Harmony Pennsylvania

Harmony Inn

Approving the restorations, spirits are friendly presences supporting the living, but they have their different personalities.

DESCRIPTION

This 1856 Italianate style, large wood and brick mansion has two floors, the customary attic, basement, and an addition of a two story wing onto the original mansion. Inside, the use of wood reminds the visitor that this indeed was a home built for a wealthy banker, despite the fact that this mansion evolved in its use over the years. It has glorious black walnut/chestnut woodwork throughout the mansion.

For quite awhile, it has been a restaurant, using the rooms of both floors as dining rooms. The tavern area is in the large room just inside the side door off the parking lot. There is an old fashioned wooden long bar, and tables and booths laid out around this large room, which could’ve been the main dining room when it was a private residence.

Off the main entry hall there is a large parlor on the left used as a nicer dining room and a gorgeous wooden staircase in the middle of the entry hall which leads up to the second floor and the addition.

Smaller, more intimate dining rooms are found upstairs. Outside, there are barbecue grills and picnic benches.

HISTORY

Harmony as a town was founded by pacifist German Lutheran Separatists in 1804. They chose this lovely spot to start their communal group, which flourished until they took the vow of celibacy in 1807. In 1814, the Harmonists sold their property to a group of Mennonites when they moved to Indiana. Though the Mennonite church closed its doors in 1902, many of Harmony’s current population are descendants of the Mennonites who settled here.

The Harmony Inn was built in 1856, as a private residence of Austin Pearce, a prominent banker, railroad operator and executive. Mr. Pearce wound up having to sell his mansion to a new owner, sometime after the Civil War.

Throughout the mansion’s history, it has been used for many purposes, besides a private residence. It has been a hotel, a meeting house, a livery stable, a boarding house, a tavern and a restaurant.

In the late 1800s, the Ziegler family, who transformed the mansion into a hotel and salon, put this fine building to work. In 1900, they added the two story wing to expand their hotel business.

Throughout the 20th century, this place has had a series of owners. In 1985, Carl Beers and Gary & Betsy Bones bought the building and property, which by this time was in need of TLC and restoration.

Luckily, these folks fell in love with the place and agreed to start the long process of repair and restoration. One of the big jobs was to strip off the paint on the woodwork inside and restore it to its original beauty.

Besides being a restaurant and private party location, the Harmony Inn on occasion has scheduled dinner theatre entertainment.

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

When creaky commercial structures are restored to their former glory, former spectral business owners can be drawn back to help and encourage the new owners.

The Bair Drug and Hardware building, WA (The Bair Drug and Hardware building has been restored and is owned by The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association. They leased it to the people who opened The Bair Bistro restaurant and museum, which brings in funds for the museum and the maintenance needs of this old, historic structure. The spirit of the original business owner Warren L. Bair has joined the staff).

The Eagle Hotel, PA (The restoration and renovation of the building activated the spirits who were residing here, and willing to communicate with the living. The spirit of owner Amos Judson feels safe to continue his life’s work strictly managing the staff).

The Bullock Hotel, SD (Spectral owner Seth Bullock strongly supervises the living and keeps an eye on the guests who stay).

Harmony Inn, PA (It is thought that the inn’s spirits are helpful guardians of the living, really pleased with all the hard work these owners have put into the existing business and the building. One spirit in particular is described by the owners as being the strongest one. They explained, “This spirit is a sort of guardian of a big block of time and its primary goal is to link the past, present and future.”).

Sudden, fatal accidents and illnesses can cause hauntings because the victim wasn’t ready to pass on.

Boulder Theatre, CO (Theatre manager George Paper died in a freak accident, trying to fix theatre stage lights. His spirit has long been an active/proactive resident observer, spectral manager, and protector of the theater. He wants the living to know that he is still there, and wishes to be a part of things very badly, which is hard to do if you have no physical body anymore).

Variety Theatre, OH (The spirit who was a lead member of the theatre’s past stage and lighting crew, and probably directed them in their work, had a deadly accident. However, he is not deterred from continuing to do his job for the living).

The Elsinore Theatre, OR (People who work on the catwalks of theatres sometimes fall to their deaths. This may have happened in the Elsinore Theatre).

Harmony Inn, PA (Local people believe that one of the entities here is the spirit of a man, Barney, who fell down the stairs and broke his neck. Another spirit of an older woman died in the attic of TB, after catching it from sick children she cared for. She was buried in the wall of the attic).

Children who die sometimes like to stay where they felt love and support.

Cuppa Coffee Building, CA (Ten-year-old Amy lived here with her family, but died of disease. Her spirit still resides here, attached to the female owners).

Stranahan House Museum, FL (A young Native American girl with a heart condition had a loving relationship with Mrs. Stranahan, who was her teacher. When the girl had a heart attack on the doorstep of the house, her spirit decided to stay there).

