Harmony Grove


The picture above was made in 1919 when construction of the Harmony Grove Methodist Church was completed. In those days this building served all denominations as it was the only church in the Harmony Grove Community, which lay north of Camden. Today, the exterior of the building remains little changed from when it was built and the church was part of the Eagle Mills Circuit of Methodist Churches. rooms have been added as they were needed and the Chapel still has its original walnut pew and pulpit furniture. Colored windows-gifts in memory of loved ones-were designed by the Rev. Bob Ekbert during his tenure as pastor. The church's "Community Room" continues in its original purpose-serving the Harmony Grove community as a meeting place. The photo was courtesy of Sue M. Russell.

When this Ouachita County community was first settled, its area lay along a rather serpentine road that was known as the Princeton Road. This is the same historic route that Major General Frederick Steele used when his Union troops departed Camden after an eleven day occupation of the city in 1864. Today, that artery of travel is Highway 7, which transverses the state from north to south.

Despite its rural location or the era in which the community was born because of it, Harmony Grove grew to become an area of importance. Without question, with its Ouachita River bottom land, it offered a siren call to those who sought an agrarian way of life. In that reality, some of the most distinguished surnames in the history of the county first called this area home.

The families who originally settled there reads like a " Who's Who" in Ouachita County history: Boddie ... Broadnax ... Ritchie ... Dickson ... Gaughan ... Lide ... Martin ... Morgan ... Mosely ... Newton ... Proctor ... Rumph ... Stone ... Leaders in education, legal practices, wholesale groceries, department stores, hardware, politics, furniture stores, and mortuaries all traced their genealogical roots to this area of the county.

Today, Harmony Grove remains the residence of choice to many citizens of Ouachita County, and it offers an excellent school for the education of their children. Also, the Harmany Grove Methodist Church is one of the most historic places of worship in the county.

For more information on Harmony Grove