Centennial parade, with band in front of the Opera House (at that time Krit Motor Cars) at 612 Church St.""Originally built by the Harmonists as the fourth and last dormitory, it was completed shortly before they departed New Harmony in 1824. The Owen-Maclure community used the space for a variety of purposes from a multi-family dwelling, to a warehouse, to a venue for hosting lectures and dances. In 1859, the structure was purchased by the New Harmony Dramatic Association and renamed Union Hall. The building was transformed into a theater and was home to a famous local acting company, the Golden Troupe. In 1888, Eugene Thrall became the sole owner and the theater was renamed Thrall�s Opera House. For a short time from 1911 to 1913, the Opera House was a nickelodeon movie house until it was purchased in 1914 and turned into a gas station and garage. In 1964, the space was purchased by the Harmonie Associates, who persuaded the state of Indiana to purchase, restore, and maintain the site." (http://visitnewharmony.com/playexplore_cpt/thralls-opera-house/) As for the celebration, the centennial celebrated the 1814 founding of New Harmony by the Rappites or Harmonists, led by Father George Rapp.""Johann Georg Rapp (November 1, 1757 in Iptingen, Duchy of W�rttemberg � August 7, 1847 in Economy, Pennsylvania) was the founder of the religious sect called Harmonists, Harmonites, Rappites, or the Harmony Society. Born in Iptingen, Duchy of W�rttemberg, Germany, Rapp became inspired by the philosophies of Jakob B�hme, Philipp Jakob Spener, and Emanuel Swedenborg, among others. In the 1780s, George Rapp began preaching and soon started to gather a group of his own followers. His group officially split with the Lutheran Church in 1785 and was promptly banned from meeting. The persecution that Rapp and his followers experienced caused them to leave Germany and come to the United States in 1803. Rapp was a Pietist, and a number of his beliefs were shared by the Anabaptists, as well as groups such as the Shakers. Rapp's religious beliefs and philosophy were the cement that held his community together both in Germany and in America � a Christian community and commune, which in America organized as the Harmony Society. The Harmony Society built three American towns, became rich, famous, and survived for 100 years � roughly from 1805 until 1905."" In 1804, Rapp was able to secure a large tract of land in Pennsylvania and started his first commune. This first commune, 'Harmonie', (Harmony), Butler County, Pennsylvania, soon grew to a population of about 800, and was highly profitable. At Harmony, the Harmony Society was formally organized on February 15, 1805, and its members contracted to hold all property in common and to submit to spiritual and material leadership by Rapp and associates. In 1807, celibacy was advocated as the preferred custom of the community in an attempt to purify themselves for the coming Millennium. In 1814, the society sold their first town in Pennsylvania to Mennonites for 10 times the amount originally paid for the land, and the entire commune moved out west to Indiana where their new town was also known as Harmony. Ten years after the move to Indiana the commune moved again, this time it returned to Pennsylvania and named their town '�konomie', Economy. The Indiana settlement was sold to Robert Owen, at which point it was renamed New Harmony, Indiana. George Rapp lived out his remaining days in the town of Economy, Pennsylvania, until August 7, 1847, when he died at the age of 89." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rapp).