Tribute to Harmony Hall Art House

Ever wandered into a place that feels like it’s got a heartbeat? That’s Harmony Hall Art House in Tower Isle, St. Mary. This 19th-century charmer, with its Jamaican-Georgian gingerbread trimmings, is like stepping into a postcard from old Jamaica.

Those delicate wooden details! Some of the best you’ll see on the island. Once a pimento and banana farm, it’s now a gallery bursting with art and life lessons that hit you right in the soul.

Back in the day, this place was home to Sir Hugh Sherlock, a man with a heart as big as his legacy. From 1937 to 1940, he lived here as a Methodist minister, soaking in the island’s spirit. Years later, in 1962, he gave us “Jamaica, Land We Love,” our National Anthem, a love letter to our nation’s soul. Standing in Harmony Hall’s gardens, you can almost feel his words still lingering in the air.

By 1980, Annabella and Peter Proudlock saw something special in this old house. They brought it back to life, turning it into an art gallery that’s been a national monument since 2003. Today, it’s bursting with Jamaican artwork, vibrant, soulful, and a little bit rebellious, just like us.

HARMONY IN CHANGE

Harmony Hall is like a metaphor for life. We change, our bodies and our minds, our dreams. Time doesn’t wait. The house reminds us to stay ready for those shifts. A little exercise keeps the body strong; some quiet reflection helps the mind make sense of the past and present. You can adapt, just like this place did, from its original use as a plantation home, then a manse, then a private residence, and finally a gallery for Jamaican art.

Today, as you pause and reflect, consider this: The Great House did not resist its transformations; it embraced them, so can you. In the serene spaces of the gallery, among the fine artworks, you sense that change is not something to fear but something to channel. You, too, are capable of evolving.

Let the art and history spark something in you. Harmony Hall’s not just a building, it’s a reminder to embrace life’s shifts with grace. Go find your harmony. Have a peaceful day.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com.