Dave Cole, right, instructs Bill Sheffer on the proper way to hold a Civil War musket in order to fire it Wednesday at the Adams County Historical Society. Visitors were

Littlestown Borough has a cooling center available for residents who do not have access to cooling as dangerous heat settled over Adams County ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.

Extreme heat has pushed Gettysburg National Military Park’s (GNMP) Battle of Gettysburg anniversary programs indoors, but the heat warning is not stopping every outdoor commemoration planned during one of Gettysburg’s

All branches of the Adams County Library System will be CLOSED this Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th for Independence Day. There are no Story Times at Littlestown Library, ACLS this week, and no Chess on Monday, July 6th.

Gettysburg National Military Park has suspended outdoor programming for the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg after the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the area from July 1 to 3.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

Extreme heat has led to changes in Gettysburg's Civil War commemorations, with outdoor programming suspended at the National Military Park and reenactments continuing at Daniel Lady Farm under safety precautions.

Need a place to cool off? The Y is here for our community. All Hanover Area YMCA locations — North Hanover, South Hanover, Littlestown, and Gettysburg — will serve as cooling stations during the excessive heat event on Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 2. Community members are welcome to cool off in our air-conditioned lobbies and enjoy a bottle of cold water during the following times: Wednesday, July 1: 12:00–8:00 PM Thursday, July 2: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM Guests should bring a photo ID and check in with our Member Services team at the front desk upon arrival. This service is available for anyone age 12 and older. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please contact us at (717) 632-8211 ext. 0. The Y is proud to support our neighbors as part of our commitment to social responsibility and strengthening our community.

Here's what's happening around our area this 4th of July weekend.. A Gettysburg Fourth 2026 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cprfd59bS/ America 250th Celebration at the Adams County Farmers Market https://www.facebook.com/share/1CVPnnXc5n/ Independence Day Cultural Fair hosted by Explore York County PA https://www.facebook.com/share/1dGZdeW9yZ/ Fourth of July Pig Roast at The Barn Resort https://www.facebook.com/share/1DBTXTXVnz/ Be sure to check out one or more of the amazing firework shows happening around our area this holiday weekend. From all of us here at Community Media, we wish yo all a safe, wonderful and fun Independence Day! #imgoing #letsgo #gettysburgarea #HanoverArea #adamscounty #yorkcounty #whatshappening #communitymedia #fireworks

Mike May operates a M-29 Weasel during the parade of military vehicles during the third annual open house at Wheels of Liberation on Saturday. (Darryl Wheeler/Gettysburg Times)

The scorching reason why Gettysburg’s 163rd anniversary will look different this year

All outdoor programming at the Gettysburg National Military Park this week, including the 163rd reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg, has been suspended.

With extreme heat on the way this week, here's where you can find cooling centers in Hanover and in Adams County.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

The 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg will be marked July 3-5, 2026. Here's a look back at previous reenactments through the years.

The 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg will be marked July 3-5, 2026. Here's a look back at previous reenactments through the years.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

An Indianapolis woman is facing multiple charges after state police said she caused a December crash in Adams County that left one driver dead and another hurt.

A 64-year-old Indiana woman faces a felony charge in connection with a December 2025 crash that killed a 75-year-old Fairfield man in Adams County.

A 64-year-old Indiana woman faces a felony charge in connection with a December 2025 crash that killed a 75-year-old Fairfield man in Adams County.

Since 2025, the Adams County Homebuyer Assistance Program has helped 18 families secure interest-free loans for down payments. See link below ⬇️ 📸 Provided by the Adams Economic Alliance

Rev. Rick Smith, left, talks with Jan Stein following the service at Gettysburg United Methodist Church Sunday. Smith retired as pastor at the church after seven years. (Darryl Wheeler/Gettysburg Times)

Littlestown Borough is moving ahead with nearly $381,000 in renovations to its 43 S. Columbus Avenue building, even as officials have not yet decided how the borough’s existing office and

The Apple Core Band, under the direction of Donna Kime, conducted its 50th anniversary concert at Biglerville High School on Sunday. (Darryl Wheeler/Gettysburg Times)

A retirement party was held on Sunday for Rev. Rick Smith, standing in the center, pastor at Gettysburg United Methodist Church. He began as pastor at Grace United Methodist Church

Dusty Reynolds is a member of the Virginia Task Force 1 (VATF1), an elite urban search and rescue team from Fairfax County, Virginia, that responds to domestic and international disasters,

Recording the Heartbeat of Adams County

For Ben Wenk, the path to becoming one of Adams County’s most innovative apple growers was not a straight line. Before he became known for crafting award-winning ciders and helping shape the region’s agricultural future, he envisioned a life centered on music.

