The Temperance Building is also home to a museum stocked full of relics and photos from the beginning days of Harriman. I think hours they are open are by appointment and special occasions, but its worth a few hours of browsing time to see all the donated items.

Also, on the "Temperance" town, back in the beginning days of Harriman all the property deeds had an exclusion written in them that forbade the storing and comsumption of alcohol on the property!

Paul aka Mushy has posted some really neat photos of Harriman and Rockwood, is working on a tour of other towns in the conty.

RB

This building, at the corner of Roane and Walden Sts in Harriman, was one of the buildings of the American Temperance University. Founded in 1893, only 2 years after Harriman's birth, it had students from 20 states attending, about 345 or so of then. Two of those went on to become members of the US House of Representatives.

Tain't a myth at all :-) It was real. It taught a liberal arts type curriculum, and was ahead of its time in seeking and admitting female students. Of course part of the teaching was done was "temperance" - which of course is a total misnomer. The adherents of the temperance movement were not temperate at all (i.e. moderate), but were absolute tee-totalers who wouldn't let demon rum pass their lips in any form for any reason.

They were an interesting juxtaposition: progressive (liberal arts university being such a priority in such a small town that it was started within 2 years, seeking and admitting women), yet so non-progressive in its closed-minded approach to beverage ethanol.