Near Wright-Patterson

BW Paradise Inn
Champaign, Ill

Another beautiful day. High temp was 84. Not uncomfortable.

We had a leisurely breakfast, checked out and drove to and
through much of the Amana Colony Area. Our focus was on
only three buildings of the many, many available.
The Colonies are impressive. People are still living and
working there although it clearly has become a tourist
destination rather than a community of production. Their
income primarily deriving from tourism.

Whirlpool-Amanda is there, but we didn't check it out.

Our first stop was the woolen mill. The area is
very picturesque except there were yellow tapes and orange
cones everywhere obstructing a good picture of anything.

The woolen mill had one loom operating. It was
purchased from Switzerland in 1981 and labeled as computerized
but it, the computer, was a plastic tape with holes
punched in it for the instructions. Whether it worked
like a computer punch tape or a player piano it was
certainly computerized. The operator would set a time
and start the loom by setting a lever.... When the time
was up it would stop giving her the opportunity to add
another spool of yarn, to insure it wouldn't run out mid-
stream. Or she would just reset the time and restart
the loom.

There was very large gift shop, but the only things sold there
that were actually made there were blankets. It think some
items, were made there, but of fabric made elsewhere.

From the mill we went to the furniture and clock factory.
Everything there was made there and pretty much made with
old type tools. We watched the workers for a while and
skeptic that I am, I assume there is a real factory
elsewhere. The pieces they were making, one, a small chest
of drawers would cost thousands of dollars at the rate
at which it was being made.

Robert and I fell in love with the looks and comfort
of a couple of platform rockers visualizing them
in front of the TV. We sat there for a time then
both stood up saying, I, "no, what would I do with
Dad's chair and Robert, "no, it would be ruined
sitting that close to the fireplace."

We admired the grandfather clocks. One, had a
round crystal ball which turned around, instead
of swinging. We couldn't figure how it could
work because as the weights lowered they would
collide with the crystal. Then I noticed the clock
was plugged into an electrical outlet. The
weights never moved.

Our final stop was the cultery factory. Again,
they do make a few things there, by hand, but only
for show and only on the weekends. Robert was
fascinated by all the antique tools.

There was so much more to see I'd like to go
back again.

Geroge and Janice met us at Biaggi Italiane
Restaurante for dinner. We had a lovely
dinner and conversation then back to their
house for coffee and more shared stories.

We met them again this morning at their
house for more conversation before we
took off east.

We are now in Fairborn, OH on the edge
of Wright-Patterson Airforce base. We
had planned on being in Akron, but didn't
leave Champaign until almost noon. Robert
had been indisposed earlier..not sure
what he had eaten, but he is OK now.

We head for Joy and Walt in the morning.