Their long list of inventions and i

Their long list of inventions and improvements includes such items as the flat broom, the common clothespin, the first garden seeds packaged in paper, and machines such as an improved washing machine, a revolving oven, and a wood-burning stove.

Although it may seem that Shaker life was all rules, work, and worship, their lives were not without joy. They spent pleasant hours gathering berries and picking fruit, walking in the woods, taking carriage rides, and laughing together-in separate groups, of course.

Over the years, the original Shaker community in New York expanded to 24 communities scattered among eight states in the eastern United States. Many people were attracted to their peaceful ways and clean, crime-free villages. Eventually the Shakers paid a price for their traditions and beliefs, their numbers eventually dwindled to a very few. Today, their villages are museums and their handicrafts are items for collectors. Nevertheless, the Shakers will not be forgotten. Their search for a perfect existence where everyone was equal and lived in harmony is recorded in American history. The Shakers will be remembered for their many fine products and inventions and for the contribution they made to society.