New Harmony, Indiana: Like a River, Not a Lake: A Memoir

For nearly seven decades, Jane Blaffer Owen was the driving force behind the restoration and revitalization of the town of New Harmony, Indiana. In this delightful memoir, Blaffer Owen describes the transformational effect the town had on her life. An oil heiress from Houston, she met and married Kenneth Dale Owen, great-great-grandson of Robert Owen, founder of a communal society in New Harmony. When she visited the then dilapidated town with her husband in 1941, it was love at first sight, and the story of her life and the life of the town became intertwined. Her engaging account of her journey to renew the town provides glimpses into New Harmony's past and all of its citizens--scientists, educators, and naturalists--whose influence spread far beyond the town limits. And there are fascinating stories of the artists, architects, and theologians who became part of Blaffer Owen's life at New Harmony, where, she says, My roots could sink deeply and spread.

Author: Jane Blaffer Owen
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 03/16/2015
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.30lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.40w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780253016249

About the Author

Jane Blaffer Owen (1915-2010) was a Houston oil heiress who grew up traveling the globe. A sophisticate who studied at Bryn Mawr, the Washington School of Diplomacy, the Kinkaid School, and the Ethel Walker School, she has also received accolades and honorary degrees from many universities. She was recipient of the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) and of the State of Indiana's Sachem Award for her lifelong dedication to enhancing the landmark historic community of New Harmony. In 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized her accomplishments in New Harmony with its highest honor, the Louise DuPont Crowninshield Award.