Visitors to Lancaster County’s "Amish Country" often come with
misconceptions and inaccurate information gleaned from a wide range of books
about the Amish. Many people think the Amish use nothing modern. So, when they
notice an Amishman making a call from a pay telephone booth, they might be
surprised. They may wonder why Amish sometimes use the phone of their
"English" (non-Amish) neighbors. Many visitors are even more shocked
to discover that some of those buildings that resemble "outhouses"
sitting near the house or in a field are actually private Amish telephone
booths!
Dr. Diane Zimmerman Umble, Professor of Communication at Millersville
University, recently gave a lecture on the evolution of telephone usage by the
Amish. She began by noting that she is aware of some Amish carpentry crews
having cellular phones, some use of the FAX as well as answering machines and
services, and even a dog that barks to alert the household to the phone ringing
out in the booth! Following is a summary of her remarks.
Before 1910, there was no real position given by the Amish church concerning
telephones. In the early days, there were many phone companies and "farmer
lines" to link them with their neighbors. Some were not even connected to
the commercial companies. A split in the church actually resulted. The Old Order
Amish interpretation was that the phone be banned in the home as contrary to the
spirit of humility, not being a necessity, contributing to pride and
individualism, and as something coming from the outside world.
But there was concern that the phone removed people from the physical,
face-to-face context of communication so important in Amish society. Elders were
concerned about "unmonitored" private communication and the effect on
young people. The act of using a phone, however, was not forbidden.
By the 1950’s, as more plain people were forced to go into businesses and
hotels to use phones, and the need to have access to one for emergencies arose,
the bishops allowed the use of the "community phone." The idea here
was that the phone was not in the house, the number unlisted, and that it could
be shared by several families, basically for outgoing calls, not socializing.
This accommodation to the phone was to allow access, but maintain the distance.
Today there is often a log book for each person to write down long-distance
calls made, and the phone bill is divided up for monthly payment accordingly.
There are listings of emergency phone numbers for Amish communities across the
U.S.
In the 1980’s, the increase in Amish enterprises resulted in more creative
phone use. Many Amish entrepreneurs today say that the phone is critical to
their competitiveness and success in non-farming businesses in Lancaster County.
Even many farmers find access to the phone important in caring for their dairy
cows and calling the veterinarian. The church is trying to keep the phones from
becoming "exclusive" and unavailable to the community. In the Amish
community today, there is some debate as to how much of the new telephone
technology will be allowed, and what impact it may have. The fairly common use
of pagers, beepers, and even cell phones among the Amish is raising even more
questions...not to mention "palm pilots."
As is typical of the Amish, when a new technology comes along, the Amish
examine its effect on the church and community. The technology should not be an
intrusion into the home, but rather serve the social purposes and goals of the
group. In a sense, the Amish "re-organize" the technology.
Amish Country
News Article by Brad
Igou, (1991)
Return to the Amish
Series page.
