Old Economy Village facts for kids
|
Old Economy
|
|
The Rapp house in Old Economy Village, Pennsylvania.
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Beaver County, Pennsylvania, USA |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Ambridge, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1824 |
| Architect | George Rapp and Frederick Reichert Rapp |
| Architectural style | 19th Century German-American |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000644 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | June 23, 1965 |
|
Economy Historic District
|
|
Harmony Society church in Old Economy Village
|
|
|
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Old Economy Village roughly bounded by PA 65, 12th, Merchant, and 16th Sts., Ambridge, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | 28 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| Architect | Harmony Society |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001142 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1985 |
Old Economy Village is a special historic place in Ambridge, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It's located right by the Ohio River. This village was the last home for a unique group of people called the Harmony Society.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission now takes care of Old Economy Village. It was founded in 1824. In 1966, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark District.
Contents
The Harmony Society: A Unique Community
The Harmony Society was a Christian group that started in Germany in 1785. They believed in a simple, shared way of life. They faced challenges from the government and church in Germany.
Because of this, they decided to move to the United States. Between 1803 and 1804, about 400 followers came to Pennsylvania. In 1805, they formally created the Harmony Society. They agreed to share everything they owned.
The society was led by George Rapp and his adopted son, Frederick Rapp. Members were often called Harmonists or Rappites. The society lasted for about 100 years, from 1805 to 1905.
Building Three Towns
The Harmony Society became very successful. They built three different communities in the United States.
- Their first town was in Harmony, Pennsylvania (1804–1814).
- Then they moved to New Harmony, Indiana (1814–1824).
- Finally, they settled in Economy, Pennsylvania, which is now Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
Life in Old Economy Village
The Harmonists named their last town "Economy." This name came from their spiritual idea of the "Divine Economy." In Economy, the society became very wealthy.
Frederick Rapp was a great businessman and manager. By 1829, the Harmonists were very important in trade. They even controlled markets in Pittsburgh and along the Ohio River.
The community also cared about art and culture. Frederick Rapp bought a museum with paintings and interesting old items. They had a deer park, a flower garden, and a maze. The society also had a good orchestra and loved music.
Challenges and Changes
In 1832, the society faced a big challenge. A man named Bernhard Müller, who called himself Count de Leon, came to Economy. He caused a split among the members.
About 250 of the 750 members left the society. Many of these were younger people. They did not want to continue the custom of not marrying or having children. This event saddened Frederick Rapp greatly, and he passed away two years later.
Even after this split, the society remained successful in business for many years. After Frederick Rapp died in 1834, George Rapp took over. Other leaders managed the society after George Rapp's death in 1847.
Hard Work and Innovation
The Harmonists were very hardworking. They used the newest technologies in their factories. They had a clothing factory, a sawmill, and a tannery. They also grew grapes for vineyards and made spirits.
They were known for producing high-quality silk for clothes. In Economy, they helped build the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. They also started a savings bank and a brick factory.
The Harmonists ran an oil company and lumber company. They even gave land for Geneva College to be built. The society had a big impact on the economy of Western Pennsylvania.
However, because the group chose not to marry or have children, their members grew older. They had to hire more and more outside workers.
The End of the Society
The society was most prosperous around 1868. But by 1890, they were in debt. Their membership was very small and mostly older people. They also faced many legal challenges from people claiming to be heirs.
J. S. Duss helped the society win these lawsuits and pay off their debts. But the stress was too much for his health. He had to resign in 1903. With only a few members left, the remaining land and assets were sold. The Harmony Society officially ended in 1906.
In 1916, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought 6 acres and 17 buildings of Old Economy. This became the historic site we see today. The American Bridge Company bought other parts of the society's land. They used it to expand the town of Ambridge, which was named after their company.
Today, much of Ambridge outside Old Economy Village is also a historic district. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
George Rapp: The Founder
Johann Georg Rapp (1757–1847) was the founder of the Harmony Society. He was born in Germany. Rapp was inspired by different thinkers and began to preach his own ideas.
In the 1780s, he started gathering followers. His group officially separated from the Lutheran Church in 1785. They were then banned from meeting. Because of this, Rapp and his followers decided to move to the United States in 1803.
Rapp's religious beliefs held his community together. It was a Christian community where people shared everything. The Harmony Society built three towns in America. They became rich and famous.
Moving to America
By 1798, Rapp's followers were already different from mainstream society. They refused to serve in the military or attend Lutheran schools. When the government began to challenge them in 1803, Rapp decided to move everyone to the United States.
The first move scattered some followers. But in 1804, Rapp bought a large area of land in Pennsylvania. He started his first community, called 'Harmonie' (Harmony). This town quickly grew to about 800 people and was very profitable.
In Harmony, the society was formally created. Members agreed to share all property. They also agreed to follow Rapp's spiritual and material leadership. They chose a lifestyle of not marrying or having children.
In 1814, they sold their first town for ten times what they paid for it. The entire community moved west to Indiana. Their new town was also called Harmony.
Ten years later, the community moved again. They returned to Pennsylvania and named their town 'Ökonomie' (Economy). The Indiana settlement was sold to Robert Owen and renamed New Harmony, Indiana.
George Rapp lived the rest of his life in Economy, Pennsylvania. He died in 1847 at the age of 89. The community eventually ended because their rule of not marrying meant no new members were born into the group. Most people outside the group did not want to give up so much to join. The society was formally dissolved in 1906.
Today, many of their buildings are preserved. Visitors can explore them and learn about this unique part of history. The entire village was named a National Historic Landmark District in 1965.
