Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-06-22
Back to Harmony.

Back to Harmony.
In holiday regslis and accompanied by
the cheering notes OF their brass band, the
handful of Economics now left returned
on Thursday to spend day at their foun-
der's old home, Harmony. There were
ten with President Duss, and only two had
ever seen the beautiful and fertile valley
in which, over ninety years ago, Father
Rapp settled with his band from Wurtem-
burg, Germany, and prepared to SOW the
seed of universal brotherhood, and COM
mon riches that he had 30 carefully ripen-
ed in his benevolent but visionary brain.
Eight members remained at home, and
these together constitute the mighty host
who were to e1emplify Rapps projects.
The band and Economics rode to Har-
mony, on Thursday, by the Perry sville
plank road, a distance of % miles. The
band rode in an old wagon built by
Jonathan Lentz at New Harmony in 1923.
1t was the most unique feature of the trip.
1t took it Z hours to make the journey.
President Duss and the balance of the
Economics rode in carriages and canopied
hacks. The women wore gowns of purple
silk, black bonnets, black capes and white
lace ruches.
The town was prepared for their coming
and was decorated with flags and bunting.
The convey snces left Economy at a. m.
and drove to Harmony by the Perrysville
plank road, distance of % miles. 1t was
a slow, warm ard dusty drive. The band
was overtaken early in the forenoon. At
Zelionople the band played in the public
square. Harmony was reached at o'clock.
The town was decorated with flags and
many farmers had come IN with their fam
lies
Mr.. Dues, who wore gold cap,
formed his musicians in circle IN the
square, and they played lively tune
Then every body went after dinner. Mr.. Duss
and the band lodged at the Behm House,
while the other members of the party went
to the Ziegler House, kept by great
grandson of the man who bought harmony
79 years ago.
In the afternoon the members Of the So
ciety visited Father Rapps seat, the old
graveyard and he ancient church. These
visits occupied two honrs.
In the evening concert was given by
the band in the public square before u
great cuncouTse of people Mr.. Duss per
formed u cornet solo aud George Fisher, of
Pittsburg, clarionet solo. Short speech
es were made by Squire Niece, Rev. Mr..
Harter and Nr. Duss
Although accompanied by an outward
show of SO much that was lively and in
spiring. this pilgrimage was most pathetic
and arouses memories of the failure of
great undertaking. George Rspp's design
aimed at all that was good for his people
and all people, and for time the Harmon
ties prospered, but the greed and ayarice
which Rapp found when he came in the
world were there when be left, and his
grand design failed as all the other imita-
tions did, when the magnetic presence of
the leader was gone.
Harmony is 33 miles northwest of Pitts
burg, on the main line of the Pittsburg and
Western Railroad. 1t is u borough of 900
people, situated in beautiful valley on
the left bank of the picturesque Connoque-
Messing To the north of the stream, which
flows IN a semi-circle around the town, are
considerable hills, forest clad, whence there
are splendid views of the beautiful farming
lands to the south.
To this spot, then wilderness, went
George Rapp, the founder Of the society, in
1903 The beauty of the land, its rich
meadows and great forests, its hillsides, fit
for vineyards, and its lovely stream aboun-
ding in fish, persuaded him that here was
the ideal home for his people. He bought,
for a trihing sum, over 5000 acres OF land
on both sides of the stream, returned to
Wurtemburg and two years later brought
his followers to Harmony
A town was laid out with two streets
crossing at right angles, having public
square at their intersection. Houses we're
built of brick burned in the vicinity. A
church and mills soon followed and the
community hourished. They planted vine
yards and made wine. They grew barley
and hops and brewed beer; they got large
Aocks of sheep and made cloth in their
wooden mil
Ten years, from 1905 to 1915. were spent
at this place. 1t was not accessible to
market. Teaming to Pittsburg was too
slow and costly. Besides, the grape did
not flourish there as the Harmonites hoped.
1t was decided to move to the Westward,
and site was found on the Wabash river
in Indiana. The property at Harmony
was sold to Abraham Zegler for 800, 600,
a large part of which was paid in wool.
The 900 members of the community went
by river in aatboats to their Western home
and established New Harmony. Ten years
they hved there, but many died from mala-
ria, aud they returned to Pennsylvania,
themselves at Economy in
1925.
Many of the old houses still stand at
Harmony aud are yet used as dwellings.
Their solidity Of construction is remark
able They are plain brick houses with |
high FABLES The door posts are of stone, |
and over the door there are rude carvings |
Af:er some repairs the old church is still
fit for worship. II was damaged by the
great storm of 1856, which demolished |
many frail structures. The old brick |
wooden mill is a tenement.
On gentle slope southeast of the town |
is the old burying ground. The German |
inscription on the arch over the stone gate |
reads, Here rest 100 members of the Har- |
mOny Society, died from 1908 to 1919" II
is an inclose 100 to 200 feet with its On
trance to the rising sun. Around 1t IS
wall of massive stone masonry, hve feet
high The glte il unique. Under heavy |
arch a gate made OF one large stone swings |
on pivot in its center. On the face OF
the arch is white marble slab, bearing |
the above inscription and texts of Scrip
ture in German. This wall and gate were |
built in 1870. When completed many OF
the members of the society visited the
place, but none of those who made the
trip were of that lumber.
Inside of the wall the sward Is level.
There are neither grave mounds nor head
stones. This is the rule of the society.
A gainst the south wall lies one large slab
which outside friends had carved for John
Rapp, the son of the founder. The letters
On it are becoming obliterated. 1t was
with great difficulty that President Duss
the rude German ln-
and gave the following transla-
ion:
"Hcre lies and rests the body OF John
Rapp, born December 10, 178', died July
y, 1872 Here lies some clay Of the pot
er's wheel till dissolution liberates the
precious soul, which then shall rise into
iew hight and glorious lite.
In the center Of the plot stapds o large
zine tree. Along three walls are IL other
pines, symbolic of the apostles Two
mall cedars are near the gate.
Near the top of rocky bluff quarter
# mile away il Father Rspp's Seat. p"
3 is a lookout cut out of the face OF the
ock, sheltered by an oyerhanging sbelt of
hale, and is 100 feet above the sarface of
he C.pnoquessing flowing at the base OF
he cliff.
There sat Father Rapp, on 6 bench of
tone, and watched the workmen in the
elds across the stream. He shouted bis
rders through tin speaking trumpet still
4 the possession of Trustee Duss. He is
aid TO have been driving overseer, At
ne time stone steps, loo in number, as-
ended from the bank of the stream to this
Dfty lookout. Now it can be reached only ,
rom above, by dangerous path down the
4 IN