March is Women’s History Month. For a small town, New Harmony has a rich history of notable women. From 1814 – 1824 New Harmony was home to Gertrude Rapp. Although Gertrude remained loyal to the beliefs of her grandfather her whole life, it did not stop her from having a rich and full life in an era when most women were relegated to the kitchen and nursery.
Gertrude was well educated, a gifted musician and an accomplished businesswoman. She mastered the art of silk making and turned it into a moneymaking venture for the Harmony Society.
Like Gertrude, Marie Duclos Fretageot did not fit the mold for 19th women.
Read more →