The Harmonists were the first people to live in New Harmony. They laid out the streets broad and straight in German fashion and began doing business.
This building was built by the Harmonists but used as a granary. Later residents used it as a woolen mill. However, the Harmonists did manufacture textiles here.

They already had good houses, large work shops and extensive barns—one of them 100 feet by 45, and another 200 feet long and 45 wide; a steam mill, driving two pairs of stones; a very large brick house in the shape of an L, for Mr. Rapp, with an excellent and highly ornate garden, inferior to few in the United States; they have 1500 merino sheep, whose wool they manufacture into excellent broadcloths, with a large stock of cattle, hogs, etc. and carry on almost every trade and manufacture, as well for their own use as to make things for sale—among them are tin-workers, shoemakers, saddlers, joiners, carpenters, hatters, stocking and other weavers, tanners, Wheelwrights, blacksmiths, etc. ect.

Built by the Harmonists and used by them as a caster oil factory, this building was located just off Main on Tavern until torn down in 1921

The Harmonists built this building on the northwest corner of Main and Tavern and used it as a tavern. Later it was called the Monitor Tavern.
This corner was known as Monitor Corner until the building burned to the ground in
1908. After another fire at that location in 1998, Harmonie Haus Cinema was built.

The Harmonists sold their town and businesses to the Owenites and business went on.
Overflowing with intellectuals and chaotic in organization, the Owen community was never as successful in business as the Harmonists. However, they did find a unique way to pay laborers.

Portion of Tyler, Fauntleroy & Co. accounts, October 1828.

Portion of a cargo list sent by Mr. Fauntleroy to New Orleans. Made up of pork and beef, including 27 barrels of miscellaneous pork, the value was $13,115.20

From the port of New Harmony to the port of New Orleans, 79 barrels of whiskey. Shipped by William Owen and Virgil Soper, 6 July 1835.
Steamboats also went upriver as far as Lafayette, and often steamboats brought goods to
New Harmony merchants to be sold in their stores. In the 1860s steamboats were making daily runs from Evansville to New Harmony.

New Harmony shipped out meat, grain, lumber and whiskey and shipped in all the world had to offer.
In the fall of 1841, the Twigg family needed blacking, nails, pepper and shoes for the family.

This early map from
Harmonist time shows the
Wabash flowing past New
Harmony and the little stream that would eventually become the main channel.
Because of the shoals south of town, the new channel was impassable to steamboat traffic.
Harmonie

A new mode of transportation was changing the way America did business. This is the P.D. & E Branch in New Harmony ca.1895
The ease and dependability of shipping by train squeezed out small hubs of commerce like New Harmony in favor of larger towns.

th

Northeast corner of Church and Main.

Main Street looking north.

Breith and Heckman buildings give Main St. a facelift.

Lichtenberger’s – serving New Harmony for 100 years.
Located on the northeast corner of Main and Tavern.

Taken before 1908. Monitor Tavern on corner.
Ford Store across the street from Tavern.

By 1929, the old Ford Store and Monitor Tavern are gone. The clock tower of Ribeyre Gym cans be seen where the Ford Store used to stand.
The old Mumford house still stands, but not for long.

By 1930, the Mumford house is gone. A new Standard
Oil Station serves the ever-growing number of cars.

Church Street looking east from Main. Ca.1890

Taken in
1878 before the fire of
1880 and subsequent remodeling of building.
Called No. 3 by the
Harmonists, it is where visitors stayed when while in
Harmonie.

On Church looking toward Main before the fire of July 1893 that destroyed the corner buildings.

“Chaffin corner” after the fire of 1893.

Church St. ca.1930

Opera House as gas station

8 grocery and meat markets
1 dry goods an clothing store
1 clothing store
1 pool room
1 picture show
2 variety stores
2 shoe shops
1 liquor and beer café
3 restaurants
1 hardware store
1 lawyer
2 drug stores
5 filling stations
1 flour mill
1 lumber yard
1 bank
1 hatcher
3 coal dealers
2 barber shops
1 telephone office
1 beer café & sandwich shop
1 ice dealer
2 machine & blacksmith shops
5 oil well supply depots
1 railroad
1 newspaper
1 funeral director
1 express office
1 dentist
1 part-time doctor

2 cream stations
2 bulk oil depots
Painters, paperhangers, insurance agents, carpenters, radio mechanics, electricians, and auto mechanics
1 general contractor
1 mule and stock dealer
1 veterinarian
1 magazine agency
1 furniture and department store
1 gravel plant
1 photographer
1 well shooter
1 municipal light and water plant
1 large suburban confectionary
1 public library

The new Boyer filling station announces that it will begin to serve the public tomorrow. This station is enclosed in blue and cream glass and offers an attractive novelty, there being few in the middle-west. It is a handsome addition to the town.
Mr. Boyer is planning to purchase part of the Shoultz lot in the rear of the station. This will give him more parking space for tourists who spend the night here and do not want to leave their cars on the street. At some later date Ed may see fit to erect two or three modern tourist cabins on the lot. 1936

The biscuit baking contest held at Fretageot’s store last Friday night was largely attended- there being a number of young girls registered for the game. Biscuits were baked on the famous
Majestic Steel Range with Mrs. J. H. Johnson, Mrs. Kate Parde and
Homer Lichtenberger as judges. The biscuit eating match for boys was won by Grover Deitz, who swallowed 9 buscuits in 6 ¾ minutes.

New Harmony business houses are getting to be Chinese puzzles. What used to be grocery stores are now stocked with dry goods, face powders, canned goods, pastry, lingerie, fresh meats, auto accessories and clothing.
The soft drink stands cannot be told from the general store as they handle everything from a lead pencil to a go-cart.
The drug stores carry a complete line of dry goods, noonday lunches and heating stoves. The dry goods stores handle hardware, shot guns, tinware, chinaware, bananas and gasoline. The hardware stores carry fruits, shoes, neckties and take orders for dressed poultry. The only ones remaining in their line have been banks. They would probably have opposition if the rest of the business men had any money to loan. The clothing stores have as yet added no new departments.
The mothers used to be able to tell their children to go down town after a pound of butter, a yard of Gingham, or a bottle of pop and they knew where to go, but now if the same mothers do not draw a map of where they want the children to go they are apt to bring home a pitch fork, a minnow bucket, or a set of dominos. 1927

By the second half of the 20 th century affordable cars, cheap gas and good roads had paved the way for shopping malls and chain stores. Main Streets and towns across the country were changing. New Harmony was changing more than most.

Lenz House heads to new location in historic district-1958

New Post Office-1968

The depot moves from Church St. to North St

Harmonist homes are moved and remodeled for tourists.
Interior of Solomon Wolfe House under construction.

Scholle House ready for tourists in 1967.

The Soup to Nuts Shop The Little Red Caboose
Harmonie Haus Harmony Candlemaker Shoppe
The Privy Shop
Hearts of Harmony
Kopper Kettle Shoppe
Hoosier Exclusive
Red Geranium Bookstore Cottage Craft Shop
Foxfire Pottery Old Harmony Shoppe
Gifts by Kern Crafty Goose
St. Nick’s Christmas Shop Antiques, Etc.
Gwen Koch Gallaries
Perfect Arrangements
Mudpies
Decades of Design
Calico and Lace
Wicker and Gift Shop

Though Main and Church Streets have changed over the years
1905
They are still the heart of New Harmony – Our Town