Tag Archive: new harmony

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A vintage wooden door with decorative black metal hinges in the sandstone foundation of the Rapp-Owen Granary, in New Harmony – Indiana. The granary was originally built by Father Joseph Rapp and his followers known as the Rappites. The Rappites were deeply religious group of people looking to create a communal society in the New World. Originally from Wurttemberg, Germany, they initially moved to Butler County, Pennsylvania, but ultimately settled in what would become New Harmony, Indiana. They are also known as Harmonists, after the official name of their community, the Harmony Society.

The Harmonist time in Indiana was relatively brief, founding the historic town over a 10 year period, and leaving behind a village of over 180 buildings, before returning to Pennsylvania, and founding the community of Economy in 1824.

Robert Owen, a wealthy industrialist purchased the entire town in 1825, with the goal of creating the ideal Utopia, an experiment that failed within two years. But in the process, and through his descendants the Granary and much of the town were maintained, and in the case of the granary, rebuilt it after a fire gutted the structure in 1878.

The granary served a variety of functions over its life time, but most notably it served as a geologic laboratory for several members of the Owens family. The town itself also served as the second headquarters of the US Geological society, and was the base for numerous scientists and educators.