Local residents joined Harmony Gardens & Floral on Saturday, May 4th for the Grand Opening of their newgreenhouse. This 5,000 square foot space offers increased selection of plants, pottery and yard art, in addition to allowing space for plant propagation. Stop in to check out their beautiful selection between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday through Saturday.
Sign Up Now for Harmony’s 4th of July Parade!
Register now for our annual 4th of July Parade! One of the biggest and best Independence Day parades in Southeast 
Minnesota, our annual parade is a great opportunity to be seen by thousands of parade spectators! Advertise your business, your political party, club or organization! Who doesn’t love a parade?
Click here for printable 4th of July Parade entry form
We are looking forward to seeing you on July 4th!
Stay tuned for more announcements about 4th of July entertainment, including the Jim Busta Band featuring Mollie B., an obstacle course, a state sanctioned Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull, and more!
Root River Trail System Featured in Midwest Living Magazine
We’re excited to announce that the Root River & Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail System has been featured in the March/April edition of Midwest Living Magazine! The article promotes our region as a spring travel destination, and gives some great tips on where to stop. Harmony’s own Estelle’s Eatery & Bar is mentioned by name in the article.
Of course, we’d have also mentioned New Generations of Harmony Antique Mall, On The Crunchy Side, Niagara Cave, Amish Tours of Harmony, and countless other great businesses in the region, but we understand that articles can only be so long. 🙂
You can read the full article here. You can also read more about our trail system, and the communities along the trail system, at RootRiverTrail.org
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum Gifted Town’s Historic Mercantile
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa is excited to announce the non-profit’s newest acquisition. In December of 2018 the former “Burr Oak Mercantile” building was gifted to the museum by the family of Robert M. Brimacomb. The board and staff are excited at the potential this building brings the museum and are eager to start fundraising to begin the restoration process.
Although the former mercantile was built in 1908, years after the Ingalls family lived in Burr Oak (1876-1877), the building gives the museum an opportunity to spread out. Offices and the museum’s gift shop are currently housed in the old Burr Oak Savings Bank, which has limited space. The goal is to restore the mercantile building for use as the visitor’s center/gift shop and offices and use the bank building as a Burr Oak History Center.
With the acquisition of the Mercantile, the museum now owns four properties in Burr Oak consisting of the Master’s Hotel (the childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder in 1876), the former Burr Oak Savings Bank, and the Advent Christian Church (located at the gates of the Burr Oak Cemetery). Both the Master’s Hotel & the former Burr Oak Savings Bank are on the National Registry of Historical places.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum welcomes on average 6,000 guests (May-October) from all 50 states and many different countries, having a significant impact on local tourism.
“We are thankful to the Robert M. Brimacomb family for gifting this beautiful building and we’re extremely eager to begin the restoration process. The building has always been an asset to Burr Oak and we think the community will be excited to see it restored and in use again after sitting empty for years” Dawn Maroushek, Laura Ingalls Wilder Board President, stated. “Part of this process for us will also include learning more about the history of the building. We’d love to hear people’s stories, whether they once shopped there or just remember being in there as a kid.”
The museum’s goal in restoration is to have a portion of it set up as an old mercantile, representing the time it was built. This will give visitors a chance to visualize the early 1900’s in addition to their museum tour where they will experience what life was like for Laura in Burr Oak during the late 1800’s.
The museum is a non-profit organization with limited funds and hope the community, citizens of Winneshiek County and museum guests will help in funding the restoration process. What ways can people help? Direct donations to the museum designated for this project, donating to the museum’s Annual Campaign, becoming a member of the museum, supporting their annual fundraising events (Spaghetti Supper/Auction, Laura Days). All donations to the museum are tax deductible.
For more information on the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum, please visit their website at www.lauraingallswilder.us.
Seasonal Position Opening at the Harmony Visitor Center
The Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking a seasonal Visitor Center assistant for the 2019 season. The Visitor Center offers the opportunity to meet visitors from all over the world while becoming involved in Harmony’s 
business community, and in Harmony events.
Weekend hours are every other Saturday from 10am-4pm from April through October.
Weekday hours are 9 hours per week within the hours of 10am-4pm, Tuesday through Friday, May through October with some flexibility as to which days of the week. Additional hours may be available on an as needed basis.
Responsibilities include- Visitor Center duties including but not limited to; speaking with guests and answering questions about Harmony and the surrounding area, directing guests to local businesses and attractions, keeping brochure shelves stocked and keeping public areas tidy.
Administrative tasks such as answering the phone, making calls, receiving and sending emails, organizing data, fulfilling requests for Visitor Guides, updating mailing lists, preparing mailings, making minor website updates, etc.
Assisting the Chamber of Commerce director with coordinating community events, possible staffing of community events.
Other responsibilities or tasks may be assigned as they come up, and as workload allows.
Education Requirements – High School Diploma or GED.
Hourly Salary is dependent upon experience level.
To apply, please send a letter of interest, employment history and three references to:
Attention: Becky Hoff
Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 141
Harmony, MN 55939
Or email to: director@exploreharmony.com with the words ‘Job Application’ in the title.
Homespun Harmony Store Opening
HACC board members and members of the Harmony community joined the LaFreniere Family on Saturday, December
1st for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Homespun Harmony, located at 45 Main Avenue North, Downtown Harmony. The new store features yarns, fiber art supplies and gift items. Current store hours are Tuesdays from 5pm-8pm and Saturdays from 10am-6pm. On Tuesday evenings, an informal crafting group will meet in the store’s living room. Crafters of all skill levels are invited to visit and work on projects, get some assistance starting a new project, or on finishing an old one!
Pictured from left to right – Jan Bigalk, Deb Skaalen, Vicki Christiansen, Kerry Kingsley, Ginnie Randa, Marsha LaFreniere, Lillianna LaFreniere, Joe LaFreniere, Becky Hoff, Ralph Beastrom. Photo credit to Janell Randa
