Some other interesting facts about the Shakers:
After the initial formation of the colony, they didn't actually convert many adults to their group. Instead, they mainly grew because they were the only people around who would care for orphans, who were then, of course, raised in the faith.
At last count, the small community in Maine consisted of two people, both very old women. The Shaker church, having owned a lot of land for a very long time, has a LOT of money, and they had to stop accepting converts because so many people tried to join in order to control their assets.
The Shakers are probably best known for Shaker furniture, which they made and sold to support their communities. Shaker furniture is simple, functional, well-made, and beautiful. They were way ahead of their time in the ergonomics department. A famous Shaker proverb is (I'm sure I'm remembering this wrong) "Only make something if it is both useful and needful. But if it is both useful and needful, do not hesitate to make it beautiful."
"Whoever would live long and happy, let him observe the following rules:
Let your thoughts be rational, solid, godly.
Let your conversation be little, useful, true.
Let your conduct be profitable, virtuous, charitable.
Let your manners be sober, courteous, cheerful.
Let your diet be temperate, wholesome, sober.
Let your apparel be frugal, neat, comely.
Let your sleep be moderate, quiet, seasonable.
Let your recreations be lawful, brief, seldom.
Let your prayers be short, devout, sincere."
From Needful Counsel, Gentle Manners
Published by the Shaker Community at New Lebanon, New York: 1823
Robert Newton Peck has written some great young-adult books about growing up Shaker, especially A Day No Pigs Would Die.