“Really, when I was doing my college search, I was very focused on doing music education,” Ben recalls. “I was definitely the band guy in high school.” As a student at Biglerville High School, music was his primary focus, and he expected it to define his future.

But that changed when his father offered a simple reminder that “there’s always an opportunity for you here on the farm,” Ben remembers. The suggestion prompted him to consider a path he had never seriously explored. “I was just so gung-ho focused on this music stuff. I never actually stopped to think about a career in agriculture.”

Instead of pursuing music education, Ben enrolled in Penn State’s College of Agriculture. At the time, it felt like a choice between two passions, but looking back now, he sees things differently.

“I thought that I had kind of chosen agriculture instead of music,” he says, “but I ended up having the opportunity to do both.”

After graduating, Ben returned to Adams County and began expanding his family’s market presence through farmers markets in Philadelphia and other Mid-Atlantic cities. Those trips offered more than new customers; they provided a window into a rapidly growing cider movement that was gaining momentum across the region. Inspired by what he encountered, Ben began exploring the craft. Years of research, experimentation and thoughtful planning followed, ultimately laying the foundation for what would become Ploughman Cider.

Yet music never disappeared from his life.

“[Music] was something that I was able to continue to do just for the joy and the passion of doing it,” he says. While he worked for the family business by day, he continued performing in local bands and staying connected to the region’s music community by night.

When the opportunity arose to open Ploughman Cider Taproom in Gettysburg, Ben saw a chance to unite both worlds. Music was never an afterthought.

“Having music in Ploughman Cider Taproom has never been like a line object on a budget,” he says. “It has been a necessity of having a space like that.”

Ploughman Cider quickly evolved into more than a cidery—it became a gathering place where music, storytelling and community flourished.
For Ben, it was a way to support artists while creating experiences that celebrate the connection between culture and the land. “In Adams County, I think we grow some of the best apples in the world,” he says. At the same time, he remains committed to “uphold and maintain the music scene that I grew up in.”

That same philosophy eventually inspired Guernsey Beat Records, a collaborative effort dedicated to supporting original musicians in and around Adams County by Ben Wenk, Rob Leib and Dean Vaccher.  

Guernsey Beat: A “Budding” Label

Long before Guernsey Beat Records existed, Rob Leib was already thinking about recording music.

At Biglerville High School, Rob’s interest in music technology became the focus of a senior project. “I’ve been recording music since I was in high school,” shares Rob. “We had to do senior projects, and mine was showing how multi-track recording works.”

Even then, he was collaborating with future creative partner, Ben Wenk. The friendship and musical partnership that formed during those years never disappeared, even as life took each of them in different directions. 

For a decade, Rob’s recording work took a back seat while he built a career as a full-time college professor. Yet music remained a constant presence. 

When Rob returned to Adams County in 2023, his connection to music in Adams County and collaboration with Ben quickly reignited. “It was just sort of natural to pick up where we left off,” he says.

The timing proved to be significant, as Ploughman Cider Taproom needed someone to take on the active live music venue. Through the taproom’s open mic nights and live music programming, Rob gained a front-row seat to the depth of talent thriving across south-central Pennsylvania, which sparked an idea: a music label.

“[Ben and I] were very familiar with the sort of bands that were in the area, but we were not familiar with any local or accessible means for these bands to record their albums,” says Rob.

As musicians cycled through the taproom’s stage, Rob began to see something larger than a series of individual performances. Original artists were creating compelling music, building audiences and contributing to a vibrant local scene, yet many lacked affordable opportunities to professionally record and release their work.

In late 2023 and into 2024, Rob and Ben discussed how they might help local musicians move beyond the stage and into the studio. Soon, they brought a third collaborator into the fold: veteran sound engineer Dean Vaccher.

“Dean had run studios before,” Rob shares, noting that Dean also brings “a lot of the equipment and expertise that we needed.”

Together, the three founders established Guernsey Beat Records and its companion recording facility, Cidernalia Studios.

What emerged was not a typical modern record label.

Rather than functioning as a business focused solely on revenue or volume, Guernsey Beat takes a collaborative approach. The founders work closely with artists throughout the recording process, helping them develop projects from concept to completion. The goal is not simply to rent studio time but to create an environment where musicians can receive guidance, support and professional production resources that might otherwise have been unavailable.

The Guernsey Beat label grew directly out of the same community spirit that fueled Ploughman’s open mic nights and live music programming. 

