Site Index

This Index was created to help visitors better navigate around this web site. It contains a large number of main and sub-sections. They are as follows:

INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY OF THE BIGLERVILLE HISTORICAL & PRESERVATION SOCIETY AND ITS NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM, HOURS OF OPERATIONS, CONTENTS OF THE MUSEUM AND TRAVEL DIRECTIONS TO THE MUSEUM

A SHORT WRITE-UP ON THE BIGLERVILLE AREA AND THE SOCIETY. ALSO A LISTING OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA.

THIS SECTION IS VERY LARGE. IT PROVIDES IN BULLET FORM AT THE BEGINNING, INFORMATION ON THE TYPES OF DISPLAY AND ARTIFACTS IN THE NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM ALONG WITH SOME OTHER BRIEF MATERIAL. THERE ARE 12 FOLLOWING SUB-SECTIONS, EACH TITLE BEING A "CLICK LINE' TO ACTIVATE VIEWING. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• A SAMPLE COLLECTION OF PHOTOS OF THE COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE APPLE-RELATED SHEET MUSIC IN THE MUSEUM;
• A SAMPLE COLLECTION OF PHOTOS OF THE COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE APPLE-RELATED POST CARDS IN THE MUSEUM;
• A COMPENDIUM LISTING OF THE COLLECTION OF ADAMS COUNTY FAMILY HISTORIES IN THE MUSEUM LIBRARY;
• AN ABSTRACT AND SAMPLE PHOTOS ON THE FORMER ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSES OF ADAMS COUNTY FROM THE DISPLAY BOOK IN THE MUSEUM. MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS WERE IN ACTIVE USE AS SCHOOLS INTO THE MID-1950s. THEY WERE CLOSED OUT AND SOLD OFF, SOME TO BECOME HOMES, WHEN ADAMS COUNTY WAS DIVIDED INTO A NUMBER OF AREA-WIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MODERN MULTI-CLASSROOM SCHOOLS WERE BUILT TO TAKE THE STUDENT, IN THE MID-1950S. THE MILLER SCHOOL IN YORK SPRINGS WAS RESTORED BY ITS CURRENT OWNER (AND A FORMER STUDENT). IT IS IMMACULATE. IT IS OPEN BY REQUEST. THE PLEASANT GROVE SCHOOL (AKA "THE MUD COLLEGE"), SOUTH OF GETTYSBURG ON RTE. 97 WAS ALSO PRESERVED AND IT OPENED BY REQUEST.
• A LISTING OF THE ORAL HISTORIES MADE OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS BY SEVERAL SOCIETY MEMBERS WITH CITIZENS, FRUIT GROWERS, FARMERS, AND PROMINENT BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE IN THE UPPER ADAMS COUNTY AREA. THE HISTORIES WERE MADE ON CASSETTES AND MANY HAVE NOW BEEN COPIED ONTO CDs. THEY ARE IN THE MUSEUM LIBRARY.
• PHOTOS OF THE THOMAS COUNTRY STORE AND MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET IN BIGLERVILLE. THE STORE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1906. THE THOMAS SISTERS DONATED MUCH OF THE STORE CONTENTS TO SET UP A REPLICA OF THEIR FAMILY STORE IN THE MUSEUM AS IT LOOKED IN THE VERY EARLY 1900s, AT THAT TIME THE STORE NEEDED TWO SEPARATE PHONES TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS AS THE TWO EARLY PHONE COMPANIES IN THIS AREA OF ADAMS COUNTY WERE NOT INTER-CONNECTED.
• PHOTOS FROM THE 2006 ANNUAL GETTYSBURG ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB STATIC DISPLAY OF VEHICLES AT THE NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM. EACH YEAR, AFTER DUSK, THE CLUB CONDUCTS A "GAS LIGHT PARADE" THROUGH THE BOROUGH. "GAS LIGHT" BECAUSE MANY OF THE CARS HAD TO USE COAL GAS IN THE HEADLIGHTS.
• PHOTOS FROM THE FOOD CHANNEL'S 'UNWRAPPED' FILM CREW VIDEO TAPING AT THE NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM IN AUGUST OF 2006 FOR A PROGRAM SEGMENT TO BE AIRED ON CABLE TV IN 2007.
• PHOTOS OF THE SEIFERT FARM, JUST EAST ON YORK SPRINGS ON RTE. 94. THE STONE FARM HOUSE, BUILT IN 1760 IS GORGEOUS. THE SEIFERT'S HAVE CREATED A SMALL VILLAGE ON THE PROPERTY WITH A ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE, A COUNTRY STORE, A LOG CABIN, A SMALL COVERED BRIDGE, AND A FORMER ONE ROOM ELECTION HOUSE FROM LATIMORE TOWNSHIP. THEY WOULD AS WELL LIKE TO OBTAIN AND MOVE TO THE PROPERTY AN OLD SMALL ONE-ROOM CHURCH. THE VILLAGE IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING BY SEEING THE OWNERS.
• THIS SECTION CONTAINS ARTICLES ON THE HISTORY OF AND MAKING OF, APPLE CIDER, APPLE BUTTER, PERRY (PEAR CIDER), AND VINEGAR.
• IN THE ORCHARDS, FARMS, PROCESSING PLANTS. PHOTOS FROM THE LATE 1800s INTO THE MID/LATE1950s OF ACTIVITITES IN THE ORCHARDS, FARMS, AND PROCESSING PLANTS IN ADAMS COUNTY.
• THIS SECTION CONTAINS PHOTOS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN GETTYSBURG.

