Photos courtesy of Harmony Tourism
The community origins begin with the small village of Greenfield, once located just south of the current location. The settlement boasted a post office, church, school, and several businesses. However, when businesses heard a railroad would soon be built north of town, they abandoned Greenfield to establish the new town site by the railroad.
A popular Harmony legend explains how Harmony got its name. A group of citizens had gathered to decide on a name for the new village, but a heated argument arose with some residents wanting one name and others wanting another. Finally, one gentleman, wanting to be a peacemaker and bring an end to the bickering, exclaimed, “Let’s have Harmony here!” Another man quickly piped in, “Well, that’s an idea! Let’s call it Harmony.” And so they did.
Agriculture was the main industry, but manufacturing and commerce quickly added to the dynamics of town. Tourism opportunities also emerged throughout the past century.
Niagara Cave was discovered in 1924 when three boys tracked some lost pigs through an opening in the ground. Eight years later, three local men went back down into the crevice and explored the caverns to discover beautiful formations and an underground waterfall. The cave was then developed and opened for public tours in 1934.
The Amish came to the Harmony area early in 1974 from Ohio as many were seeking a less populated place to start a new Amish community. They were impressed by wooded timber areas for building and for fuel, springs and streams for animals and cooling milk, and small acreage farms with good soil and good drainage. Since that time, the community has grown significantly and the Amish farmers and craftsmen have become an integral part of the Harmony community. Visitors to the Harmony area can visit Amish farms and merchants by taking a tour.
The Harmony-Preston Valley Recreational Trail was established in 1998, extending to Harmony from the Root River Trail in Preston. Another 6-mile extension is expected to be completed this summer and will take bikers to Niagara Cave and the Iowa border.