McRaven House Museum, MS (The spirits of the two young sons of the Murray family who died here like to try to play with other young children visitors and the docents).

Harmony Inn, PA (A child, who was probably the daughter of an owner, died here because of a handicap she was born with).

People who have to leave their forever homes because of life’s circumstances, often like to spend their afterlives in them.

Mark Twain House Museum, CT (Mark Twain and his wife Olivia sold their forever home because of their finances, and the sorrow connected to their property. After it was completely restored, the Clemens family moved back inside with servants, happy to share their home with visitors).

Waverly House, VA (Benjamin Green was an elderly man who worked as a clerk in a bank. When he was falsely accused of embezzlement, he had to move out of his beloved home and left town. As a spirit, he has moved back inside to spend his afterlife in his forever home).

Frick/Clayton House, PA (The family of Henry Clayton Frick enjoyed their home and community until 1905, when Henry moved his family to New York City. Chiles was already going to college, but Henry’s wife Adelaide and daughter Helen sorely missed the mansion in Pittsburgh, and their lives there. Both of these spirits enjoy their afterlives here).

Harmony Inn, PA (The original owner, Austin Pearce, who built the mansion in 1856, had to sell it sometime after the Civil War. His spirit may be the strong presence in the inn, giving encouragement in this commercial enterprise).

MANIFESTATIONS

So many people have owned this property, worked here and visited it as a business over the years, it isn’t certain who the spirits are. There are clues to their identities so there are theories as to who they could be. There seem to be at least two friendly spirits, one friendly but mischievous spirit, and the spirit of a child.

The Strong, Friendly Spirit

He may have been here for quite awhile and I theorize the spirit is Austin Pearce.

He may have become active in the late 1800s when the Ziegler family first put the building to work.

Being a businessman, he must have been an encouraging presence for all the businesses who moved inside.

He is pleased with all the hard work done to restore the mansion.

The owners and staff of the Harmony Inn and visiting sensitives have felt a warm, friendly, supportive presence keeping them company as they carry out their duties and agendas.

Another Friendly Male Spirit

He is thought to be the accident fatality, Barney.

He sticks around because he wasn’t ready to die, and is restless.

He lets the living know of his presence by moving objects around, or pushing items off shelves.

The Spirit of the Young Girl

She is shy, and limps around the restaurant, both upstairs and downstairs.

Psychics have felt her presence, a child suffering from physical handicaps.

She has become more comfortable and has appeared in front of of the living.

The Spirit of an Older Woman

She has claimed the unfinished attic where her body was hidden in the wall.

She is polite and will talk to paranormal investigators.

She visits other floors of the inn, a pleasant, benign spirit who used to live here around the turn of the century.

The Spirit of Louie

He likes the first floor, the bar area and the basement.

He enjoys making unbelievers of the paranormal into believers through mischievous antics.

He is strong enough to pull out all the stops.

Methods of Persuasion for Owner Bob McCafferty

In front of owner skeptic Bob McCafferty, Louie levitated glasses in the bar, and then threw coins at Bob.

Owner Bob felt a cold finger make a path down his back.

Louie appeared to Bob in the bar and in the basement.

Methods of Persuasion for Jason

Jason the bartender didn’t believe in spirits. Uh Oh!

On duty, he felt a cold spectral hand brush the back of his neck

Louie then appeared in the bar, perhaps wanting a beer!

Signs of Unseen Presences

Staff and patrons alike have felt unexplained cold air move by them, as if an unseen presence or two passed by.

Unexplained electrical malfunctions have been noted.

Sometimes when the morning staff come in, the furniture has been rearranged in the dining room.

More Personal Appearances

Upstairs, the staff, owners, and patrons, who sit upstairs to dine, have seen mists form and the image of a man appearing in mirrors.

The spirit of Austin Pierce probably is the man seen in the upstairs mirrors, a polite way to show himself to the living, as the spectral owner and host.

The spirit of the limping young girl in a white dress has been seen by staff and patrons.

The spirit of the woman has been seen walking around the house.

PARANORMAL FINDINGS

We talked to our waitress about the spirits and she confirmed some of what has been said above.

There have been many media reports about the entities who reside at the Harmony Inn, many of which are posted on the wall in the bar area. Some of the radio stations and newspapers in western Pennsylvania who have confirmed these paranormal occurrences have included KDKA, WDOCI, The Pittsburgh Press, and The Post Gazette.

Some quick photographer snapped a picture of the image of the man in a mirror, which is also on display in the bar area.

STILL HAUNTED?

Yes indeed! There are at least five known spirits.

There are at least five known spirits. The spirits of a spectral owner and host, an accident victim, a grandma, a bold jokester, and a youngster make the Harmony Inn their home. One spirit is full of positive energy, one wants to be noticed, one is happy just enjoying her home, one gets his chuckles at the expense of the living, and one is shy but courageous. All are willing to share their forever home with people!