A SHORT PHOTO TOUR OF DISPLAYS IN THE NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM.

THIS SECTION CONTAINS PHOTOS OF THE STILL STANDING COVERED BRIDGES IN ADAMS COUNTY, PHOTOS OF SOME HISTORIC HOMES, AND 48 POST CARDS OF THE UPPER ADAMS COUNTY AREA FROM THE LATE 1800s-EARLY 1920s (CONTAINED IN A BOOK ON SALE IN THE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP AS WELL). IT ALSO CONTAINS PHOTOS PHOTOS OF A MID-1980s APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN THE COUNTY.

THIS IS A VERY LARGE SECTION. IT CONTAINS ALMOST 700 PHOTOS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN ADAMS COUNTY, INCLUDING BARNS, FARMS HOMES, BRIDGES, CHURCHES, ELECTION HOUSES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES. IT ALSO CONTAINS PHOTOS OF THE STILL STANDING "BRICK END BARNS" IN THE COUNTY--SOME OF WHICH ARE VERY ORNATE. THESE BARNS WERE BUILT PRIMARILY ONLY BY WEALTHY FARMERS OUT OF PRIDE AND WHIMSY. ALL WERE BUILT IN THE MID-1800s AND ONLY THE WEALTHY COULD AFFORD TO BUILD THIS KIND OF ORNATE BARN.

IN TAKING THE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION, SOME THINGS STUCK OUT- THE BRICK END BARNS WERE CONCENTRATED IN THE EAST AND CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY-LARGELY ON "PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH" (I.E. GERMAN SETTLER FARMS); IN THE NORTHEAST AND THE SOUTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY, FARMERS BUILT BARNS IN THE 1700s AND EARLY 1800s WITH STONE ENDS AND SLITS IN THE STONE END WALLS INSTEAD OF WINDOWS (PROBABLY DUE TO ECONOMIC AND SECURITY CONCERNS). NOTE THAT FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS OF THE MID 1700s DID SPILL OVER AND AFFECT THE WESTERN PART OF ADAMS COUNTY. SOME FOLKS TOLD THE PHOTOGRAPHER THAT THE RED BARNS WERE BUILT LARGELY BY THE "PENNSYVANIA DUTCH" FARMERS, AND THE THOSE THAT BUILT WHITE OR OTHER COLORED BARNS WERE BUILT BY THE "ENGLISH/IRISH/SCOTS" FARMERS. THE PREDOMINANT TYPE OF BARN BUILT IN THE COUNTY WAS THE MODIFIED SWISS BANK BARN (HAVING A COVERED OVERHAND ON ONE SIDE OF THE BARN (SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER, ACCESS, AND VENTILATION) AND AN EARTHERN BANK OR RAMP ON THE OTHER LONG SIDE FOR ACCESS TO THE SECOND LEVEL TO STORE HAY, STRAW, TOOLS, HARVESTED GRAINS SEED AND CROPS.

