| Harmony Inn |
This historic building was built in 1856 by Austin Pearce. A
prominent banker, railroad operator and executive of the town.
It's a large wood and brick mansion with two main floors, it has a
large attic and basement, as well. On the inside you can clearly
see that the home was built for a wealthy family. The shear
elegance of the woodwork with use of black walnut and
chestnut throughout the entire mansion. Mr. Pearce sold the
mansion sometime after the civil war. It was at that time that
there was a two story wing built onto the original mansion.
The town of Harmony was founded in 1804 by German Lutheran
Separatists. They chose this area to start their communal group,
which flourished until they chose to took a vow of celibacy in
1807. By 1814, the Harmonists realized the location and
waterways were insufficient to get theirs goods to market. So,
they sold their land and homes to a group of Mennonites and
moved to Indiana.
Throughout this mansion's 150 year history, it has had many
uses. It has been a private residence, a meeting house, a hotel,
a boarding house, and now it's a restaurant and tavern. It was in
this current use that we conducted our investigation.
We learned that psychics have felt the presence of spirits there.
One, is supposedly a young handicapped girl, presumed to be
the daughter of a former owner who may have passed away
there. The employees and staff, along with a sensitive, have felt
there is a warm, friendly presence there with them. Nothing
cold or menacing.
Some objects have been known to move by themselves, and
even once case of levitation has been known. The locals
believe that one of the ghosts which has remained here is the
spirit of a man who fell down the stairs and broke his neck. He
is called Barney. However, according to our source, this story
has no basis in fact.
There have been unexplained electrical disturbances noticed,
but that can be difficult to classify as paranormal, though.
Employees, staff and visitors have all reported feeling an
unexplained coldness move by them. One young lady even
pointed this out to us when we were setting up for our
investigation. Lastly, the most notable occurrences have been
the apparitions of entities. An image of a man has been know to
appear in mirrors and mists have formed upstairs on the second
floor. All seen by staff, owners and some patrons.
Over time there have been a lot of media reports about the
activity at the Harmony Inn. A lot of these reports can be found
on the wall in the tavern. KDKA, WDOCI, Pittsburgh Press, and
Post Gazette are a few of the radio stations and newspapers that
have contributed to the Harmony Inn's paranormal legacy. A
photographer once even snapped a picture of the image of the
man in a mirror, and it's on display in the tavern, too.
prominent banker, railroad operator and executive of the town.
It's a large wood and brick mansion with two main floors, it has a
large attic and basement, as well. On the inside you can clearly
see that the home was built for a wealthy family. The shear
elegance of the woodwork with use of black walnut and
chestnut throughout the entire mansion. Mr. Pearce sold the
mansion sometime after the civil war. It was at that time that
there was a two story wing built onto the original mansion.
The town of Harmony was founded in 1804 by German Lutheran
Separatists. They chose this area to start their communal group,
which flourished until they chose to took a vow of celibacy in
1807. By 1814, the Harmonists realized the location and
waterways were insufficient to get theirs goods to market. So,
they sold their land and homes to a group of Mennonites and
moved to Indiana.
Throughout this mansion's 150 year history, it has had many
uses. It has been a private residence, a meeting house, a hotel,
a boarding house, and now it's a restaurant and tavern. It was in
this current use that we conducted our investigation.
We learned that psychics have felt the presence of spirits there.
One, is supposedly a young handicapped girl, presumed to be
the daughter of a former owner who may have passed away
there. The employees and staff, along with a sensitive, have felt
there is a warm, friendly presence there with them. Nothing
cold or menacing.
Some objects have been known to move by themselves, and
even once case of levitation has been known. The locals
believe that one of the ghosts which has remained here is the
spirit of a man who fell down the stairs and broke his neck. He
is called Barney. However, according to our source, this story
has no basis in fact.
There have been unexplained electrical disturbances noticed,
but that can be difficult to classify as paranormal, though.
Employees, staff and visitors have all reported feeling an
unexplained coldness move by them. One young lady even
pointed this out to us when we were setting up for our
investigation. Lastly, the most notable occurrences have been
the apparitions of entities. An image of a man has been know to
appear in mirrors and mists have formed upstairs on the second
floor. All seen by staff, owners and some patrons.
Over time there have been a lot of media reports about the
activity at the Harmony Inn. A lot of these reports can be found
on the wall in the tavern. KDKA, WDOCI, Pittsburgh Press, and
Post Gazette are a few of the radio stations and newspapers that
have contributed to the Harmony Inn's paranormal legacy. A
photographer once even snapped a picture of the image of the
man in a mirror, and it's on display in the tavern, too.
