The David Lenz House is a two-story, partly prefabricated frame house constructed ca. 1819-1822 (on Church Street). It was constructed using the Germanic post-and-beam method by an unknown architect. This house was one of many built in New Harmony.
History of New Harmony
From 1814 to 1824, the Harmonists (Germanic immigrants led by Rev. George Rapp) constructed a town for about 700 residents in the wilderness of southwest Indiana, on the banks of the Wabash River. They named the town New Harmonie, and along a grid pattern of streets, the Harmonists erected shops, a fort-like granary, distilleries, breweries, and other enterprises for the community, along with single-family residences and group dormitories.
The Harmonists sold the town in 1824 to Robert Owen and William McClure, who were business partners and philanthropists from Scotland. Under this new ownership, Owen renamed the town New Harmony and established progressive civic, educational, and cultural programs. The dream of a Utopian self-sustaining, workers-owned community eventually faded (but the Owen Family has long retained ties to New Harmony).
During these early years, New Harmony’s own kilns manufactured the bricks for its many buildings, and a New Harmony carpentry shop supplied milled, mass-produced, standardized prefabricated timbers for both frame and brick houses. These early buildings also included fire-resistant materials, and their design and construction enabled the old buildings to withstand the effects of time and weather. Thirty-four two-story houses were constructed in the early 1800s, including the Lenz House. Amazingly, 24 of these pioneer houses were still used as residences in the early 1960s. (Blair 1964)
Preservation of Lenz House
The Indiana Society was given the David Lenz House house in 1957. The Lenz House is located in the town of New Harmony, which is on the Register of Historic Places. Historic New Harmony is now operated by the University of Southern Indiana and the State of Indiana. More than 15,000 visitors tour Lenz House annually.
The Lenz House has been restored to its original appearance including an authentic vegetable and herb garden, featuring plants that would have been used by the Harmonist settlers. A brick bake oven on the grounds is used for educational tours to illustrate baking methods of the period. The barn depicting German craftsmanship of the era was rebuilt in 2011, and it was recently “re-chinked” by Indiana Dames.
Harmonist Gardens
The Harmonists were inspired by gardens they had planted originally in their homeland of Germany. This includes inspiration for the labyrinth, according to one source, as almost every major European garden at the time had one. The Harmonists had an orangery, or moveable greenhouse. Their garden design was orderly and practical. In New Harmony gardens, the paths between planting beds were straight and narrow. Vegetables were grown for household consumption, as well as to feed their animals, and to sell to their friends and neighbors. Flowers and herbs were more than ornamental. They were grown along borders and fences for medicinal uses or for fabric dyes. Peach trees, day Lilly’s, blueberries, sun and shade perennial flowers, and hostas will enhance the future garden space.
Vegetable and Herb Plant List
Northwest quad – Herbs
Artemsia, horseradish, lemon balm, lavender, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and yarrow
Northeast Quad
Pole beans, potatoes, carrots, sugar beets, brussels sprouts, and cabbage
Fall Planting: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, and acorn squash
Southwest Quad
Pole beans, potatoes, carrots, radishes, beets, cabbage, zucchini, and brussels sprouts
Fall Planting: leeks, carrots, radishes, and sweet peas
Southeast Quad – Herbs
Horehound, marjoram, sorrel, sage, rhubarb, savory, comfrey, thyme, tansy, and bee balm
Flower Plants in the David Lenz House Garden
Peony, daffodil, solidago, autumn clematis, dianthus, rose verbena, Joe Pye weed, bluehill salvia, poppy, day lily, shrub roses, iris, azalea, sweet woodruff, phlox “David”, and red bleeding heart
Directions to David Lenz House
324 North St, New Harmony, IN 47631