"Hex signs" Seisholtzville by billus

Seisholtzville Travel Guide: 6 reviews and 12 photos

Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology

Everywhere on the sides of barns and houses in the Lehigh Valley you see these hex signs- though to keep out evil spirits, just like the gargoyles on the medieval cathedrals.

Now the word is they are derived from the emblem for a fire insurance company-not a bad investment for these wood framed structures. The star emblem seems to be derived from the end of iron tie bars-you see stars all over the place. Is an upside down star a symbol of devil-worship? Only the architect knows for sure

GET OUT

this freaked me out, but I now believe it is either a scarecrow, a halloween decoration, or a prop for an elaborate satanic ritual. Either way, I didn't linger long enough to find out.

gone to seed

The Hubbard Barn proclaims 1732 on its broad facade, but that could be a date or a street address

Intro Written Dec 1, 2002
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Reviews (9)

half timber manor house Favorites (9)

Compared to the rugged fieldstone construction of their barn, the early farmers built relatively modest homes. This... more travel advice

an "intersticial space" goes the argot - Seisholtzville

forebay overhang Favorites (9)

deluxe protection from the elements the barns are usually more handsome and better built than the houses... more travel advice

lurking in the wood shed - Seisholtzville

stone wood shed Favorites (9)

masonry craftsmanship on this modest building, before brick kilns were introduced more travel advice

outbuilding Favorites (9)

masonry more travel advice

Comments (5)

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keeweechic Feb 19, 2003 at 10:10 PM

Gosh those barns are civilized looking.. decorative without the body hanging in the trees.
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ATLC Dec 6, 2002 at 4:31 PM

Those Mennonites have a rich and diverse history. Thanks for the images! In Netherlands the first female church minister was a Mennonite: Annie Mankes-Zernike in 1911.
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ExGuyParis Dec 5, 2002 at 7:25 AM

‘To a T’ dates back to the 17th century in literary use. The sense of the expression corresponds with the older one, ‘to a tittle,’ which appeared almost a century earlier, and meant ‘to a dot,’ as in ‘jot or tittle.’ Beaumont used it in 1607.
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prunila Dec 4, 2002 at 12:48 PM

Very nice pictures. Difficult to understand where from they picked this symbols. I wish you could add some text about Mennonite philosofy.
Anyway this place is magic and idillic. Thanks for showing us interesting american unknown heritage.
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pepples46 Dec 1, 2002 at 7:06 PM

wonderful site Bill..love those early settlers beginnings