IF A HILL WAS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ON THE FARM TO BUILD THE BARN INTO (TO HAVE A RAMP WITHOUT MUCH WORK) THEN THE FARMERS LAID A STRONG THICK STONE FOUNDATION, OFTEN TILTED BACK SOME DEGREES TO BETTER SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE EARTHERN RAMP. THE RAMP ENABLED THE FARMERS TO DRIVE HORSE/OXEN-DRAWN WAGONS ALMOST OR ENTIRELY INTO THE BARN'S SECOND LEVEL. AT LEAST ONE BARN WAS PHOTOGRAPHED THAT HAD BOTH A STONE END AND A BRICK END!

A LARGE SAMPLE OF THE ANTIQUE FRUIT CRATE LABELS IN OUR LARGE COLLECTION SO GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE SOCIETY BY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. THEY CONTAIN ART, HISTORICAL, AND SOCIAL CONTENTS AND AND ARE VERY NICE.

AN E-MAIL PAGE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE SOCIETY AND THE NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM.

A LISTING OF THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS, AND FIRMS IN THE UPPER ADAMS COUNTY AREA THAT HAVE SO GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED THE BIGLERVILLE HISTORICAL & PRESERVATION SOCIETY/THE NATIONAL APPLE MUSEUM OVER THE YEARS. A WAY FOR US TO SAY "THANK YOU" TO THEM ALL.

INFORMATION ABOUT AND THE LINK TO THE WEB SITE OF THIS VITAL ORGANIZATION INVOLVED IN PRESERVING THE AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND LANDS IN ADAMS COUNTY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

A LISTING OF THE FRUIT AND TREE NUT GROWERS IN ADAMS COUNTY.

A LIST OF THE FARMERS AND GROWERS THAT ALSO OPERATE SEASONAL OR YEAR LONG FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKETS IN ADAMS COUNTY.

A VERY NICE BOOK WRITTEN IN PART AS A PRIMER FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS, ON THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE APPLE INDUSTRY IN THE YAKIMA VALLEY IN WASHINGTON STATE. HAS LOTS OF INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF APPLES AND MATERIALS FOR USE IN CLASSROOMS. NEAT PHOTOS AND HISTORICAL DATA ON THE STRUGGLE TO BRING WATER TO THE FORMER SEMI-ARID VALLEY AREA TO SUPPORT THE FRUIT AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES AND GROWING POPULATION. BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY THE YAKIMA VALLEY MUSEUM. TEACHERS FEEL FREE TO COPY IT OUT FROM OUR SITE.

CONTAINS LINKS TO WEB SITES OF GROWER AND AGRICULTURAL GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN ADAMS COUNTY AND PENNSYLVANIA.

INFORMATION ABOUT AND LINK TO THE WEB SITE OF THE PENN STATE FRUIT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER (FERC) IN BIGLERVILLE, PA.

INFORMATION ON THE ANNUAL APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN ADAMS COUNTY AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN FAIRGROUNDS JUST WEST OF ARENDTSVILLE. THIS FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED AND RUN BY THE ADAMS COUNTY FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION. VISITORS AND INTERESTED VENDORS CAN CONTACT THE ASSOSIATION AT 717-677-7444 OR ON EMAIL AT: acfga@comcast.net

INFORMATION ON, AND LINK TO THE WEB SITE FOR THIS ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN FAIRGROUNDS JUST WEST OF ARENDTSVILLE. THIS FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED AND RUN BY THE UPPER ADAMS JAYCEES. VISITORS AND INTERESTED VENDORS CAN CONTACT THE JAYCEES AT 717-677-7820 OR BY EMAIL AT: appleharvest@embarqmail.com

A LONG LISTING OF OTHER APPLE "BLOSSOM'" AND "HARVEST" FESTIVALS IN THE U.S.A. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. MANY HAVE THE LINKS TO THEIR WEB SITE THAT VISITORS CAN USE.

