New Harmony was founded almost two hundred years ago first as a spiritual community, then as a haven for scholars, scientists, and educators whose visions of a utopian communal society gave rise to many progressive ideas and philosophies and inspired social change. We’d like to hear from all of you what your ideal vision of “Utopia” would be and why.
Community House No. 2 was built by the Harmonists in 1822 as one of four large dormitories to house both single men and women of the society. After the Harmonists returned to Pennsylvania in 1824, the Owen-Maclure community continued to use the building for different communal activities and as a school. The school was based on Pestalozzian principles which focused strongly on participatory group activities and balancing individual learning abilities rather than on memorization and strictly defined curriculum.
Once the formal contractual Owen-Maclure community dissolved, the building housed a variety of businesses including a hotel, tavern, rooming house, print shop, cigar factory, hardware store, and tea room. In 1940, the State of Indiana purchased the building from New Harmony preservationist Mary Emily Fauntleroy.