Society Of Brethren: Place Names
"Society Of Brethren" "Bruderhof" Place Names in North America and Europe 1997
The "Society of Brothers" (SOB), is a "Bruderhof" group founded in Germany in 1920 by Eberhard Arnold (1883-1935) that was persecuted by the Nazis, moved to Liechtenstein, then England in the late 1930's and spent the World War II years in Paraguay before coming to the United States in the early 1950's.
In 1974 Hostetler reports there were the SOB communities of Woodcrest in Rifton, NY, Oak Lane (became New Meadow Run) in Farmington Pennsylvania, Evergreen in Norfolk, Connecticut and Darvell at Robertsbridge, Sussex, England. Hostetler notes that the two groups have simular value orientations, but characterizes the Society of Brothers as a "charismatic movement" in distinction to the "traditional communal group" of Hutterites.
The "Society of Brothers" also calls themselves the "Hutterian Brethren". They are under the leadership of J. (Johann) Christof Arnold, the head elder at the Rifton New York colony and a grandson of the founder. He has confirmed reports that they have eight communities that they traditionally call Bruderhofs. Separate estimates places them at about 300 persons per community, larger than the 90 person average of traditional Hutterite colonies in Canada and the western United States.
Publishing Activities: The Society had established Plough Publishing House in England by 1940 and had moved it to Woodcrest at Rifton New York by 1964. Presently the order department for this publishing house is located at Farmington, Pennsylvania. They publish "The Chronicle of the Hutterite Brethren" (US$43.00 postpaid to U.S. addresses) and two other books on the history of the Hutterian Brethren, as well as the Plough" a monthly periodical, other writings of three generations of Arnold leaders and a line of related religious publications. (Call 1-800-521-8011 for a catalog).
"Society of Brothers" Bruderhofs 1920 -1997
Year Founded ... Bruderhof Name ... Location: City, State, Country ... Parent Colony
EARLY HISTORY OF BRUDERHOF COMMUNITIES
1920-1937 ... Sammerz?, Germany ... Sammerz?,Germany ... Founded by Eberhard Arnold
1937 ............ Liechtenstein ... ... Germany
1937-1940 ..... England ... ... Liechtenstein
1941-1955 ..... Ibate and two other Bruderhofs existed in Paraguay ... ... England
1955-1956 ..... Forest River, North Dakota ... Inkston, North Dakota ... Paraguay
1956-1957? .... Oak Lake ... Farmington, PA ... Forest River, North Dakota
1957-..?......... Evergreen ... Norfolk, CT... Woodcrest, New York
BRUDERHOF COMMUNITIES - January 1997
19?? ............ Beech Grove ... Nonington, Kent ... Darvell
19?? ............ Catskill, New York ... Elka Park, NY ...
1972 ............ Darvell ... Robertshire, Sussex, England ... Woodcrest, New York
195? ............ Deer Spring ... Norfolk, CT ... Evergreen, Connecticut
195? ............ New Meadow Run ... Farmington, Pennsylvania
19?? ............ Pleasant View ... Ulster Park, NY ...
1957? .......... Spring Valley ... Farmington, PA ... Oak Lake, Pennsylvania
1954 ............ Woodcrest ... Rifton, NY ... Paraguay