David Lenz House
324 North Street
Built: circa 1819-1822
Original Use: Harmonist family residence
Architecture: Frame construction, typical of Harmonist domestic architecture
Built by the Harmonists and occupied by the Lenz family, who had immigrated to America from Germany in 1804 and joined the Harmonie Society in Pennsylvania in 1805. David Lenz, whose occupation was lawyer, moved with the Society to New Harmony in 1814 and died in 1822. His four sons left New Harmony in 1824 and returned to Pennsylvania with the Society when the Harmonists relocated.
After the Society's departure, the house continued to be occupied. In 1828, Thomas Mumford, a carpenter who had joined the Owenite community, married Louisa Maentel and bought the Lenz House. Louisa's father, Jacob Maentel (a folk artist) came to live with the couple during the last years of his life.
The heirs of Thomas Mumford donated the house to the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Indiana (NSCDA). In 1958, the NSCDA moved the house to its present location at 324 North Street and restored it to reflect a functioning Harmonist household. The house, along with its contents, is leased to Historic New Harmony.
Access: Interior accessible during guided tours only. This house is regularly featured on the New Harmony History Tour.
