HARMONY — The bicentennial of the War of 1812 will be commemorated Saturday during Historic Harmony's annual Harmoniefest dinner and fundraiser.

Ed Bolla, a historian with the Maritime Museum in Erie, will give an illustrated presentation at the dinner that will highlight the area's role in the War of 1812.

Bolla said not many people realize that Harmony and Zelienople played roles in the important war, one that tested the strength of a United States that was only about 35 years old at the time.

The historian will primarily focus on perhaps the most important confrontation of the war, the Battle of Lake Erie, which proved to be a turning point after American forces under Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British naval fleet there.

Bolla said large amounts of construction and outfitting material for ships was moved to Erie from Pittsburgh, a route that ran through Harmony and Zelienople on what would later be named Perry Highway, or state Route 19.

In addition, troops dispatched to protect Erie from the British camped in Harmony during the war.

Bolla said the two boroughs played an important role in a time when Western Pennsylvania was considered “one step short” of being the frontier of the fledgling United States.

“Erie was wonderful as far as a place to build a naval fleet because there are great harbors and lots of timber around,” Bolla said. “But there was lots of ironwork done in Pittsburgh and shipped over land roads through what is now Harmony and Zelienople, which at the time were major transportation and shipment points for a lot of materials and supplies.”

The road systems in the area were poor and patchwork at best, Bolla said, and troops and travelers didn't have many options for lodging while out on the road.

At a time when Pittsburgh had only about 7,000 residents, Harmony and Zelienople provided a good place to stay for anyone traveling on the road that still exists today.

The annual Harmoniefest is at 6 p.m. Saturday and will be in Stewart Hall.

In addition to Bolla's presentation, Historic Harmony will give out for Heritage Awards to residents who have preserved or renovated historic buildings in the area.

Admission is $30 a person. Anyone interested in reservations should call the Harmony Museum at 724-452-7341.