Oneida Community Mansion

The Oneida name is something is well known but not so much for its origins but rather what it became - a company that produces flatware. I as much as anyone was surprised to get all of the details on what were the true beginnings of the Oneida name, beyond the Indian tribe.

The Oneida Community (1848-1881) was begun by a man named John Humphrey Noyes who saught to have a community of men, women, and eventually children that would coexist equally to maintain home, health, food production, monetary productions, while always striving for perfection in all aspects of one's life as well as with those in the community. Monogamous marriage was not practiced, but rather complex marriage where sexual relations were shared among all that were old enough to be "married". Pregnancy was rare as birth control was practiced. With hundreds of community members the total number of births in their 33 years was only around 70. Children were bred with specific parents (most often chosen spefically by Noyes or one of his underlings) whom were very spiritual and thus should produce very spiritual children.

All labors were shared equally and thus were open to whomever wanted to do them on any given day. I failed to see this division of labor fully though as every picture and note about the kitchen, quilting, and child care was done by a woman except for one reference to a man helping out on a special quilt that still hangs in the mansion. The main income source initially for the community was the making of animal traps. This endeavor made them fairly wealthy and allowed for expansions to the community to be made. Overtime the traps ceased to be lucrative and the focus switched to their other industry of silver flatware. This made significant amounts of money and expansions continued. However after Noyes grew too old and monogamous pairings began to want out Oneida Community, Ltd. was created and the community dissolved. Currently the Oneida, Ltd. name and such have been purchased the Community Mansion is still intact and preserved as a museum as well as residences. There are still descendants of the original community members that rent the apartments that have been created!