Harmony State College: A Chronicle of Growth, Transformation, and Community Engagement
Harmony State College's history is a tapestry woven with threads of iron forging, religious communities, academic evolution, and a deep commitment to community engagement. From its humble beginnings as an iron forge to its current status as a vibrant university, Harmony State College has undergone significant transformations, reflecting the changing needs and aspirations of its students and the wider community.
The Genesis of Harmony: From Iron Forge to Community
The story of Harmony begins in 1795 with Harmony Forge, established near Milesburg. Built by Colonel Samuel Miles, James Dunlop, and Colonel John Patton, Harmony Forge was among the first ironworks in what is now Centre County. It was designed to work alongside the Centre Furnace, which they had opened in 1792. Miles, a Philadelphia business and political leader and veteran of the Revolutionary War, recognized the potential of central Pennsylvania's vast resources and acquired 9,000 acres in Brush Valley (present-day Miles Township) in the 1770s.
While Miles himself never resided in Centre County, he entrusted his sons, John and Joseph, with managing his iron interests. Following Miles' death in 1805, his sons took over Harmony Forge and Centre Furnace. Joseph Green Sr. also joined the operation. Four years later, they made the decision to close Centre Furnace and focus their efforts on Harmony Forge, where they constructed a rolling and slitting mill, a grist mill, and a sawmill.
Harmony Forge experienced a series of ownership changes starting in the 1830s, including James Irvin and Andrew Gregg Jr. In 1849, James Harris Linn, J. M. McCoy, and Moses Thompson partnered with Irvin after Gregg's retirement. By 1883, Frank, son of J.M. McCoy, was operating the furnace. However, the iron industry in central Pennsylvania was declining rapidly, and by 1911, Harmony Forge was one of only two furnaces still in operation in the county.
The Harmony Forge Mansion, believed to have been built between 1793 and 1820, stands as a testament to the area's rich history. The mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has changed ownership several times but has been renovated to preserve its historic features. Remnants of the canal built by the Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Navigation Company can also be found on the Harmony Forge property. This canal once connected Harmony Forge and other iron forges near Bellefonte to Lock Haven, providing a vital link to the West Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. Although the canal initially boosted commerce, the rise of railroads and a devastating flood in 1865 ultimately led to its demise.
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The Harmony Society: A Quest for Religious Freedom and Communal Living
Another significant chapter in the history of Harmony is the story of the Harmony Society, also known as the Rappites. Founded in the 1780s by Johann Georg Rapp (1757 - 1847) and his adopted son, Frederick (1775 - 1834), the Harmony Society emerged from Anabaptist beliefs rejected by the Lutheran Church. Seeking religious freedom, the Rappites immigrated from Württemberg, Germany, to the United States in 1803.
The Harmony Society established its first colony, named Harmony, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, after purchasing 3,000 acres of land. On February 15, 1805, the settlers signed articles of association, formally establishing the Harmony Society in the United States. This document outlined the community's commitment to holding all property in a common fund, including $23,000 of working capital used to acquire land, livestock, tools, and other necessities. In exchange for contributing their possessions and labor, members received care for as long as they lived with the group.
Under the spiritual leadership of George Rapp, also known as Father Rapp, and the business management of Frederick Rapp, the Harmony Society thrived. The community quickly developed a diversified economy that included an inn, a tannery, warehouses, a brewery, several mills, stables, barns, a church/meetinghouse, a school, dwellings for members, a labyrinth, and workshops. By 1814, the Society boasted 700 members, a town of about 130 brick, frame, and log houses, and numerous factories and processing plants.
Several factors prompted the Harmonists to leave Butler County, including challenges growing grapes for wine due to the area's climate and conflicts with new settlers who were not part of the Society. As Butler County's population grew and land prices rose, the Society sought a location that offered a better climate and more room to expand.
In 1814, the Harmony Society moved to the Indiana Territory, where they built a new community called Harmonie (later New Harmony) on the Wabash River. The Harmonists engaged in agriculture and manufacturing on a larger scale than they had in Pennsylvania. Despite facing illnesses and the loss of about 120 people due to fever (malaria), the community persevered. Visitors to the new town marveled at its commercial and industrial activity. By 1819, the town featured a steam-operated wool carding and spinning factory, a brewery, distillery, vineyards, and a winery.
