The Butler Old Stone House Region Antique Automobile Club of America will receive an award for its restoration of the following Butler County-made vehicles at Harmoniefest: from left, The 1909 Huselton, 1941 BRC 40 (Bantam Reconnaissance Car – the original Jeep) and the 1922 Standard Eight. The BRC 40 will be on display at the event.

The Harmoniefest has been a traditional gathering since its founding, and this year historic buildings and cars will be celebrated at the Harmony Historical Society’s event at Stewart Hall on March 19.

A reception, dinner and historic talk about the first log cabin in Butler County are just some of the activities attendees can expect with the price of admission.

Rodney Gasch, president of Historic Harmony, said the first Harmoniefest took place in February 1805, mere months after Father George Rapp and his followers, the Harmonists, settled in Butler County.

“They called together their first meeting and called it Harmoniefest, where they signed documents,” he said. “They owned everything in common ... the deal was they’d be provided with food and lodgings needs. They ended up becoming very wealthy and astute businesspeople.”

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