A LONG LISTING OF OTHER APPLE AND OTHER FRUIT-RELATED MUSEUMS IN THE U.S.A. AND AROUND THE WORLD, WITH "CLICK-ON LINKS" TO MOST OF THEM. IN PART, A TRAVELOGUE TO OTHER SECTIONS OF THE COUNTY AND THE WORLD.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE FOR THIS NEW AND VERY NICE ENTERTAINMENT, LODGING, SHOPPING, AND DINING COMPLEX JUST EAST OF GETTYSBURG AT THE JUNCTION OF U.S. ROUTES 15 AND 30.

LISTING AND LINKS TO MANY GETTYSBURG AREA DINING, LODGING, AND CAMPING FACILITIES AND ESTABLISHMENTS

LINK TO THIS VERY FINE WEB SITE ON THE APPLE AND THE APPLE INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. IT IS VERY LARGE, ENCOMPASSING, AND INFORMATIVE. CHECK IT OUT- A NEAT SITE.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE FOR THIS SOCIETY. IT IS HOUSED IN THE SCHMUCKER HALL BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS OF THE LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN GETTYSBURG, PA. IT IS THE LARGEST HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN ADAMS COUNTY. IT WAS FORMED IN 1888, DIED, THEN REBORN IN 1934 FOR A SHORT DURATION, AND THEN INCORPORATED IN 1939 AND BECAME THE ARCHIVES AND "HISTORICAL ATTIC' OF THE COUNTY.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE FOR THIS SOCIETY. EAST BERLIN WAS FOUNDED IN 1764. THE MAIN STREET (KING ST./RTE 234) WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN RECOGNITION OF ITS MANY EARLY (AND RESTORED) BUILDINGS.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE OF THIS COUNTY JUST WEST OF ADAMS COUNTY. EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS DATE TO THE PERIOD OF 1725-1727. FOR A TIME THIS COUNTY WAS PART OF CHESTER COUNTY, THEN PART OF LANCASTER COUNTY, AND THEN PART OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. THIS SIMILAR TO WHAT TOOK PLACE IN ADAMS COUNTY, WHICH WAS PART OF LANCASTER COUNTY, THEN PART OF YORK COUNTY BEFORE IT BECAME INCORPORATED AS ADAMS COUNTY. BOTH COUNTIES WERE PART OF THE VERY EXTENSIVE PENN FAMILY LAND GRANTS. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS LOCATED IN CHAMBERSBURG, FRANKLIN COUNTY.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN HANOVER, YORK COUNTY, PA., ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF GETTYSBURG.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE FOR THIS SOCIETY 4 MILES NE OF GETTYSBURG. WAS SETTLED IN 1764. AT ONE TIME IT HAD A WORKING GOLD MINE. THIS IS THE SECOND OLDEST TOWN IN THE COUNTY AND WAS SETTLED IN THE MID-1700s. GENERAL CUSTER'S UNION CAVALRY FOUGHT GENERAL JEB STUART'S CONFEDERATE CAVALRY HERE.

LINK TO WEB SITE FOR THIS SOCIETY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY NEAR THE BORDER WITH MARYLAND. FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT IN THIS AREA WAS IN 1734. THE TOWN WAS LAID OUT IN 1765, WENT THROUGH SEVERAL NAME CHANGES UNTIL IT BECOME KNOWN AS LITTLESTOWN IN 1795, AND WAS INCORPORATED AS A BOROUGH IN 1864.

LINK TO THE WEB SITE FOR THIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ADAMS COUNTY.

TWO LISTINGS OF THE MUSEUMS, ZOOS, AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THIS WAS DONE FOR A MASTERS THESIS AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY BY MRS. CAROL STEINBERGER MAHOLTZ, A FORMER ARCHIVIST OF THE BIGLERLERVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.