The Harmonists Before Owen and Maclure: Whose Town Was This?

Before Robert Owen arrived with his vision of a secular utopia, New Harmony was already a utopian community — a religious one.

For ten years, a German Christian sect called the Harmony Society built a thriving community on the banks of the Wabash River in southwestern Indiana. They constructed the town Owen would buy. They cleared the land, planted the orchards, built the factories, and designed the streets.

When Owen purchased New Harmony in 1825, he didn't build a community from scratch. He bought one, ready-made.

Who Were the Harmonists?

The Harmony Society was a religious community led by George Rapp, a German farmer and preacher. Rapp believed the end times were coming soon, maybe within his lifetime. He thought Christians should live simply, work hard, and prepare for Christ's return by creating a perfect community on earth.

His followers called him "Father Rapp." They believed his spiritual guidance would lead them to salvation.

In the early 1800s, Rapp and his followers faced persecution in Germany for their religious beliefs. In 1803-1804, around 800 Harmonists immigrated to America, seeking religious freedom and a place to build their ideal Christian society.

Harmonie, Indiana (1814-1824)

The Harmonists first settled in Pennsylvania, establishing a town called Harmony. But after ten years, they decided to move. Rapp wanted better farmland and more space. In 1814, they purchased land in Indiana Territory: 18,000 acres along the Wabash River.

They called their new town Harmonie. Owen later anglicized it to "Harmony" and added the word "New."

What the Harmonists built was extraordinary:

Buildings: Over 180 brick, frame, and log structures including homes, workshops, dormitories, a church, a tavern, and a granary. The architecture was practical but well-crafted. These were buildings designed to last.

Industries: A wool mill, cotton mill, distillery, brewery, brickyard, tannery, shoemaking shop, and more. The Harmonists were largely self-sufficient, producing almost everything they needed.

Agriculture: Orchards with hundreds of fruit trees, vineyards for wine production, extensive gardens, and productive farmland. They grew wheat, corn, and other crops for both community use and sale.

Infrastructure: Wells, roads, fences, and a sophisticated system for distributing resources. Everything was planned and organized.

By 1824, Harmonie was one of the most prosperous communities in Indiana. They produced goods that were sold throughout the region. Their wine was particularly famous.

How Did the Harmonists Live?

The Harmony Society was communal but not equal in Owen's sense. Here's what made them different:

Celibacy: Members practiced celibacy, which meant no sex, even for married couples. Rapp believed celibacy was necessary for spiritual purity as they awaited Christ's return. Some couples who joined had to give up physical intimacy. No new children were supposed to be born in the community after its founding.

Common Property: Everything was owned collectively. Members surrendered their individual property when they joined. Everyone worked for the community's benefit, not personal profit.

Strict Authority: George Rapp made all major decisions. This wasn't a democracy. Rapp was a spiritual father figure whose word was law. Members followed his guidance without question.

Hard Work: The Harmonists worked six days a week, resting only on Sunday. Their religious beliefs emphasized labor as worship. Idleness was seen as sinful.

German Culture: They spoke German, maintained German traditions, and kept largely separate from their English-speaking neighbors.

The Harmonists succeeded where Owen and Maclure's community would fail. Why? Strong leadership, shared religious purpose, careful selection of members, and a clear hierarchy. They didn't promise equality, but salvation through obedience and work.

Why Did They Leave?

In 1824, after just ten years in Indiana, the Harmonists decided to move again.

The reasons aren't entirely clear, but several factors likely mattered:

Disease: The Wabash River valley had serious malaria problems. Many Harmonists got sick and some died. Moving to a healthier climate made sense.

Isolation: They were far from markets and other German communities. Moving back to Pennsylvania would put them closer to major cities and trade routes.

George Rapp's Decision: Ultimately, Rapp decided it was time to move. His followers trusted his spiritual guidance. When he said they should return to Pennsylvania, they went.

In 1824, the Harmonists began negotiating to sell their entire Indiana settlement. Robert Owen, hearing about this remarkable ready-made community, bought it for $150,000 in January 1825.

The Irony of Inheritance

Here's what makes this story strange: Owen bought a religious community's infrastructure to build a secular one.

The Harmonists succeeded through:

• Strong religious faith

• Unquestioned leadership

• Celibacy

• Careful membership selection

• Shared spiritual purpose

Owen rejected all of this. He opposed organized religion, challenged traditional authority, encouraged families, accepted anyone who showed up, and replaced spiritual purpose with rational philosophy.

He inherited buildings designed for obedience and tried to use them for equality. He took land cleared by celibate believers and invited families to create a new society based on reason.

The buildings remained standing. The orchards continued producing. However, you can't inherit someone's success by just moving into their town.

What Happened to the Harmonists?

The Harmonists moved back to Pennsylvania, founding a new town called Economy (now Ambridge, Pennsylvania). They continued their communal lifestyle there for decades.

Their story ended slowly. With no children, the community gradually died out. The last Harmonist died in 1905. Their final settlement became a museum and historic site called Old Economy Village, preserving their remarkable experiment in religious communalism.

Some people might say that the Harmonists can be overshadowed in New Harmony's history. Owen and Maclure's experiment receives the attention: the famous names, the radical ideas, the dramatic ending. Yet the Harmonists were there first. They built the town. They proved communal living could work, at least with the right beliefs and structure. They also had the wisdom to leave when it was time.

Owen bought their buildings but couldn't replicate their success. Perhaps that's because success in community-building isn't about architecture or infrastructure, but about why people stay and whether they believe in the same things.