For Rob, the mission remained rooted in the local music scene that had inspired the label in the first place: providing artists with opportunities to be heard while creating a sustainable home for original music in Adams County.

What began as a high school fascination with the mechanics of recording music ultimately evolved into something much larger—a collaborative venture dedicated to preserving local voices, transforming songs into lasting records and strengthening the creative heartbeat of the region.

A Place to Be Heard

In the music industry, success is often associated with cities like Nashville, Los Angeles and New York. But in Gettysburg, a growing collective of musicians, producers and music advocates is proving that great music doesn’t have to come from a major market to make an impact.

Guernsey Beat Records is building something different.

Part record label, part recording studio and part community movement, the organization is dedicated to helping local artists create, record and share original music while strengthening the region’s vibrant music scene. What began as a simple idea among friends has evolved into a multi-faceted effort that supports musicians through recording projects, live events, festivals and even a podcast devoted to telling artists’ stories.

For co-founder Dean Vaccher, the mission is rooted in a simple question: why?

“My personal goal has always been, since I built my first studio: why? Why do I have to go to Nashville to hear good music and find good talent?” he says.

Rather than chasing trends or searching for the next commercial success story, the label focuses on the talent already thriving throughout south-central Pennsylvania. The team works with musicians across genres, from folk and bluegrass to rock, punk and metal, offering recording opportunities and creative support that many independent artists struggle to find elsewhere.

“If it’s being made and it’s original, then that’s fantastic,” Dean observes. “That’s what I want to push out to the world.”

The collaborative spirit of Guernsey Beat sets it apart. Instead of functioning as a traditional studio where artists simply pay for recording time, the label works closely with musicians and does not require musicians to pay. Instead, profits are shared among musician and producer; the producers offer feedback, help refine arrangements and serve as trusted sounding boards for artists looking to strengthen musicians’ work.

“We’re all in it to make [the musicians’] music sound the best that it can,” Dean says.

That philosophy extends beyond the studio walls. Guernsey Beat is increasingly visible throughout the local music community through events such as Guernsey Beat Rocks and Scene & Heard Fest. The organization also helps support live music programming connected to Ploughman’s Taproom and several regional festivals. Together, these efforts create opportunities for musicians to perform, connect with audiences and develop their craft.

One of the label’s most unique projects is the Homegrown Backroom Sessions podcast, which combines live performances with in-depth conversations about songwriting, creativity and life as a working musician. The program gives listeners an opportunity to discover not only the music, but also the people behind it. 

“It gets those stories out to other musicians and out into the wild,” shares Dean, “so that way, other people can get a hold of it and listen to it.”

At its heart, Guernsey Beat Records is about building community. One of their upcoming events is Guernsey Beat Rocks—formerly known as “Gettysburg Rocks”—a fundraiser for the Four Diamonds Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising money to fight childhood cancer. Guernsey Beat Rocks will feature bands all day on August 29 on Lincoln Square and Michaux Brew Co. taproom in Gettysburg.

As Guernsey Beat Records continues to expand its reach through recordings, festivals, podcasts and live events, its mission remains rather straightforward: to shine a spotlight on local artists and ensure that original music has a place to grow.

The journey from orchard rows to recording sessions may seem unlikely, yet for the founders of Guernsey Beat, the connection feels natural. Both farming and music require patience, dedication and faith in what can grow when given the right conditions. Today, the label stands as a testament to that philosophy—a place where songs are cultivated, stories are preserved and a community continues to find its voice.
In Adams County, the harvest is no longer measured only in apples, but also in melodies, memories and the enduring connections that bring people together. 

Preteen Living Historian is Passionate About Storytelling

The story goes that Will Morris V first visited Gettysburg at just 3 weeks old, when his parents, William and Carolyn Morris, brought their newborn son on a walk of Pickett’s Charge for his first lesson about courage. Fast forward 12 years to a cool morning in Gettysburg. Amid the rocky slopes of Little Round Top, a boy in a remarkably precise Civil War uniform confidently explains to a group of tourists the battlefield movements that happened more than 160 years ago.

When Will embodies Union Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20^th Maine, it is always July 4, 1863. The date is significant, of course. It marks the day after the climax of the Battle of Gettysburg. Will carefully studies everything leading up to that moment and shares “his” experiences—with extraordinary detail as if it literally just happened yesterday—with anyone willing to listen. Everything after that day does not yet exist. As he moves across Little Round Top, he speaks with the cadence and specificity of someone far beyond his years.

“When we got here,” he says, “Col. Vincent told me to hold this ground at all hazards.”

