Failed Utopia

[klsm54]

This is an interesting story of failed socialism in our local history. The town of Teutonia, located just north of Elk county in southern McKean county, was a short lived experiment back in the 1840's. The following is an historical article documenting it's rise and fall with some insights to life at that time.

 

The following is an article written by George Rupprecht discussing the foundation and life of the German communist community known as Teutonia:

 

The organization of the Society of Industry had its inception December 28, 1841 in accordance with the following agreement--

 

 

[klsm54]

Teutonia was close to the site of the flooded town of Instanter, that except in dry periods is now under the waters of the East Branch Dam.

 

 

 

The following is an article taken from the Bradford Era:

 

Teutonia: When Clermont resident Dave Johnson, a graduate student on the West Coast, first wrote seeking background on Teutonia about which he is writing a thesis, the item produced immediate response- as we have told you.

 

We expect to hear more from Oscar Benton

[Ed]

Thank you for this very interesting article. Maybe 35 years ago a friend of mine who was a teacher in DuBois and I rode dirt bikes up the old Shawmut railroad grade north of St Marys and came across remains of a settlement that looked like the people had just walked off and left a lot of stuff behind, we found badly rusted iron cooking pots and tools, dishes and all sorts of stuff laying around in the remains. We must have been in part of this colony.

[tom shade]

nice article

 

[Ignatius]

Very interesting article.  Was the group related at all to the Shaker movement?

[hipower]

Don't recall where it was, but I read that info several years ago and like you I found it quite intriguing.  

[rich00]

Excellent article.  

Thank you.

[eimilesmom]

That was cool. Wonder if anyone on this board is related to any of those people?

[Bon]

we ride through the Clarmont area a few times in the summer.