New Shakers

The Shakers experienced a rebirth in the northern USNA, part of the spiritual revival that swept the country as it began to disintegrate. In New Vermont, Shaker communities sprung up primarily in the Connecticut River Valley where to this day New Shaker Cooperatives run thriving businesses that more than support their self-sufficient communities. While the New Shaker emphasis on hard work, sustainability, and even simplicity are consistent with New Vermont’s spirit and philosophy, their peculiar dancing, celibacy, religious fervor, and the austerity of their dress apparently embarrass New Vermont’s government because they are never mentioned in government communiqués, nor are they given credit for the many designs they’ve contributed to New Vermont’s architecture and furniture-making.