Rooted in Long Valley: The Six-Generation Legacy of the Ort Farm Family

Few stories illustrate the enduring spirit of Long Valley better than that of the Ort family. To help preserve and promote public interest in the history of Washington Township, we recently presented a first-person interpretation based on a 2018 oral history interview with Harvey Ort Sr. His words bring to life a farming tradition that began when William Ort settled here in the mid-19th century and grew into Ort Farms, established at its current Bartley Road location in 1916.

At the recent annual meeting of the Washington Township Historical Society, two interpreters—Bill Blaskopf and Amanda Ort, granddaughter of Harvey Ort Sr.—brought this history to life. Bill portrayed Harvey using his own documented words, while Amanda read the original questions asked of her grandfather during the April 18, 2018 interview. Together, they offered an interesting glimpse into the farming at Ort Farms in Washington Township. This special interpretation represents only a small portion of the oral history captured that day.

To read the full transcription of this insightful interview, click here and listen to the portrayal of Harvey Ort Sr., answering questions from his granddaughter Amanda—preserving his voice, his memories, and a remarkable chapter of our community’s story for generations to come.