Harmony Hotel history

Harmony, which is a National Historic Landmark District, was founded in 1804 as a religious commune by George Rapp, a German Lutheran Separatist, who combined the philosophy and writing of the early Christians and Karl Marx.

There are about 100 people buried in the Harmonist Cemetery but only one marker, which was placed there by the Mennonites. It commemorates Johannes Rapp, George Rapp’s son, who died July 27, 1812.

The Harmonists created and lived in Harmony until 1814, when they sold the town, whose land was communally owned, to a Mennonite group headed by Abraham Ziegler.

Another key site is the 1819 one-room Ziegler Cabin, which showcases the Mennonite lifestyle.

The Mennonite Meeting House remains much as it was when originally built in 1825.

The Harmony Inn, right on the square, was built as the home of Austin Pierce, a railroad president and businessman, in 1856.

In the early 1860’s, his nanny contracted tuberculosis and died in the rear room of the mansion.

The Ziegler family purchased the property in the late 1870’s from Mr.

Both of these groups were peaceful in nature and the Mennonites last hold on the land was when their church closed up permanently in the early 1900’s.

My parents bought what was known as the Bessie Malard (spelling:?) house and antique shop in 1943.

Finally finding a consistent owner and business practice, the Harmony Inn was purchased by Gary Barnes and Carl Beers in 1985.