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In 1825, the Harmonists sold their land and buildings in Indiana to Robert Owen, a Welsh-born industrialist and social reformer, and his financial partner, William Maclure, for $150,000. The Harmonists then returned to Pennsylvania and established their final home at Economy (now Old Economy) in Ambridge on the Ohio River.
At Economy, the Harmonists focused on manufacturing, benefiting from better access to eastern markets and water routes. By 1826, they had woolen and cotton mills in operation, as well as a steam-operated grain mill. The Harmonist society also ran a wine press, a hotel, post office, saw mills, stores, and a variety of farms. Under Frederick Rapp's leadership, the Society prospered and dominated trade in Pittsburgh and along the Ohio River by 1829.
The Harmonists also valued art and culture. Frederick Rapp acquired artifacts and established a museum featuring fine paintings and antiques. The Harmonists maintained a deer park, a floral park, and a maze, or labyrinth. They were also fond of music, with many members being accomplished musicians.
In 1832, the Society experienced a significant division when 250 members, influenced by Bernhard Müller (Count de Leon), separated from the group. This secession, largely composed of younger members who did not want to maintain celibacy, deeply affected Frederick Rapp, who died within two years.
Following Frederick Rapp's death in 1834, George Rapp appointed Romelius Baker and Jacob Henrici as trustees to manage the Society's business affairs. After George Rapp's death in 1847, the Society reorganized, electing a board of elders to enforce rules and regulations while entrusting business management to trustees.
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The settlements at Economy remained economically successful until the late 19th century, producing goods in their factories, mills, and vineyards. They also produced high-quality silk for garments, an industry started by Rapp's granddaughter, Gertrude. As the Harmonists aged and their membership declined due to their practice of celibacy, they began hiring outside labor and investing in other ventures, such as oil, coal, timber, railroads, land development, and banking.
The Harmony Society invested in the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, established the Economy Savings Institution and the Economy Brick Works, and operated the Economy Oil Company, as well as the Economy Planing Mill and Economy Lumber Company. They also donated land for the construction of Geneva College in Beaver Falls.
The Society's wealth peaked in the mid-1860s due to oil production. By 1890, however, the Society was in debt and facing litigation, with a depleted and aging membership. The Harmony Society was officially dissolved in 1905.
In 1916, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired 6 acres and 17 buildings of Economy, which became the Old Economy Village historic site.
The Harmonites were Christian pietist Separatists who sought to create a more perfect society in the American wilderness. They were nonviolent pacifists who adhered to George Rapp's philosophy and literal interpretations of the New Testament. They believed in communal living, sharing resources, and practicing celibacy to purify themselves for the coming Millennium. Rapp believed that the events of the time confirmed his views on the Second Coming of Christ and considered Napoleon the Antichrist.
From Harmony Academy to Utah Tech University: A Legacy of Education
In 1888, the first iteration of a St. George Stake Academy opened in the St. George Tabernacle, offering classes in theology, grammar, arithmetic, hygiene, and orthography. In 1907, fundraising efforts led to the establishment of a high school, the second iteration of the St. George Stake Academy, which opened in 1911. The curriculum included English, ancient history, plane geometry, domestic art, and physics.
In 1918, the St. George Stake Academy officially became Dixie Normal College, adding college classes to the existing high school. The institution's name was simplified to Dixie College in 1923, and a new board of trustees was created. In 1933, Dixie College became Dixie Junior College during the Great Depression.
In 1951, the college sports teams adopted the "Rebels" athletic nickname. In 1963, Dixie Junior College and Dixie High School split, and a new college campus opened. Student enrollment doubled in size over five years, leading to campus expansion. New construction included the Liberal Arts Building, Administration Building, Maintenance Building, auto shop, business facilities, and Shenandoah dormitory.
In 2022, the institutional name was changed to Utah Tech University.
Harmony Today: Fostering Inclusion and Community Through the Arts
Harmony State College continues to uphold its commitment to community engagement through various initiatives. One notable example is the Harmony program, founded in 2013, which pairs college student mentors with individuals with special needs to form friendships and prepare songs and dances for an end-of-semester performance. This program provides a safe and inclusive environment where participants can express themselves, develop emotional awareness, and build confidence.
The Harmony program exemplifies the "We Are" spirit of Penn State, bringing together students, faculty, and community members to support one another and overcome challenges. The program's success demonstrates the transformative power of the arts in fostering inclusion, promoting social skills, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with special needs.
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