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  Welcome to the

​Fairfield Area
Historical Society

Fairfield Pennsylvania est. 1784
Named for Fairfield, England
(image- Post Civil War Main Street)

Become a member
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WELCOME

he Fairfield Area Historical Society  was created to help preserve and protect Fairfield's historical heritage. The Historical Society intends to identify and acquire artifacts and information of historical significance to the Fairfield area.

HERITAGE  ADAMS  COUNTY
Adams County is updating the Heritage Component of the County Comprehensive Plan.  Click HERE to check out the project's website for more information and to take a brief survey.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 19, 2023

Early 20th Century Fruit Processing in Southwestern Adams County

Presentation by Phil Roth
7:00 p.m. | Fairfield Village Hall, 108 West Main Street, Fairfield PA, 17320

In the early 1900's, Orrtanna (named in 1892 from the original Wortzville) was a vibrant village with a shirt factory, two tanneries nearby and a railroad spur line end point for the Harrisburg & Gettysburg Railroad.  Around 1910, newly organized Rice Fruit Company was shipping fresh apples in barrels by railroad from Orrtanna.  And in 1913, the Orrtanna Canning Company processed 25,545 busshels of raw apples into sliced apples shipped in tin cans.  The background and stories about Orrtanna Canning Company's history and its contribution to organizing Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc., will be presented by Phil Roth, former orchardist and grandson of Orrtanna Canning Company's founder I.Z. Musselman.  This event is free to the public and lite refreshments will be served. 
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Blacksmith shop and stable in Fairfield
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The Paxton & McCreary store at approximately 20 East Main Street
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Post civil war picture of H.J. Waddle house, shop and wagon
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Mission

The mission of the Fairfield Area Historical Society is to help preserve and protect our historical heritage.  The Society will identify and acquire artifacts and information of historical significance to our area.

Thank you

The Fairfield Area Historical Society would like to thank Matthew Jenkins for his contribution of much of the content for this site, Rhonda Myers for the design of our logo and site, Fairfield Auto Service and Mansion House, our sponsors.
​
108 West Main Street
​P.O. Box 263
Fairfield, PA 17320 
(717) 642-5640
fairfieldareahistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Copyright © 2021 Historical Society of Fairfield Pennsylvania
Site designed by Rhonda Myers.