One of the oldest religious communities in the country flourished in the northeast corner of the county from 1732 until 1813 under the leadership of German Pietist Conrad Beissel (1691-1768). Practicing Beissel's doctrine of hard work and self-denial, celibate members—known as brothers and sisters—worked 18 hours a day and slept on narrow wooden benches. The community ran one of the country's first printing presses, produced more than 1,000 hymns and made a fine art of the illuminated script called Frakturschriften. Tours include a 15min video and visits to the meetinghouse and the sisters' house.