In 1803, Georg Rapp, the leader of a German Lutheran separatist group, came to America and purchased 5,000 acres of land near Pittsburgh where he had his followers could begin a new life free of religous restrictions. The next year, three shiploads of his followers arrived in America and erected nine log cabins to begin the famed communal Harmony Society. After that first hard winter, the hardworking Harmonists got right back to work, clearing 150 acres and building 50 houses, a grist mill, a large barn and some shops. After only 10 years the Harmonists moved on to start a bigger community in Illinois (they later returned to Pittsburgh to establish a new community called Economy), and sold the entire town of Harmony plus about 9,000 acres to Mennonite Abraham Ziegler for $100,000. He and other Mennonite families led the area's resettlement.
If you like history and log cabins then an afternoon drive to the historic town of Harmony might be right up your alley. There are numerous log cabins to visit, along with the Harmony museum, and both a Harmonist and Mennonite cemetery. The annual Zelienople-Harmony Country Fall Festival is set for this weekend, October 9-10, with arts, crafts, horse drawn buggy rides, homemade country foods, historic encampments, antiques and collectibles, and an authentic German dinner. The fall color out that way is just starting to develop, so you might also want to take a drive along nearby PA SR 108 between New Castle and Slippery Rock. The Log Cabin Inn makes a great stop for lunch before heading out!
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