Founded in 1966, Historic Schaefferstown, Inc. is a non-profit educational orginization dedicated to the culture and unique history of Schaefferstown and the greater southeastern region of Lebanon County. The Pennsylvania German and Swiss cultures which flourished here during the last few centuries are authentically presented among several historical sites - including the Alexander Schaeffer Farm, the Thomas R. Brendle Museum, and the Gemberling-Rex Home.

Schaefferstown is one of the oldest towns in Lebanon County, being at least a century older than the county itself. It is the main town in Heidelberg Township. Although the exact date of the first settlers is unknown, it is certain that they settled here before 1725. Those first settlers were German Jews. Many of them were skilled craftmen and traders. They disappeared, however, when non-Jewish German settlers started moving into the area. The old burial ground was situated about a fourth mile south of Tower Hill and almost a hundred yards east of South Market Street in Schaefferstown. The Jewish settlement was known as the Lebanon Trading Post.

Schaefferstown held a Bicentenntial in 1963. At that time the residents of Schaefferstown realized that what they had was very significant. Bob Bucher, who owned the Schaefferstown farm sold it to the Historical group. The board of directors was made up of many people important in historical work. They came from many counties other than Lebanon Co. This was not
welcomed by the people of Schaefferstown, however. They felt that the board should be made
up of only Schaefferstown people. But through the connections of the members of the board,
more could be done historically. The board is now made up of 15 members who all come
from Schaefferstown or Lebanon County.

The group wanted the farm to be an Open Air Farm Museum. They only had the farm in the beginning. Many people volunteered to work at the farm and the festival buildings went up, plus many other buildings were addressed. This house is unique because it has become a bank house. Henry Schaeffer (Alexander's son) decided to make and sell apple whiskey in town. He had two stills built in the basement to do this. Schaefferstown was a crossroad for the iron ore furnace and forge workers, and is still a crossroad today for the ever-busy PA Route 501 and Pennsylvania Scenic Highway 419.