The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-17
"PROMISED LAND"
SOLD BY SHAKERS
Mount Lebanon and West Pitts.
field Dispose of 10000 Acres
at Loss of 100000

Pittsfeld, Mass, Feb. 1.-THE shak
ers Of Mount Lebanon, n. Y, and West
Pittsfeld, Mass, have sold to the For
estry Department Of the state of Penn
sylvania their "promised land.' The
tract consists Of 10000 acres in Bloom
ington, Pike county, Pennsylvania. The
Shakers have held the land since 1875
sold for $4,000.
This transaction reveals. the tabled
,, wealth of the Shaker Communities. 1t
| represents one more step in their de-
cline. The tremendous financial sacrifice
was necessary, because the property was
eating up their funds in taxes and was
bringing them in no return. So deci-
mated have their ranks become that the
Mount Lebanon colony had no one to
develop this ''promised land..'
The state Of Pennsylvania, will use
this wild tract in the propagation of
valuable woods and forest growth. Its
sale furnishes an interesting story in the
life of the Berkshire Shaker community.
There was a family Of Shakers in the
birmingham valley in this county, thirty
years ago.. They had prospered for a
quarter Of centur on their 800-acre
farm, but the Shakers of West Pitts
field and Enfield, Conn.,, had still larger
estatese, and as their interests were in
! common, it was decided to break up
! l.
eighteen members Of the family at that
time Joined the Pittsfeld community,
and the others went to Enfield, Conn.
Of those eighteen, only one is now liv-
ing, Elizabeth Thornby of West Pitts
field. She is 70 years old.
Decide to Buy Tract.
bridge, owned the tract Of 10000 acres
in Pennsylvania, which was valued at
that time at more than 100000. The
I Shakers decided to purchase it and In
payment for this land the Mount Leban:
on family sold the Tyringham farm and
large tracts in Wisconsin, Michigan and
New York state.
j The West Pittsfeld family, a year or
two later, became interested in the pur-
chase. In those days the Berkshire
Shakers were very prosperous. The
Mount Lebanon Shakers wanted loan
of 100000 and the West Pittsfeld fami-
ly was ready to supply the funds at 5
per cent interest.
The 100000 loan was never paid by
the Mount Lebanon colony, and, while
they had agreed to manage the Pennsyl'
vaniia tract and to divide the profits
with their West Pittsfeld brethren, it
never Welded more than $4,000. ,~"
The outcome Of this investment of
thirty years ago is great disappoint-
ment to the Mount Lebanon and West
Pittsfeld Shakers. This tract Of TO-
900 acres was called the "Promised
Land,' from which they expected to
reap immense profits. In that tract
they hoped to rise again to afhuence
and power. - .-..- - .-->-
It was the possession Of this land
that led thousands Of summer visitors
; WHO partake Of the hospitality Of these
families every year, to believe that the
Mount Lebanon Shakers were very
wealthy. -,
To Sell Berkshire Land.
Unable to take care Of the 1000 acret
which the Mount Lebanon and West
Pittsfeld Shakers own in the Berkshire
hills and the valley Of Lebanon, they
are now trying to sell off several tracts
of one thousand acres or more. Some Of
this land is very fertile and half Of it i.
wooded.
: It is said by members Of the communi
ty that during the last few months thu
Mount Lebanon Shakers have had som,
remarkable spiritualistic4nanifes
The Shakers believe that death comes
(, to set them, free, that they may go tt
: work on lofter planes. The return O.
their departed friends is looked upon a
! a matter Of course. a departed siste
! or brother, they say, appears, ant
' those who see the spirit greet it quietly
send out loving thought and continue
a on their way.