The Last Living Shakers: A Unique Utopian Legacy
The youngest Shaker in the world is a remarkable 67-year-old named Arnold. He resides alongside Sister June, who is 86, in a splendid brick building that was originally designed to accommodate around 70 residents. This structure is part of the last active Shaker community in existence, located at Sabbathday Lake in the picturesque state of Maine. Together, they represent one of the longest-standing utopian experiments in American history.
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This enduring presence is a significant achievement, as most utopian experiments do not boast such longevity. The desire to create a new life apart from the complexities of mainstream society, to reinvent community with like-minded souls, has always been a powerful motivator for groups like the Shakers. Among the many such communities that America has nurtured, this one stands out for its resilience. From the tens of thousands of Shakers who have lived out their faith over the past 250 years, only these two remain.
Brother Arnold Hadd and Sister June Carpenter inhabit a village that also serves as a museum, embodying the roles of both residents and caretakers of this unique heritage. Sabbathday Lake features a well-maintained, elegant arrangement of buildings, centered around the brick dwelling house that was constructed during a time when the community thrived with around 200 members. The Shakers operate a modest farm, home to a flock of 70 sheep and four cows, and they produce and sell a variety of goods, including herbs, teas, handcrafted furniture, beeswax candles, and other artisanal items.
Even when the village is closed to visitors, curious individuals often drive through, stopping their cars to stroll along the dirt driveway and catch a glimpse of the historic Meeting House. Brother Arnold, who prefers to be addressed by his title and first name, often steps outside to welcome those who arrive, although he has stepped back from offering guided tours. On one occasion, two teenagers knocked on the kitchen door to ask for permission to hunt turkey in the Shakers’ woods; he graciously told them they could proceed.
These days, Brother Arnold begins his mornings early, spending an hour in solitude in the kitchen where he enjoys cooking and savoring the quiet before the day fills with activity. He is a robust, tall individual, strong enough to lift a sheep and hold it steady for shearing. Despite his imposing stature, his features are gentle, characterized by light eyes, a close-cropped white beard, and a small mouth. Due to Sister June’s advancing age and health issues, her role within the community is more private, and it is Brother Arnold who has taken on the mantle of leadership within the village. He serves as the head of the religion, the village leader, the farmer, gardener, shepherd, printer, housekeeper, cook, baker, author, editor, historian, spokesman, and elder.
This multifaceted role, he admits, was not what he envisioned when he joined the Shaker community at the age of 21. He had never anticipated becoming a leader of a religious community, nor had he ever worked with sheep prior to his arrival.
