Even before the Civil War, followers of the Shaker religion were one of the most welcoming groups of people and believed in giving everyone equal opportunity, a West Virginia Humanities Council speaker said.
Shaker is a name given to them by the outside world, said Jill Malusky, director of visitor engagement for the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill in central Kentucky. The Shakers called themselves "The Believers in the coming of Christ's second appearance," but for marketing purposes, the word "Shaker" was easier to use, she said.
Malusky was the speaker during Sunday's Little Lecture at the council's Hubbard House in Charleston.
Malusky said Shakers went about their lives as if Jesus was going to appear suddenly. They believed when he came, Jesus would see them and immediately take them with him.
The Shaker religion originally derived from the Quaker religion, but the rules of their way of life changed over time.
The rules started with things like the prohibition of sexual intercourse. Later rules such as, "All beds must be painted green," and no pets or photos were added, she said.
"Southern Shakers didn't always follow the rules," Malusky said.
Shakers also didn't get married, believing there was no need for a husband or wife in heaven. The strong community relationship of the Shakers ensured all members' needs were met.
The Shakers had a strong relationship with the outside world, and they invited the worldly people to watch them worship, which consisted of a lot of dancing and movement, Malusky said. They also believed in equality and welcomed everybody regardless of race or ability.
The Shakers were different from the Amish, Malusky said. The Shakers were innovators who took existing products and made them better. They are best known for their brooms, seeds and livestock breeding.
"Work smarter, not harder. That was important to them," Malusky said.
They were also well-educated and in tune with the world around them.
When the Shakers in Pleasant Hill discovered remains from a mammoth on their property, instead of keeping their discovery, they recognized they had no use for it and donated the bones to a local college.
Although there are multiple theories as to why the Shakers mostly died out - from the Industrial Revolution to the inability to procreate - there is still one Shaker community in Maine today.
Now the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill is one of the country's top hidden travel destinations.
From 1805 to 1910, the town had over 250 buildings before it ended. Currently there are 34 historic Shaker buildings surviving on 3,000 acres.
Although no Shakers remain in the village, there are plenty of activities and exhibits for people to discover at the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill.
The exhibits change every so often, and currently there is an exhibit on the mammoth bones. With changing exhibits, visitors have many opportunities to learn more about Shaker culture.
"We want to share things with you and keep you coming back for more," Malusky said.
For more information, visit shakervillageky.org.
Reach Laura Haight at
laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com,
304-348-4843 or follow
@laurahaight_ on Twitter.