Explore the Rich History in Schaefferstown:

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. There were several taverns in town beside the Gemberling-Rex Tavern.

The Alexander Schaeffer Farm:
Take time to visit this farmhouse which was built circa 1736. The farmhouse, barn, smoke house, corn crib and many more needed buildings were busy places that kept the farmer fed, clothed and sheltered. Oh yes, don't forget those stills in the basement that supplied apple whiskey to the taverns in town. Have you ever seen a squirrel tail oven? Come and visit one today!

The Gemberling-Rex House:
The Gemberling-Rex House was bought in 1982.  It had been lived in for 200 years by members of the Rex family who did change any features from the original tavern.  The Rex famly then sold it to a private family who also did not change any of the original features.  There was a small, more modern kitchen, a bathroom, and a powder room added;  some by the Rex family and others by later owners.  The house was put up fo sale again, then HSI purchased it.  It is current open for tours during normal hours.

The Brendle Museum:
The Brendle Museum  building was bought in 1979.  It is the fomer home for the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America who built it in 1909.    It was named for Thomas Brendle who was a pastor in the area and felt that the folklore of the Germans in the area was being lost.  He went around and  wrote down all the folklore he could find.  Scholars still use that folklore as references.  The museum, which contains many items that were used in the past, is open for tours.

Fountain Park:
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Schaefferstown is the water company. The water company in Schaefferstown has the oldest gravatational water conveyance system by underground pipes in America. The water system was constructed sometime between 1744 and 1750 by the founder of the town, Alexander Schaffer. The running water system which is located in what is now Fountain Park runs consistantly and is still used by many townspeople for potable houshold water. When the original water system was laid out, there were two wooden troughs on the Square. One trough was replaced in 1910 with a granite fountain by Matilda Zimmerman in memory of Mary Rex Zimmerman, her mother and great grand daughter of Alex Schaeffer.