About Harmony Hall Community Center
Harmony Community Center History
Harmony Hall is a historical landmark of Charlton, NY and the surrounding community in the New York Capital District, north of Albany. Built in 1892, Harmony Hall has long served the residents of this area. The Hall was, for years, the local community meeting place, and later on, used by the Harmony Corners Fire Company's Ladies' Axillary. In 1988, Harmony Community Center was formed and has continued to fulfill that function. The Center, a not-for-profit corporation, administers this historic building and opens the Hall to youth, seniors, families and organizations; to all residents of this community and surrounding area. See our history below --
Harmony Hall Through the Years
Beginnings
In 1891, the Patrons of Industry was formed, and as numbers outgrew the meetings space in the Parent schoolhouse, Harmony Hall was built next door in 1892 and dedicated in 1893 on land deeded to the Club by the South family. In 1903, the Harmony Farmers' Club took over the building, holding monthly meetings and offering community events, including a Phonograph Concert in 1894, a Magic Lantern shows and plays. (Photo left - Schoolhouse in front, Hall in back.)
Local Clubs and Fire Department
The Farmers' Club hosted various community suppers, strawberry socials, and Farmers' Fair. The Strawberry Social -- now called "Strawberry Festival" -- is still ongoing. Events for young and old were held -- basketball games, Home Bureau activities, 4-H Club meetings, Card Parties and Potluck suppers, as well as Harmony Fire Department meetings.
After the Farmers' Club disbanded, the Harmony Corners Fire Department used the Hall, holding community events and their twice-a-year Chicken Barbecue. The Woman's Auxiliary held suppers and fundraisers in building. In 1962 the Harmony Corners Firehouse was expanded, and no longer in use, the Hall closed its doors, sitting empty for 14 years.
A Good Cleaning . . and a Community Center
In 1976, three women, Alice Pashley, Frances Gannon and Alice Clements, took on the task of reopening the forgotten hall, giving it a good cleaning, removing years of accumulations, and seeking to update the old building.
In August of that year, the Harmony Hall Community Center was created as a not-for-profit organization, and the building was again open to the community for use, hosting movies and plays and events over the years. The Ladies Auxiliary also used the building again for a short time. The Hall held fundraisers, and the Festival of Families in 1992, an event for the Town of Charlton's Bicentennial, and the Hall's Centennial.
In 2000, a New York State Historical Marker was placed at Harmony Corners, in front of Harmony Hall, honoring that area where Peaceable St. and Route 67 meet.
Harmony Hall has a long history in the town of Charlton. With upgrades in recent years to the roof, heating, cooling, exterior painting, and handicap entrance, the success of the Hall will be built by those who seek to keep it open to the community for future generations. It currently hosts a variety of public and private events -- a twice-a- year Barn Dance Social (Spring/Fall), the Strawberry Festival (often on Father's Day), many private parties (birthdays, reunions, receptions), public workshops and talks, and a Pie Festival.
Open from Spring to late Fall, the Hall is a community asset -- where the echoes of times past fill the Hall with its vintage, dark wood ceiling and "carriage step" on the side of the front porch. It is a unique, comfortable building, harking back to the early days of Charlton, NY -- and hoping for many more years to come.