Through a contact with the Harmony Inn, we made arrangements for an investigation. Our team of seven
arrived shortly before 8 pm and met with the manager on duty. After we ate dinner, and the restaurant
closed, we were taken on a tour of the building. Once we were briefed on the history and activity of the Inn,
we began to set up our cameras and settle in for the night.
Most of the activity was focused on the second floor and the stairs leading up to the third floor attic. It was
about 1992 when a young woman took a photo up the stairs to the attic and captured an apparent apparition
of a young child with a cat standing by the railing post. This photo still remains at the Inn, and those who
work there area eager to show it to anyone that may want to see it, too. We had a camera focused on those
stairs, but we did not catch anything.
We spent a good amount of time in the room we dubbed the "south west" room, since we were told about a
psychic who once felt activity in that location. We used our K-II EMF meter there, as well as a few other
locations, to attempt to make contact with any intelligent presence that might be there. A technique taught to
us by Grant Wilson (click the TAPS banner on our Links page) We seem to have had some luck when Scott,
Danit, and Tiffany were in there. The meter spiked to red, upon a question they asked. This attempt was
made in a few other rooms, but without success.
The hit on the K-II meter was the paranormal highlight of our evening, though. We turned up nothing on
video or in the almost 400 still pictures taken. Audio was not cooperative either, so no EVPs. There were no
other EMF spikes picked up, on any EMF meter used, nor any temperature fluctuations. The various cold
spots that the wait staff had reported to us may have been attributed to the opening and closing of the main
door, located at the bottom of the main staircase and the ceiling fans located on the 2nd floor. The fans
were, of course, turned off once we began our investigation. We all spent time in the various room where
have been activity or reports of people experiencing unusual feelings or sensations. However, no one
present felt anything or had any personal experiences.
Even with the lack of evidence, we would love to someday come back to the Harmony Inn for a return
investigation. The history of this place is rich and the building has a distinctive warmth to it. Can we say at
this time that the Inn is haunted? No. But, we can't discount it, either.
arrived shortly before 8 pm and met with the manager on duty. After we ate dinner, and the restaurant
closed, we were taken on a tour of the building. Once we were briefed on the history and activity of the Inn,
we began to set up our cameras and settle in for the night.
Most of the activity was focused on the second floor and the stairs leading up to the third floor attic. It was
about 1992 when a young woman took a photo up the stairs to the attic and captured an apparent apparition
of a young child with a cat standing by the railing post. This photo still remains at the Inn, and those who
work there area eager to show it to anyone that may want to see it, too. We had a camera focused on those
stairs, but we did not catch anything.
We spent a good amount of time in the room we dubbed the "south west" room, since we were told about a
psychic who once felt activity in that location. We used our K-II EMF meter there, as well as a few other
locations, to attempt to make contact with any intelligent presence that might be there. A technique taught to
us by Grant Wilson (click the TAPS banner on our Links page) We seem to have had some luck when Scott,
Danit, and Tiffany were in there. The meter spiked to red, upon a question they asked. This attempt was
made in a few other rooms, but without success.
The hit on the K-II meter was the paranormal highlight of our evening, though. We turned up nothing on
video or in the almost 400 still pictures taken. Audio was not cooperative either, so no EVPs. There were no
other EMF spikes picked up, on any EMF meter used, nor any temperature fluctuations. The various cold
spots that the wait staff had reported to us may have been attributed to the opening and closing of the main
door, located at the bottom of the main staircase and the ceiling fans located on the 2nd floor. The fans
were, of course, turned off once we began our investigation. We all spent time in the various room where
have been activity or reports of people experiencing unusual feelings or sensations. However, no one
present felt anything or had any personal experiences.
Even with the lack of evidence, we would love to someday come back to the Harmony Inn for a return
investigation. The history of this place is rich and the building has a distinctive warmth to it. Can we say at
this time that the Inn is haunted? No. But, we can't discount it, either.
| The Harmony Inn |
| The gang's all ready (except Bryan) |
| It is bigger than we first thought |
| Bryan, on the first floor |
| Before we begin investigating |
| Doorway into a small, private dining area |
| Scott tests the K-II meter to see if he can make contact |
| This small room was once used to quarantine people with Scarlett fever |
| A large dining room, which was once three smaller rooms when it was a hotel |
| We all spent time trying to establish contact in the "south west" room |
| The "south west" themed room where a psychic once felt activity |
| The 2nd floor - main hallway |
| Paula watches for EMF spikes |
| Going up to the 3rd floor. Same place where the 'child ghost' photo was taken |
| Tiffany and Moe checking out the attic |
| Some interesting newspaper articles |