Harmony, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harmony
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Harmony Glassworks, part of the old Harmony Creamery plant, 2016
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 Harmony
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Luis Obispo |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 18 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
93435
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| Area code(s) | 805 |
Harmony is a tiny, unique community in California's San Luis Obispo County. It's not a big city, but a small, special place. It used to be famous for its dairy creamery, which closed in 1955. You can find Harmony along the scenic Highway 1, between the towns of Cayucos and Cambria.
Contents
Harmony's Past: A Dairy Town
Harmony started as a dairy settlement in the late 1800s. Swiss immigrants, who knew a lot about making dairy products, began this community.
How Harmony Got Its Name
The town was founded in 1869 with several dairy farms and a creamery. The dairy business changed owners many times. There were often disagreements and rivalries among the owners. In 1907, everyone decided to stop fighting. They named the town "Harmony" to show they had made peace.
Life in the Dairy Co-op
The Harmony Valley Dairy Co-op began in 1901. As the town grew, it had an office for dairy management. There were also places for employees to live. The town had a stable for horses and a blacksmith shop. Later, a gas station was added. A school was built, and a post office gave Harmony official status.
At its busiest, the creamery had 10 workers. They made high-quality butter and cheese. These products made Harmony famous across California. The creamery made butter golden by cooking it in a special Swiss way. Old dairy farmers believed this butter would never spoil. Tourists on Highway 1 often stopped for fresh buttermilk. Even famous publisher William Randolph Hearst visited often. He would stop on his way to his grand home in San Simeon. Many Hollywood stars who visited Hearst also stopped in Harmony.
Changes and New Beginnings
Around 1955, the creamery closed. This happened because land for grazing became more expensive. Also, bigger dairy companies took over smaller ones. Harmony's population went down for a while.
In the 1970s, young people rediscovered Harmony. They were looking for a quiet, rural life. They wanted to practice traditional crafts away from city life. Many old buildings, like the creamery, were fixed up. They reopened as restaurants and shops.
In 1979, a radio show from Los Angeles, "The Ken and Bob Company," featured Harmony. An artist named Jehry Miller sang his song "Harmonizing in Harmony Population 18."
Harmony has had good times and quiet times since the 1970s. It has been home to nice restaurants and art shops. More recently, only a few artists kept the town going. They sell art, hand-blown glass, and pottery.
Harmony Cellars, a winery, helps keep the town alive. It is a short distance south of Harmony. The winery opened in 1989. In 2006, it made about 6,000 cases of wine.
In 2014, Alan VanderHorst and his family bought Harmony. They plan to fix up and protect the historic 2.5-acre town.
Exploring Harmony's Layout
Harmony is one paved street off Highway 1. The main building is U-shaped. This used to be the creamery. The open area in the middle is a small plaza. On one side of the building is the Harmony Pottery Shop. On the other side is the old post office and a lounge for visitors.
There used to be a restaurant, but it closed in 1997. The post office was open until April 11, 2008. There is a wedding chapel in the back, with gardens nearby.
Harmony Glassworks is at the north-west end of the street. It opened in 2007. This shop is a gallery, a studio, and a school. It offers classes for beginners to learn glassblowing.
Harmony's Climate
Harmony has a mild climate influenced by the ocean. Winters are rainy, and summers are dry. The temperature doesn't change much throughout the year.
Harmony in Movies and TV
Featured in Korean Drama
Harmony was shown in episode 3 of the Korean drama The Heirs. The main characters visited the town and its winery.
Other Appearances
Harmony was mentioned in the 4th episode of HLN Kids Network's Gerbda. A character read a list of tourist places.
Harmony was also featured in the 1962 TV show Perry Mason. In the episode "The Case of the Absent Artist," Harmony was called "Port Harmony." It was shown as a place where artists lived and worked.
