Phalanx movement of the 19th century. 

The Phalanx movement was an interesting social experiment. A good, brief history of the Phalanx is at the webpage about the Phalanx collection at Monmouth County Historical Association.  Other information about the Phalanx can be found at The Colts Neck, New Jersey, history. Briefly, the North American Phalanx was a non-sectarian experimental cooperative community located on a site about four miles west of Red Bank, New Jersey. The term "Phalanx" was derived from the Greek language and suggested firmness of union. The community was established about 1843 and lasted approximately twelve years until 1855-1856. It was based on the scholastic theories of the Frenchman, Francois Marie Charles Fourier (1772-1837) who sought social harmony through cooperation which would allow the fullest development of human nature. To achieve his cooperative society, he believed the world must be radically reformed. He proposed phalanges, each with 1,620 persons inhabiting a common building, a hotel-like phalanstery. Each phalange was to cultivate 5000 acres. Food was to be prepared and served in common. Services within the phalange were to be performed by those specialized in the particular service.  Fourier accepted the concept of private property; however each family was to have its own quarters.

John Bucklin (1807-1896) was the agricultural chief of the Phalanx. Bucklin continued a cannery operation there until his death, and his descendants retained ownership of a portion of the property which included the phalanstery until 1944.

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