Ebenezer: the Community of True Inspiration

Contributed by Linda Schmieder for the August 2012 issue of the Yorker Palatine

In 1842, seeking religious freedom, a group from Ronneburg, Germany immigrated to America. For over a century, these people, known as the Community of True Inspiration, a pietist sect, had been suffering religious persecution in Germany. The Community of True Inspiration has its roots in the Hesse region of Germany, the founders said to be Eberhard Gruber and Johann Rock. They practiced avoidance of military service, refusal to send their children to state schools and refusal to take an oath. They were being arrested, fined, stoned and assaulted. Four men from the community, led by a twenty-four year old carpenter, Christian Metz, were sent to America to establish a new homeland for themselves. They purchased a 5,000 acre parcel at $10.50 per acre in Western New York not far from Buffalo. They named their land Ebenezer.

Four hamlets were established: Middle Ebenezer (Gardenville), Upper Ebenezer (Blossom), Lower Ebenezer (Ebenezer) and New Ebenezer (Elma) — all of these today are part of West Seneca, N. Y. Each hamlet's boundary had border streets or footpaths, so strangers could travel around the individual hamlets without entering the communities. This was purposeful so as not to interrupt their daily life. The border streets of Middle Ebenezer still exist today, they are: North Avenue, South Avenue and West Avenue. East Avenue is now called Weigand Avenue. By 1844, more than 800 followers had arrived from Germany.

These Inspirationists revolved their lives around the Word of the Lord. Mandatory prayer services were held each evening in the Meeting House and on religious holidays the entire day was spent in meeting, breaking only for meals. Services were held on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. Services were simple scripture readings and singing with no instrumental accompaniment. The Meeting House was unpainted with no ornamentation. Males and females sat separate. The Elders read sermons and the congregation joined in by reading Bible passages. At Christmas, there were no trees or presents. The women wore long, dark colored dresses, a white cap and dark colored shawls and aprons. A white apron was worn to Meeting. The men also wore dark coats and trousers, leather boots and brim hats. Men grew beards but no moustaches.

The Ebenezer Inspirationists formed their own governing body, the Elders of the Church. They had a communal society. Each man had a job or trade which benefited the entire community. Families lived in separate dwellings and all meals were eaten in the common kitchen buildings where women prepared the meals for the community. Men, women and children each ate at separate tables and no conversation was allowed during the meal. Taken from a book "Recipes of the Old Ebenezers", they ate sauerbraten, raw potato dumplings, oatmeal cookies, hot potato salad and cream cakes.

The Ebenezers lives centered on agriculture. It was a self-sufficient community, providing for their own food, furniture, tools, clothing and utensils. Goods and services were not sold, but instead given to the community for use by all. They had their own school. All children started school at an early age but girls attended only a few years before they were sent to the kitchen or laundry houses to work. Boys went to school many years longer with additional apprenticeship training in a trade. The school day was from dawn to dusk, six days a week, all year long except for religious holidays. During the fall, older children were allowed to leave school early to help harvest crops in the fields. Both boys and girls learned how to knit and made their own mittens, hats and scarves.

Women lived at home with their parents until they were married. Unmarried men could live in a Brother's House once they learned a trade. Church Elders granted permission for couples to marry. Once granted, a one year waiting period began at which time the man went away and the couple had no communication. When he returned, if they still wanted to get married, they could.

The Ebenezer community continued to grow as did the encroaching city of Buffalo. About 1855, they purchased 18,000 acres along the Iowa River in the new state of Iowa and established the villages known today as Amana Colonies and the then 1,200 people strong congregation. By 1865, there were no more Inspirationists remaining in Ebenezer. Today there are original buildings remaining from that time such as a restaurant which was originally a book bindery, and later a Kitchen House. A building on Clinton Street was the butcher shop; meat hooks remain fastened to the joists in the cellar. The house that Christian Metz occupied is now 12 School Street, and has been granted historical significance by Erie County. It is currently being renovated into a museum.

Christian Metz Home, West Seneca, NY