Harmony in Fillmore County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Let's Have "Harmony"
The Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota
Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025
1. Let's Have "Harmony" Marker
Corner Store, Barber Shop, Clover Farm Store Wiped out by Early Morning Blaze
Four fire companies fight flames for more than two hours. Volunteers helped immenselysparks blown for blocks by northwest wind.
A devastating fire, the biggest in the history of the village, broke out early Friday morning, destroyed two business buildings, damaged eight others, and seriously threatened Harmony's whole business district before it was finally subdued by the valiant efforts of four fire companies (Lanesboro, Cresco, Preston and Harmony) and dozens of volunteers who fought heroically for more than two hours to bring the flames under control.
Three business establishments: the Corner Store, owned and operated by Oswald Frogner, J. M. Rostvold's Barber Shop located in the Corner Store and Dahley's Clover Farm Store and Restaurant were annihilated by the flames. The estimated loss was placed at around $30,000.
The fire was discovered about 4:20 a.m. in the Corner Store Building, a frame structure owned by Mrs. Thundale. Six streams of water were played on the structures in order to squelch the flames and prevent them from
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During the height of the fire there were eight buildings burning at the same time, Sundby's Plumbing, Riseland's Hardware across the street east caught, and four buildings across the street to the south, namely The Harmony News Office, Roche's Barber Shop, Swen Johnson's Shoe Shop and Stile's Blacksmith Shop were on fire. The cause of the fire was never positively determined but may have developed around the furnace.
Carl Pederson got up to see what was making the sound of cracking glass, and shouted a warning which was heard for seven blocks, and attracted the attention of Howard Richardson, who was working in the bakery, and he turned in the first alarm. A number of people heard Pederson shouting and became volunteers helping to fight the fire. Sparks and balls of fire were carried by the wind and were falling on the housetops and in yards. The drenching rain
Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025
2. Let's Have "Harmony" Marker under the Jem Theater marquee on the east side of Main Ave.
The water tower, erected last year (1934), again proved its value. The four fire companies had plenty of water and used better than 65,000 gallons. (Article printed in the Harmony News 11/7/1935).
In 1885, it was thought that the thriving village needed a place for recreation, so the Funk Roller Skating Rink was built. The building was later used as a town hall for a time. In 1895 the Berg Bros. had an implement store and later displayed and sold sewing machines, organs, and buggies. O. N. Thundale purchased the building for a department store. This building was destroyed by fire in 1935 and the site is now the location of the First Southeast Bank.
First National Bank
The First National Bank was founded in 1907. This bank was owned by Henry Hellickson, Albert Johnson and Peter Olstad. The bank was later incorporated with the Harmony State Bank.
Bert Yates came to Harmony in 1920, purchasing the restaurant which had previously belonged to Scrabeck and Dahl. Mr. Yates operated this restaurant and grocery until 1935, selling to Earl Dahley, who ran the store only a few months because the big fire destroyed the building.
The Travel Inn around 1938 was owned by Al and Roger Reburn. In 1955 Louie Armstrong's tour bus was parked on Main Street in front of the Travel Inn Cafe. After enjoying their noon meal, Louie asked to take along some of that "good fruit salad." They filled a mason jar for him and he walked out the door smiling. Before he left, Kermit Johnson put 10 cents in the jukebox and played "When The Saints Go Marching In."
24 Clerks at a 1911 Sale
O.N. Thundale decided to put on a Special Sale of all merchandise in his store and advertised the date of this big selling event of the fall season as October 21, 1911. Before the store opened that morning, he had all the clerks hired for the sale to gather for a picture, and here it is, which we are sure you older folks will enjoy seeing.
Mrs. Rostvold was kind enough to make the identifications.
1. Uncertain, but lived in Big Springs area. 2. Thea Telgen (Fosburgh). 3. Helma Teigen (Halvorson) deceased. 4. O.N. Thundale, (proprietor and owner of the store) deceased. 5. Emma Thundale (Rostvold). 6. Amelia Rockne. 7. Clyde Barnes, R. Uncertain, lived in Big Springs area. 9. Lena Burmeister. 10. Mary Wertman (Barrie) deceased. 11. Maybelle Ruddick (berg) deceased. 12. Myrtle Wolsted (Pochler). 13. Alma Peterson (Knutson) deceased. 14. Edna Maland (Wilbanks) deceased. 15. Selma Dahlen (Hanson). 16. Don't remember name, came from Rushford. 17. Alma Young (Capper) deceased. 18. Fred Achatz, deceased. 19. Stina Sanderson (Peterson) deceased. 20. Hans Horsrud, deceased. 21. Gene Barnes, deceased. 22. Clarence Munger, deceased. 23. Thomas Felland, deceased. 24. Mrs Grace Barnes, deceased.
(Courtesy of Harmony News)
March 11, 1895, K. D. Olson bought out Ben Larson's Drug Store. He then rented the small building, next to Peter McKay's Harness Shop, which he used for his drug store. J. L. Urheim arrived in 1882, and started a drug store. He was the first and only druggist for many years until he sold to Ben Larson. Harmony has had a druggist since 1882. (Courtesy of Mrs. Ida Johnson)
Riseland and McGee
Renard Riseland and William McGee worked as carpenters for years and were partners in a hardware business. Riseland purchased the hardware store and took in his son, Lawrence, as a partner. William McGee (and later his son, Bill) managed a grocery business in the building which the partners had built. This business was later run by Jerry Roche (Jerry's Meat Market).
During the fire the Silver Grill lost its electricity, but quickly started to serve coffee after the lights came back on. Later, N.A. Perry had his tailor business in the former Silver Grill building.
Millinery
In 1895 a millinery store named "Up to Date Millinery," was built just north of the skating rink. It was the property of Mrs. Selma Workman. The right side is Selma (Ellis) Workman, next to her, Anna (Harstad) Ellis. On the left side of the door is Hannah Hanson, owner of the millinery, and Mabel Bollman. Picture taken summer 1909. Dr. Carlus Selvig had his dental office upstairs.
Erected 2017 by the Harmony Area Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 43° 33.273′ N, 92° 0.596′ W. Marker is in Harmony, Minnesota, in Fillmore County. It is on Main Avenue N. (Minnesota Route 139) north of Center Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14 Main Avenue N, Harmony MN 55939, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota and in Greater Rochester. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Driftless Area Bluff Country. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Let's Have "Harmony" (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Let's Have "Harmony" (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Let's Have "Harmony" (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Let's Have "Harmony" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Let's Have "Harmony" (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Let's Have "Harmony" (about 500 feet away); Historic McMichael Grain Elevator Preservation Project (about 600 feet away); The Heritage of Downtown Preston (approx. 8.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harmony.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
