Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Amana Community expert
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Dr. Peter Hoehnle of Iowa will present an illustrated lecture at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18 at the Thrall’s Opera House sponsored by Harmonie Associates, in cooperation with Historic New Harmony. The lecture, illustrated with slides, is “Communal Connections: Interactions among the Amanas, Shakers, Harmonists, and other communal groups.” Hoehnle’s presentation highlights a unique combination of his studies of historic communal societies and life-long experience among communal societies. He has devoted considerable time to the study of the Amana Colonies of Iowa, where German settlers created small communities for worship and work. Hoehnle wrote, “I have always been interested in communal societies. Being raised in Amana, of course, this was natural. I am something of a dual descendant of both Amana and the Harmonists, since my great grandfather, his parents, sisters and in-laws all were hired hands at Economy during the 1880’s. My grandfather attended services there, as we have his Harmonist hymnal. I was always surrounded by relatives and neighbors who were eager to tell stories of the old communal days.” Since that time Hoehnle has gone on to complete bachelor, master, and doctoral studies in history. His dissertation, completed in 2003, was “Common Labor, Common Lives: The Social Connection of Work in Four Communal Societies 1774-1932.” He has taught various American history courses at Iowa State University and is currently historical consultant and docent for the Amana Heritage Society. He has recently published a book, The Amana People: The History of a Religious Community. Hoehnle’s presentation is free and open to the public. Please join Harmonie Associates and Historic New Harmony for this interesting evening on Thursday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m., at the Thrall’s Opera House. Bring a dessert for the pitch-in and stay for the lecture and discussion with Dr. Peter Hoehnle. If you have any questions, call Martha Raske at 682-3389. |
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