As members of the Harmony Township Historical Society, we believe it is our duty to preserve, promote, interpret, conserve and protect our local history. Formed in 2004, the society was born out of a necessity to save the historic Hoff-Vannatta Farmstead.
Prior to 2004, the farm was in extreme disrepair and parts of the house and barn were in danger of catastrophic collapse. The Harmony Township Historic Preservation Commission and the society formed a coalition to protect this local treasure. Emergency stabilization of the house was completed in 2007 and the barn in 2008. In 2014, the wagon houses, also in dilapidated conditions, were dismantled, moved 30 feet from the road and reassembled in a restored capacity. In 2016, the house and summer kitchen exterior repointing was completed.
As we look forward to the next phases of restoration at the farm, we are eager to branch out to serve other needs of historic preservation throughout the township.
Meet the Officers and Trustees
President Susan Gentle
Susan’s adventure into history came early with a fascination for historical novels. In 1959, as a Girl Scout representative at an international event, Sue met the requirement of connecting the history of community to county, county to state, and state to country. In 1976, the bi-centennial celebrations offered Sue an opportunity to become a certified docent with the Montclair Historical Society and the Israel Crane House. She served as a teacher for incoming docents, organized school tours and acted as kitchen docent and historical trustee. After retiring and moving to Harmony Township 15 years ago, Sue discovered her ancestors in the community, with some being buried in the Harmony Presbyterian Church cemetery. Sue and her family are active members of the Harmony Presbyterian Church. Sue joined the Harmony Township Historical Society in 2006 and has served as the kitchen docent at the Hoff Vannatta Farmstead and has helped to write a cookbook for the society. She has served as president of the society since 2016.
