Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-20


the most unique style, and is decidedly
characteristic OF the customs and laws
which the old Harmonites have lived
up TO for almost century. The
streets are sixty feet wide and at right
angles with each other. forming sew
eral squares Of about two and three
quarters acres each, on the corners OF
which and midway on the Intervening
sides. the houses are erected, the In
closed grounds affordlng ample space
for the gardens OF the several families,
The houses are mainly OF frame two
stories high, and OF a unique style Of
architecture, having but one door each.
which is entered through a yard from
the side. says a writer in Leslie's
Weekly.
The Harmony society was formally
organized at Harmony, Butler county
Penn, A. d. 1905 by George Rapp. then
a sturdy young farmer OF moderate edu-
cation, who at the head OF a colony Of
immigrants from Wurtemberg. Ger
many, had come TO the United States 10
escape religious persecution. The so
ciety grew steadily and successfully.
The Butler county site soon proved 70
have been badly chosen: there was no
water Communication with the
outside world. Hence, In 1914
the society moved TO new
home in Posey county. Ind. on the
banks Of the Wabash. But though
from a financial standpoint the society
thrived in this place. they soon found
that 1t was very unhealthy locality
Many OF the members became afflicted
with fever and ague. and after time
the property, thirty thousand acres In
all, was sold at an enormous sacrifice,
and the society moved to its new and
final home at Economy. Penn. where
they had secured a tract Of 5000 acres
Of land.
Here the community prospered. The
members broken down by malaria were
restored to health. Their farming in
terests were large They had cotton.
wooden and silk factories also shops TO
produce everything they consumed as
well as large quantities for sale They
had also large and successful distll-
lery
But most OF these industries have al
the present day been given up, owing
to the depletion In the membership OF
the society due 10 their strict Law en-.
forcing celibacy. and also TO the num-
erous secessions made from time TO
time by dissatisfied members.
The administration OF Father Rapp
went far toward settling the question
Of successful communism. He was like
the father Of large family. and d.
rected the affairs Of the society 10 the
financial as well as spiritual profit OF
all. But on his death in 1s47. the So
ciety appointed in his place two trus-
tees to take absolute charge of It's af-
fairs. These were Romelius l.. Baker
and Jacob Henrici Mr.. Henricl was
devout, charitable. Christlan-llke |
man, and made good spiritual leader
Tor the society, but he was very lax in /
ais business methods. kept no books. in 4
'act, put his entire trust and confidence 4
N the Lord. who. he thought. would .
guard the affairs Of the 40
,iety
Hence 1t was that the society be.
,ame hopelessly involved. When on
he death Of Mr.. Heinrich. the present
eader, Mr.. Duss. assumed control the
ociety owed sl,500,0OO, while its avail
lble assets were only $4,000. But Mr.
Juss has proved himself a man NJ
onnd business principles. He went to
work at once, and has succeeded VIM
eriully In liquidating the debts OF the
ociety
but the Harmony society. once num-
ering 800 souls, will soon be n tbirs
I the past. OF the thirty-Aye MON.
ers still remaining, the larger nortio, 4
re ola men, and women far past middle d
re. Among these, the laws and cus.
pms OF the society are. with some few
RECEPTIONS, still faithfully adhered m
eilDacy - not as strictly enforced ag !
Mr.. Duss himself bein1 mo-.
ed. The three great featIva1s a. r
,aI the anniversary Of the founding h
the society, the second their harvest
ONE In early autumn, and the tbird b
ielr annual loye-feast, are stIlI colo. .
rated with all the former ceremony :
"a rejoicing. Divine worshlp "a am =,
ithfully attended on sundaya and 80 /,
former years, the men file lnto tboIr Il
aces on one side Of the church wbtlo
the women SIT opposite to them IN X
e other. '''''u on W
Despite the fact that the society IA =,
pidiy becoming extinct. Economy "a
~ a most Interesting and instructive v,
OF Tor the stranger to visit and evon W
9 iashion-satiated man and woman &c
Flttsburg and It's suburbs flnd n 4 b.
,ace ana comfort to occasionally
I'VE down along the winding sborea ~ ~
Lhe ohio and relieve their ennul ~ ~ n
rlakihg OF real German renast NJ bl
Ola Inn in the town, and ouencbing
''r tnifst either by draucbt from ia
olu town pump. or more often nor pt
D. ny a bottle or two Of the famoug ny