Promoting Peace. Extending Grace. Enabling Abilities.
Catch the latest news and updates at PeaceAbility Press. We strive to offer new material and resources as we are able.
Cocalico Valley Textile History
Check out our latest free downloadable eBook, the Cocalico Valley Textile History. Prepared for the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley, this informative book highlights the 2024-2025 Featured Exhibit in the Theodore Sprecher Museum, 239 West Main Street, Ephrata PA. It is a photo album detailing the 100 year history of the textile industry in northern Lancaster County, PA, from 1850-1950. The book is available on the “BOOKSHELF” tab and can be viewed as a online readable text or may be downloaded for free.
NAWCC Becomes Our Latest Vendor
PeaceAbility Press is proud to announce the addition of a new vendor. The Museum Store at the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors will now be selling two of our books. The Clocks of the Cloister and The Clockmakers of the Cocalico Valley will both be available at the NAWCC headquarters in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
The Clocks of the Cloister was the first book ever produced by PeaceAbility Press. It has also been consistently among our best sellers. It details the incredible history of clockmaking at the quaint religious community commonly known as the Ephrata Cloister. Beginning around 1750, the Ephrata community had seven clockmakers and at least three joiners who made cases for their clock movements.
The Clockmakers of the Cocalico Valley expands the history of clockmaking to include the entire Northern Lancaster County region, including Ephrata. This represents twenty clockmakers spanning nearly 100 years, from 1750-1850.
The National Watch and Clock Museum has the largest collection of timepieces in North America. It is fitting that their store now offers these two books that detail this unique center of horology. The Museum is located at 514 Poplar Street, Columbia, PA 17512. Visit them at http://www.nawcc.org.
“Babylonian Trash: Culture Clash At the Ephrata Cloister”
The Ephrata Cloister has been studied and written about for nearly 300 years. The accomplishments of this simple community were astounding. Their music, artwork, theological treatises, architecture, furniture and printing capabilities were unmatched. Yet, there were inconsistencies, differences of opinions, and conflicting ideals that cannot be denied.
“Babylonian Trash” takes an unusual look at three aspects of life in this amazing community. First, it clarifies many of the contradictions that existed at Ephrata. Simply stated, their walk did not always match their talk! For example, they claimed they did not want to draw attention to themselves and sought to live a simple, humble life. However, they built some of the largest, tallest buildings to be found in colonial America – buildings that naturally caught the attention of others.
Second, this book examines many of the buildings that once stood proudly on the grounds but have long since disappeared. Buildings like Bethania, the brothers’ house, which was 34 feet by 74 feet and stood 4 1/2 stories tall. Or the “stately structure” known as the Bathaus, or Prayer House, that served as the meetinghouse until it was abruptly torn down just four years after it was built.
Finally, it examines the use of bells placed atop the buildings to ring loudly as an invitation to worship. These were later described as “Babylonian Trash” and were removed in a shocking rebuke of some of the leadership. This is a book that preserves some of the hidden treasures of the Ephrata Community, while respecting the contributions it made over the years. Click on the “Shop” tab to order your copy. The price is $11 plus tax and shipping costs.
Babylonian Trash. $11.00 plus tax/s/h. (108 pages)
Welcome to our latest vendor! We are proud to announce that we have partnered with the Clay Bookstore as a new in-person sales outlet. The Clay Bookstore is a leading book retailer in Lancaster County, PA. It is highly rated with a special emphasis on religious and historical materials, home schooling supplies, maps, and wholesome reading materials.
The Clay Bookstore will feature six of our titles, including Sacred Simplicity, Conrad Beissel: The Early Years, Vehicle for Growth, Clocks of the Cloister, Clockmakers of the Cocalico Valley, and The Ephrata Effect. They are located at 2450 West Main St., Ephrata PA 17522. Their website is http://www.justplainbusiness.com/clay-book-store/
One of my hobbies is creating models of local buildings that have some historic significance. All models use a 1:48 scale, and are paper glued to either foam board or basswood. Below is a link to my Pinterest.com page, where I have any album of my creations. Feel free to follow the link and browse.
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