Harmony, Washington

Last updated
Harmony, Washington
Unincorporated community
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Harmony
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Harmony
Coordinates: 46°33′29″N122°29′1″W / 46.55806°N 122.48361°W / 46.55806; -122.48361
Country United States
State Washington
County Lewis
EstablishedFebruary 14, 1890
Elevation
719 ft (219 m)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
Area code 360
GNIS feature ID1520553 [1]

Harmony is an unincorporated town in Lewis County, Washington. The community is located near the junction of the Cowlitz River and Mayfield Lake, and is situated off Route 122, north of Mossyrock. [2]

Contents

History

The region was populated by the Cowlitz people who would traverse over the Cowlitz River by means of a local phenomenon, known as the Drift, which created a log jam bridge. A tribal member, Ike Kinswa, was awarded a land patent of 165 acres (67 ha) from President Benjamin Harrison during the early formations of the Harmony community. [3]

The town was named after the "harmonious relationship" between community members in the area, who began settling the land in the late 1800s. The first non-Native settler may have been Ike Skinner, a trapper, but any official recording of Harmony's early pioneer settlement date, outside of the creation of a post office in 1890, is unknown. [3] The post office operated from February 14, 1890, to February 15, 1924. [4]

The earliest plans for the community began in 1895 when new residents were charged a "joining fee" of $500, which provided a house and land, and members were paid a dividend, as well as profit sharing of the local harvest. Articles of incorporation were filed stating that Harmony was meant to be a refined, well-mannered, and ideal community based on "unselfish principles of co-operation and brotherly love". The community advertised itself as welcoming to those who were Caucasian, of good moral character, and accepted socialism. Despite interest that spread nationally, only one person beyond Lewis County joined. The membership attempt for a utopian community lasted until 1899. [5]

The community constructed a two-room schoolhouse in 1901, often used as a space for communal gatherings. The town was part of school district No. 51 [6] [7] but was consolidated into No. 206 by 1912. [8] By 1913, the school was deemed too small and ill-suited for its location, [9] and a larger, but one-room, school was built beginning in May. [10] The older building was put up for auction in October 1913. [11]

The area was known for old-growth forests. [5] [12] Early farming including the growing of hops but a planned fruit ranch failed to materialize. [5] The town's original farming background continues and the community has experienced residential growth since the construction of the dams on the Cowlitz River. Due to the changes in water flow, the Drift events ceased. [3]

Arts and culture

Events and festivals

The community began a Harmony Wine and Jazz Festival in the late 2000s, growing popular enough to be part of an expanded music festival in the Mayfield Lake area. [13] [14]

Historic buildings and sites

The town has a Catholic community along with a church, the St. Yves (Ives) Catholic Church, which was initially built along the Cowlitz River on a bluff overlooking Dunn Canyon in 1914. [3] [4] Dedicated on July 12, 1914, [15] the church was named after the patron saint of attorneys, Ivo of Kermartin. [16] [17] The church was situated on 1.0-acre (0.40 ha) of donated land and contained poplar trees that were most likely planted during or near construction; a cemetery was placed behind the church. The house of worship was mostly unchanged since its beginnings, though an addition in 1952 almost doubled the size of the building. [17] [18] The church was white with light blue-trim, and was built with a steeple and bell, and it's inscription was "Chapel of Saint Ives - Our Lady of the Valley". [19]

The church was destroyed during a fire in 1989 but a similar place of worship, retaining the original name, was rebuilt on the grounds. [3]

Parks and recreation

The town is an access point to Ike Kinswa State Park, where many of its early settlers have been buried. [4] Harmony also is home to a resort and campground, [3] and is known locally for the Harmony Bridge, first built in the early 1900s and is a fishing spot over the Cowlitz River. [20] [21]

Politics

Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 [22] 68.08%46729.74% 2041.90% 13

The 2020 election included 13 votes for Jo Jorgensen of the Libertarian Party and there were 2 votes for write-in candidates.

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References

  1. ↑ "Harmony". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ↑ "Harmony · Washington 98585". Harmony · Washington 98585. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Emerson, Amy (April 6, 2002). "Cowlitz people among Harmony's most well-known residents". The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington) . p. 45. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lewis County Towns, Adna - Logan". jtenlen.drizzlehosting.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  5. 1 2 3 Moeller, Bill (November 24, 2010). "What if They Gave a Party but Almost Nobody Came?". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  6. ↑ "School "Reviewings"". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. March 30, 1900. p. 3. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Public Schools Have Opened". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. September 29, 1907. p. 1. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Notice to Electors of Consolidated School District No. 206". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. February 22, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ "To the Voters in School District No. 206". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. February 28, 1913. p. 9. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Bids Wanted". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. May 9, 1913. p. 4. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Bids Wanted". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. September 26, 1913. p. 4. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Mossyrock "Recordings"". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. July 5, 1901. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ McClurg, Dian (September 8, 2008). "Music, Wine Set Stage for Mayfield Tourism". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  14. ↑ McClurg, Dian (July 25, 2009). "Swing Band Festival Under Way at Mayfield Lake". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Church Is Dedicated at Harmony". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. July 31, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ Blomdahl, George H. (October 18, 1974). "St. Yves Catholic Church - Photo caption". The Daily Chronicle. p. 4. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Anniversary celebration planned Sunday". The Daily Chronicle. July 13, 1974. p. 3. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Harmony Church Marks 50th Year". The Daily Chronicle. August 1, 1964. p. 12. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Quiet Chapel of St. Ives Now In 38th Year of Service on Banks of Cowlitz". The Daily Chronicle. May 17, 1952. pp. 1, 7. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ Jones, Pat (December 8, 2005). "Mossyrock's history includes its bridges". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  21. ↑ Mohney, Russ (April 9, 2004). "Rainbows released into Swofford". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Lewis County November 3, 2020 General Election". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
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