To 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 Senior.
Oral histories offer a compelling way to capture remembrances and bring stories to life, so they can be shared with others.
After William Ort settled in Long Valley in the mid 1800s, he began fostering a passion for farming that has continued through six generations of Orts. In 1916, the Ort Family Farm was established in its current location on 25 Bartley Road. Read all about the farm and its history at their website - ortfarms.com.
At the 2025 annual WTHS meeting, we had two interpreters - Bill Blaskopf, and Amanda Ort, the granddaughter of Harvey Ort Senior, who read the questions asked of her grandfather. They helped portray Harvey’s experience on the farm, using his words and documented recollection.
The original interview took place on April 18, 2018 and this special interpretation features only a small portion of the Oral History captured that day. To read the entire transcription of this insightful interview, click here.
Listen now to the portrayal of Harvey Ort Senior, answering questions from his granddaughter, Amanda.