[AT] OT Barn floor question

[Carl Tatlock]

Cecil E Monson wrote:

>> At the risk of offending many... Why Amish?  I know they are hard 
>> workers, but there are others with better skills who can and will 
>> build exactly what you want.  There are even some that aren't of the 
>> WASP persuasion.
>>
>> Why choose a workman based on his religion?  Or why not?
>>
>> George Willer 
>
>
>
>     I think it is a good question, George, and shouldn't offend
> anyone. In our area, most people consider contacting Amish or Mennonites
> to build farm buildings (or do repairs, such as re-nailing roofs, etc)
> as they are known to charge less than most local contractors.
>
>     My oldest daughter and my SIL, who live in the Finger Lakes area
> in western New York, hired Amish to build a pole type construction garage
> several years ago. They came as a family, a father and two or three of 
> his
> sons, and built a very nice 2 1/2 car garage in week's time. They were 
> not
> unknown in the area and were known for excellent work and low prices. 
> They
> started work in mid morning after their chores were done and left in mid
> afternoon to do the evening chores. My daughter and SIL were not 
> disappointed
> and feel they saved several thousand dollars.
>
>     My father and a friend of his, both retired farmers, did this type
> work for years after he quit farming and moved to town. He loved being 
> out
> and around and doing this type work. They charged a lot less and 
> worked at
> their own pace. Sort of like the Amish and Mennonites do today. The money
> wasn't as important as leaving something behind for when he was gone - so
> to speak. Sadly, an accident while doing soffits and fascia on a new 
> house
> resulted in his death in the late 1960s. People still say to us 
> sometimes,
> "You know, your father built my machine shed." or something similar. 
> So he
> did leave something behind.
>
> Cecil
>
> Cecil

To Cecil and George:  One of my daughters lives in Amish country is 
Catteraugus County NY a few miles from PA.   If you want something done 
reasonably, and well, crafted in wood such as furniture or buildings-- 
or if you want repairs to furniture or quilts or  carpentry done--"Go to 
the Amish."   It is not about religion-- it is about attitude:    Some 
of the American  principles of the 1850's are still alive and well in 
the Amish communities.   They treat "the English" (non Amish) very 
honestly and well.    They do good work for their pay.   There are 
enough Amish in her community that there is a shed for horses as the 
local small-town "supermarket".