Our bed and breakfast has a rich heritage deeply rooted in the communal way of life once lived in the Amana Colonies. Built by the community in 1893 an unbroken line of the same families and their descendants lived in our home for 105 years. You can still feel the sharing of family memories, festive celebrations and the daily hard work of settling in a new homeland. Please share in this small look back at the happy family memories that still shine brightly within. We would like to thank both Lillian and Helen-the last descendant owners who generously shared their photos and stories that made us feel a part of the long line of happy family moments that still continue today.

Fred and Anne Rohrbacher

The original residents

Smiling school girls

All of the photos shown here are taken in either the front or side yard of what is now Annie's Garden Guest House. There was once a traditional "wash house" (as seen in the photo of Helen hugging her pet lamb) where our patio is found today. The raised gardens that surround the house on four sides are called "rabbats" that to this day contain the grape vines that climb the trellis seen on outside walls of the house. The raised gardens and trellis' are found on many of the old Homes you see in the Amana Colonies.

 

 

Four generations

Lena (seated) Lillian (on lap) Anna (right) and Frieda

 

The Aunts

Lillian, Visitor, Aunt Caroline, Helen and Anna

William and Frieda Sontag

( Amana residents still call our house "The Sontag House")

 

Helen and her pet Lamb

 

 

A pony ride

Easter Egg Hunt

The boys sitting in what is now our guest dining room