A Life with the Amish Led to a Career: By Candlelight

An alley isn’t the first place one would think of to find high quality furniture. But when Sarah Jane Bye saw the 1,400 square foot building in the alley behind Union Street Station and the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City last summer, she knew it was the perfect location for her By Candlelight Amish Furniture store. She opened her store at the end of October, 2004 and business has exceeded her expectations.
Bye isn’t new to the furniture business; nine years ago at the age of 24 she started her first store in Rosebush (near Clare), a store that she continues to operate today, commuting every Tuesday and leaving the store in the hands of a manager the other days of the week.
So how does one open a store that features high quality, well-crafted Amish furniture? For Bye it started by joining the Amish. Growing up in Mount Pleasant, her father was a Methodist pastor and college minister at Central Michigan University.
With that background, Bye didn’t feel she fit in with other kids her age while in school.
“We didn’t have television,” she said. “When I went off to college I was looking to find people I could connect with. Growing up where I did, there were two Amish com-
munities, so I joined the Amish of Rosebush.”

A PEACEFUL LIFE
The attraction for Bye at first was the peaceful life the Amish lived.
“The Amish are very peaceful people, who live free of violence, rape and crime,” said Bye. “They also are even-keeled; there are no highs and lows. People who live with highs also experience the lows -- not in the Amish community.”
Accepted by the Amish, Bye decided to start a store of Amish women’s goods with quilts and crafts, hence the name By Candlelight. Before she opened her store in Rosebush it had evolved into a furniture store. Her success is rooted in the Amish work ethic.
“The Amish have this way, it isn’t pride, but a way of life that they don’t fudge or skimp,” said Bye. “It is against their way to cheat anyone, so everything is exceptional and reasonably priced. Some Amish churches restrict the amount their members can earn and that keeps the prices down.”
Bye obtains her furniture from the Holmes County, Ohio Amish. Her Traverse City showroom is small in comparison to her 8,000 square foot facility in Rosebush, but Bye also has catalogues and because of her success, looks to move this fall to a larger location.
“We have a purchase agreement with the owner of the building where the Children’s Museum (corner of Front & Hall streets) is currently located,” she said. “I hope to close on that soon and be in there by October when the Museum moves to their new location.”
LOVE CONNECTION
Bye came to Traverse City as a result of falling in love, something that wasn’t going to happen for her while she was a part of the Amish community.
“There was so much that I loved about the Amish, but as an outsider no one would marry me. There would be this fear that as an outsider I would leave with the children. The Amish don’t divorce and some of those who have married outsiders have lost their children,” said Bye. “I didn’t leave because of that. I left because they were too restrictive by not allowing some people to become part of their community. I just didn’t feel that was God’s way.”
So how did you fall in love?
“Well one thing I loved to do was dance and I gave that up when I joined the Amish,” said Bye. “When I left, one of the first things I did was go to a dance sponsored by the Wheatland Music Organization in Remus. At the dance was Steven Bye who was a board member with the Bayside Travellers. We married last June.”
So how does one leave the Amish?
“I left on good terms. I wasn’t banned or shunned,” said Bye. “You leave slowly by joining Mennonite churches that are more liberal, until you are finally out all the way.”
Liberal churches within the Amish community?
“Sure, even a few miles apart, the churches were different,” said Bye. “The Clare Amish are of the Old World Order -- no rubber on their wagon wheels -- they are very Old Testament. My community in Rosebush was New World Order; we had rubber on our wagon wheels.”

NO REGRETS
Leaving on good terms has let Bye maintain relationships with the Amish furniture builders.
“If I hadn’t left on the right terms, they wouldn’t sell to me,” said Bye.
While Bye enjoyed the peaceful lifestyle, she never felt deeply connected to those around her.
“I was never able to develop close, deep relationships with any of the women,” said Bye. “I just felt like I never had any true friends; every relationship was on the surface.”
So does Bye regret her years with the Amish?
“No, don’t get me wrong, I love those people. I lived a third of my life among them and they impacted me greatly. There is a lot in the culture that would benefit us all. In fact, I still don’t watch TV and I keep my emotions in the middle of the road. We live in town and I try to walk everywhere. I really only drive when I go to my Rosebush store.”
Bye has returned to her Methodist roots and attends Central United on Cass Street. “I love the music there,” she said.
As for the Amish furniture, she feels that there are some misconceptions out there, especially in regards to style.
“People are always surprised when they see the diverse styles and the intricate designs. There is this assumption that Amish furniture is simple in design, but they use all styles of wood and are very creative. People with million dollar homes come in here and are impressed on how they are able to outfit a room very reasonably without giving up on style or taste.”

SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND
Besides the misconceptions, are there any other challenges?
“Sure, people have a hard time finding me,” said Bye. “I guess people don’t think high quality furniture can be sold in an alley. They come downtown and walk or drive right pass. Hopefully in the new location we will stick out.”
By Candlelight is worth seeking out and really easy to find. It is located in a small building behind Union Street Station, Dillinger’s Pub and Wilsons Antiques on Union Street. Access is either from State Street or the alley that runs behind the City Opera House. Not only will one fine wonderful furniture and accent pieces, but an equally delightful person in Sarah Jane Bye makes it worth the visit. By Candlelight Amish Furnishings is located at 113 E. State St. for more detailed direction call (231) 947-1000.
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