“It’s awkward,” Sarah admits. “They thought we were dead or taken. We thought we could never come back. Now we’re trying to be family again, but there’s this huge gap of time and experience we can’t bridge. We’re working on it.”
he Legacy
The Miller farm in Holmes County still stands, maintained now by the church district as a reminder of what happened. The hidden room remains accessible, preserved as it was found.
“We could have sealed it again,” Bishop Hochstetler says. “But we decided to leave it open. It’s a reminder that even in our community, there can be fear and injustice. It’s a reminder to watch out for each other.”
Visitors occasionally come to see the barn, though the Amish discourage tourism. A small wooden plaque near the concealed door reads simply: “In memory of the Miller family. May we learn to see those who hide in plain sight.”
