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Harmony
Baptist Church & Cemetery
Photo courtesy Will
Beauchamp, February 2012 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Harmony doesn't exist as a community, however former residents have
a yearly reunion at the church.
There are eight communities that have used the name Harmony
in Texas. This is the first we've visited. The church has a small
historic marker mounted on the building and the cemetery
is as neat as a pin.
The sign fabricator has added AD to the date - perhaps to help avoid
confusion with Harmonies founded BC.
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Harmony Baptist
Church & Cemetery
Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Will
Beauchamp, February 2012 |
Harmony Baptist
Church and Cemetery
According to oral
tradition, the Harmony Baptist Church began in 1864. A church building
was constructed by 1875, when Thomas Ragsdale donated land at this
site to the church. The building was used also for school classes
and Woodmen of the World Lodge meetings. The nearby cemetery is the
burial site of some early settlers of Harmony and Karnes
County. The oldest marked grave, that of Martha Rabb, dates to
1875. Although the Harmony Baptist Church disbanded in 1974, descendants
of early members continue to meet here annually.
1986 |
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The
Sign at Harmony Church
TE photo |
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The
Church and Tree that inspired the sign, and
The Harmony Cemetery
TE photo |
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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