everything has gone precisely the way it is supposed to go – the wood, the concrete, the mixers, the measurements, the walls, the sills, the floor and now, starting tomorrow, a 14-foot wall is going up, a middle wall, right above where the post joices are being placed.
Moise never brags or praises himself, but I could see how happy he was, and he wanted me to know how happy he was without having to say so.
We were talking in smiles and nods all week.
Above that will be the roof. Tomorrow, a large number of Amish workers will be arriving in the morning. I went out searching for a five-gallon ice cooler and a drinks cooler (which are sold out almost everywhere.) We had one in the basement; I got another at the local hardware store.
I have to deliver ice to the Miller farm at 7 a.m., and at 2 p.m. I’m picking up some of the incoming Amish workers at the bus station in Glens Falls.
I decided to give myself to Moise’s barn tomorrow. I want to help.
The biggest group will be coming Monday and Tuesday; the raising is Wednesday. Moise came over to talk to me today; he urged me to get to the raising by 6:30 a.m., he said that’s when they raise the new middle walls. I’d like to see that.
I also had some time to talk with Eli, the raising format, and someone who has presided over well over a hundred barn and home raisings.
I like Eli; I’ve driven him around on previous visits; he has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh. Unlike Moise, who is rarely emotional in public, Eli barked orders in Pennsylvania Dutch at the workers all day.
He explained that this is not a crew he usually works with, and they had to take some time getting to know one another.
I could see that this work is dangerous., heavy planks, plank scaffolding, crowded workspaces, no helmets or protection, huge horses in small spaces.
Eli kept a close on things and seemed to know when a post was wobbly or in danger of falling.
Two local carpenters came by to lend a hand, one stayed working for five or six hours, one stayed for a couple of hours and worked hard.
Every few minutes, he would turn and shout, “Hello, Jon Katz!” and we would both laugh. When I first met Eli, I joked that it was unlikely we would ever have met all.
That was no joke, he said.
I offered to climb up on the scaffolding, he smiled and said, “maybe next time.”
He seemed to have his eyes on a dozen things at once.
Around 5:30, they all gathered for dinner inside the temporary house. They sat as Amish everywhere do – husband at the head on the right, wife to his left, women on the right side of the table, men on the left.
I came in while they were eating to talk about the ice coolers I was buying. Don’t get an expensive one, Barbara cautioned, as she always does.
“Don’t worry,” I said, I’m a friend of Moise Miller’s and nothing I buy for this family is expensive.” Much laughter and nodding.
They invited me to come in when I had questions about the ice coolers, but there was no room for me to sit down, and I wasn’t invited.
Moise was in a great mood, clearly pleased by the progress being made on the barn. His planning was meticulous and efficient. He didn’t really mess up a thing. And he got a discount on everything he bought and didn’t pay a dollar for shipping.
The barn started as a hole in the ground and piles of lumber. Every day, it reveals itself a little more.
The day felt good. The Amish working together suggests to me the promise of the world. Humans really can work together in peace and harmony.
Perhaps it takes God himself to make it happen.
I feel that I am helping in my own peripheral and indirect way. In fact, I’m quite honored to be helping. And I’m very lucky to be seeing something most “English” don’t ever get to see. I thank my friend Moise for that.
More later.
Lovely photo!
The nerve of that women to not respect their wishes of not taking pictures too close. I would of taken my camera and walked right in front of her and start snapping her picture to block her view. (Probably not, but people like that piss me off).
I know how you feel Christine, but she’s very good to them, and they like her and her husband very much. The Amish accept that they can’t always get things their own way, and they don’t dwell on it. They all came over to speak with her and talk to her. She is older and formidable, I think they don’t mind it.
Great detail photos Jon, of the floor joists being laid. And, within your agreement with Moise, I think.
Interesting point-of-view from the town historian, who as you state, was direct and honest. And, as expected, the Amish did not argue the point, they continue to exhibit Jesus’ teaching, “Love thy neighbor.”
On the other hand, you respect Moise’s wishes. And, by so doing, you, Maria, and your readers have been blessed by a more intimate friendship that has grown out of your mutual respect and trust!
From my perspective, I’d rather be in your shoes, but I’m also challenged by the Amish’s response to, and acceptance of the lady. A lesson here for us all. Thank you for sharing.
Great post, Steve, thoughtful and interesting. It’s quite a fuzzy line. I feel as a former journalist and a photographer, a resistance to being told what to take a picture of. The Amish have the right to not be photographed, the neighbor has the right to take photos, but I am in a more awkward spot as Im writing about this.
The sense I got is that while they would rather nobody take any pictures, they really don’t mind photos taken at a distance and that don’t show their faces. I don’t sense any anger or trouble with that, Moise would certainly tell me if there was. They all know what I am doing and they often come by to look at the photos I take on my computer and my blog. They often ask for prints.
I do keep my distance with the camera and stay close or on to the road. Moise doesn’t like it when I get too close to the road. I think there’s some question as to whether God is watching over me. I also respected the neighbor, she was straightforward and in the open and it doesn’t seem to have damaged her relationship at all, they are very fond of her. It’s complex, which also makes it interesting. Thanks for this thoughtful comment, Steve, it is so much better to be talking about these things than wasting my energy talking to trolls. Glad you are here.
Although I understand their objection to photos, something as magnificent as this barn building/raising is a work of art, and how lovely to capture it in a “time sequence” so that Moise (and family & friends) have a “history” of it to look back on and appreciate. Perhaps once work is finished each day, a photo or two could be taken and then an album be put together for them to treasure once it is all done. Quite a keepsake, I would think. The skills and work ethic they have is remarkable. Quite a few people I know have had the Amish come build barns for them (equine variety) and it is always so impressive the speed and skill displayed.
I think they will never openly permit a photo, although some Amish sects do now. It is a shame, because I would offer a finger in exchange…resisting photographs is a strong issue for the old Amish. They think it underlies humility and is forgiven by the bible in their view. No graven images…They accept that some people will do it, but they will never approve of it, not this sect.
I guess we all have something to learn from your Amish friends.