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A Community of True Inspiration

Carl Wycoff
The mill race in Main Amana.

The Amana Colonies,also known as the Community of True Inspiration, was founded in the 1850s and residents lived communally in Amana's seven village until the "Great Change" of 1932. 

Host Charity Nebbe speaks with two authors who grew up in the Amana Colonies.  Madeline Roemig Bendorf's memoir "Growing Up in Amana" discusses her childhood during the 1930s and 40s. Lawrence Rettig's "Gardening the Amana Way" details Amana's gardening traditions and his efforts to keep them alive. 

Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa
Dennis Reese was the mid-day host for Iowa Public Radio