Debbie Reeb, left to right, Linda Gross, Missy Clark and Dawson Dibbern play reenactors during a grand reopening ceremony at the Harmony Museum on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

History was on display this weekend in Butler County. Two events highlighting the county — the opening of the Historic Harmony Museum and an event honoring the Butler County connection to the Jeep by Experience Butler County — did a wonderful job at their respective purposes.

A 1941 Jeep prototype on display at the "Butler Built Garage" exhibition on Sunday, March 16. William Pitts/Butler Eagle

The Historic Harmony Museum’s season opening featured exhibits that were rearranged to highlight three main periods of Harmony’s history, including the arrival of Harmonist-Mennonites that led to the borough’s creation, George Washington’s connection to the area and Harmony’s connection to the Civil War.

Downtown Harmony was bustling Saturday as the museum opened for another season. The community cares about its history.

On Sunday, Experience Butler County recognized the county’s history as the “birthplace of the Jeep” with an display of the restored vehicles that had been built years ago in Butler plants.

One of the eight vehicles displayed at the Butler-Built Garage, 110 Barracks Road, dated to 1909.

Donna Hauschulz, left, and Judy Gerwig work on a quilt during a grand reopening ceremony at the Harmony Museum on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

The event was the first of a planned series. The exhibit will run at that location again from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, and then on the third Sunday of every month through September over the same hours.

While all of Butler County has rich history, some communities have done a remarkable job gathering that history and presenting it for the community to view and learn from.

Butler County has shining examples of what it takes to preserve history. Communities across the county could learn from Harmony’s initiative.

— TL