“Coop, a Story of An Amish Conscientious Objector,” April 19 and 21

Sunday, April 19, 2 p.m.

German American Heritage Center, 712 West Second Street, Davenport IA

Tuesday, April 21, noon

Muscatine Community College's Bob Roach Little Theatre, 152 Colorado Street, Muscatine IA

With the solo show by former Iowa Poet Laureate Mary Swander described by The News' Cheryl Allen as "an artful mix of both seriousness and fun," Coop, a Story of An Amish Conscientious Objector enjoys a pair of area performances this spring, this little-known story of Mennonite men from Kalona, Iowa enjoying presentations at Davenport's German American Heritage Center on April 19 and Muscatine Community College on April 21.

As stated at MarySwander.com, the author's new play Coop "is historical fiction, an enactment of true stories of Amish, Mennonite, and other conscientious objectors during WWI and WWII. The core story is taken from the oral history of a young Amish farmer draftee who boarded a train with other C.O.s – Mennonites, Quakers, Church of the Brethren, and Seventh Day Adventists – during World War II. This group of C.O.s, told they were bound to fight forest fires in Colorado, were interned instead in a chicken coop. There, they remained under guard for the rest of the war.

"We are all aware of the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, but few dramas have brought the story of Amish/Mennonite and other conscientious objectors to the world stage. Many C.O.s were treated with decency and respect during these war years, but others suffered humiliation, torture, and even death at the hands of both townspeople and the military. The Amish/Mennonite population was targeted for its fluency in the German language and their staunch refusal to kill others in war. They were thought to be naïve about the war effort, given their isolation on their farms in the rural United States.

"The play, masterfully performed by Rip Russell, is a one-person performance staged on a table with everyday objects representing the characters in the show. Object theatre. Russell pantomimes the action to a narration filled with music, sound effects and excerpts from old news reels. Come and watch traffic cones, dusters, balloons, and clothespins come to life, creating this gripping drama of the challenges German-speaking conscientious objectors endured. A quartet of Kalona Mennonites provides recorded a cappella hymns in the Anabaptist tradition, as part of the production..

"Mary Swander spent 10 years researching the material for this play. First, she schooled herself in the values and beliefs of the peace churches. Then she reviewed the historical backgrounds of the World Wars. Next, she tracked down the available written oral histories of Amish/Mennonite conscientious objectors. Then, once her Kalona Mennonite neighbors heard about her project, they began coming into her studio with more stories, photos, and historical material from their families. A local woman told Swander the true story of her conscientious objector grandfather during WWI. He was waterboarded at Camp Dodge near Des Moines, then he wrote a letter to the Secretary of War Newton Baker, who appeared at the camp to stop the torture.

"Other Kalona residents brought books that their churches had compiled about their members’ experiences during wars. They brought pamphlets detailing C.O. status, and how to resist participation in war efforts. They brought materials documenting their alternative service in hospitals, on farms, and in nursing homes. In December 2024, Swander performed a preview of the show at Hillcrest School (formerly Iowa Mennonite School), and many more people stepped forward with family stories and conscientious objector memories."

Linda Egenes, author of Visits with the Amish: Impressions of the Plain Life, stated: "Mary Swander’s Coop brings us deep inside the heart and mind of an Amish conscientious objector. We witness firsthand his courage in the face of lawless mistreatment – and the miracle of his forgiveness." And John Busbee, president and producer of The Culture Buzz,, raved: “I am so glad I was finally able to catch up with one of the Coop performances. Wonderful concept, richly connected history, and a powerful understanding of another under-shared chapter in American history.”

Mary Swander's Coop, a Story of An Amish Conscientious Objector will be performed at Davenport's German American Heritage Center on April 19 at 2 p.m., and in Muscatine Community College's Bob Roach Little Theatre on April 20 at noon. Admission is free, and more information on both performances is available by visiting MarySwander.com/coop.