Brethern's Workshop - School House

Brethern's Workshop - School House. . , Brethren's Workshop (1822) , This was the men's or "Brethren's" Workshop. The Shakers were egalitarian, and the work that men and women each contributed to the community was equally valued. While the tasks of daily life in a Shaker community were often separated by gender, the work of Brethren and Sisters was often interdependent., Shakers considered work to be a form of worship. Every act reflected an effort to seek perfection in daily living. In the winter, Brethren spent their time here producing flat-brooms, crafting furniture, and making tools for the whole community. A tailor made the men's clothes., "I finished turning broom handles and come home having turned 11,250" - Journal of Brother Seth Wells, West Family, Watervliet, November 23, 1832, Sisters would paint the furniture built by Brethren, weave the tape seats of chairs, and carry out their tasks for the various industries including the production of seeds and herbs for sale. They also produced a large quantity" of textiles, both for the community and for sale to The World, including woven straw bonnets and wool capes. The 1840 Sister's Workshop was demolished in 1927, and the site is now our modern herb garden., School House (1850) , The former site of a one room brick schoolhouse is located on Heritage Lane across from the former orchard. Shakers were celibate, but through acceptance of new families, and legal indenture of the poor and orphaned, many children were raised in their communities. Young boys and girls lived separately under the care of Brethren and Sisters, but all children living with the Shakers received an equal education in the NYS-accredited school. Girls attended school in the summer, and boys in the winter. The school building was replaced with a powerhouse built for the Ann Lee Nursing Home, [Photo Captions:] , Shaker School House The powerhouse building is located on the site of the 1850 school., Sister Ella Winship was the teacher in the one-room school house when this picture was taken in 1905. Girls and boys now studied together instead of being separated into winter and summer sessions., The Sister's Workshop was built in 1822 and contained workshops for a variety of products being manufactured., "Nehemiah White and His Boys" Photographer James Irving posed this group for a stereoscope photograph c. 1870. Certain Sisters and Brethren were given the responsibility of caring for children in the Shaker community. This Involved training in all aspects of daily life and in agricultural and manufacturing work.,