His father, also on the tour, explains that the two of them have researched this phrase; there are debates about whether Col. Strong Vincent used the word “hazards” or “costs.” It’s this level of detail that lights up both father and son as they move across the hillside.

Young Will—“Colonel,” as his dad calls him when he’s in uniform—navigates the terrain with ease, orienting himself not by modern paths but by imagined regimental lines. He describes troop movements as if they are still unfolding in real time.

He points out positions of Union regiments holding the extreme left flank and describes pressure building against exhausted soldiers under repeated Confederate assaults. At one point, he recounts the story of finding Pvt. George Washington Buck, who had been shot and, as Will tells it, “had a massive hole in his chest.”

“He told me to tell his mother he didn’t die a coward,” the youthful colonel says. “And I said, ‘No—you die a sergeant,’ and I promoted him on the spot.”

What makes the young colonel’s interpretation striking is not just the detail—but the discipline behind it. Every element has been researched, questioned and revised. Accuracy is not an aesthetic preference; it is the foundation.

At one point, he breaks character briefly to explain the dent in his sword. In the 1993 film Gettysburg, he notes, the dent is in the wrong place. He and his father have seen the actual sword in a museum and, with the help of Gettysburg resident Jim Karcher, recreated the damage more accurately.

His entire uniform reflects that level of care. It has been assembled through consultation with specialists in Civil War material culture and sourced through dedicated historical artisans, including The Horse Soldier, Regimental Quartermaster and Union Drummer Boy.

When experienced interpreters from the Confederation of Union Generals (COUG) point out inaccuracies, Will does not resist the critique. “We need to fix these things right now,” he says.

Will and his father visit Gettysburg frequently—they’ve come nine times in the last year. Their trips often include a stop to visit Will’s great-grandmother, who just turned 102, before heading to the battlefield. Each visit becomes part study session, part performance and part refinement process, while remaining grounded in family values and learning his own family’s stories through his great-grandmother. These values show up in the colonel’s stories: At one point, he produces a photograph of Chamberlain’s wife, Fanny. “I write to Fanny frequently,” he says, explaining how the colonel stays connected to home to combat the stresses of war.

Will continues to upgrade his impression piece by piece. Thanks to Court Micker at The Horse Soldier, he is working toward replacing replica buttons with authentic ones from the 1860s. Local historians and artisans, recognizing his dedication, often encourage him along the way. He has been gifted items like an 1861 pocket Bible from Brendan Synnamon at the Union Drummer Boy, boot spurs from Maj. Pauline Cushman of the COUG and a bronze sculpture of Chamberlain from local artist Gary Casteel.

In uniform, the young colonel is a magnet for attention on the battlefield and in town. People stop him and ask, “Who are you?” Living history allows Will not just to portray the past, but to interact with people in the present—authentically, and in real time.

Why Chamberlain?

Will’s connection to Chamberlain began with curiosity and awe. At around age 8 or 9, during a visit to Gettysburg, he saw living historians portraying Civil War soldiers and had a moment of realization. “WOOOAH … I want to be like that guy,” he recalls thinking. “But I didn’t want to be an unknown soldier,” he explains. “I wanted to be someone who was a good person—someone I can tell people about.”

Will gestures to the Maltese cross on his kepi and launches into an explanation.

“Most officers would wear the cross on their chest,” Will says. “But through my research, I think Chamberlain wore it on his hat so he could be on the same level as his soldiers. It was important to him to be part of the team.”

Teamwork is important to Will, too, who in addition to being a Chamberlain expert is also an avid hockey player at home in Vermont. Will loves hockey, but his dad laughs when recounting a time when Will wanted to be left alone to hang out with members of the COUG. “I was afraid I would lose him to hockey or girls,” he says. “Instead, I lost him to adults who love the details of Civil War history as much as he does.”  

Those adults include a wide community of historians and educators whose work helps preserve and communicate the story of Gettysburg. 

Among them is historian GarryAdelman, whose work in battlefield interpretation and public education Will is familiar with and admires. He aspires to Adelman’s approach in engagement and storytelling—grounded in terrain, movement, primary evidence and enthusiasm.

Will is also scheduled to appear on the Addressing Gettysburg podcast, hosted by Matt Callery, further connecting him to the modern landscape of Civil War storytelling.

Last year, when Will and his father saw a CBS feature on newly Licensed Battlefield Guide Judy Morley, they tracked her down before she was even fully established through the Gettysburg Cookie Company, where inquiries were being routed to her phone.

They requested to be her first official tour, and she said yes.

“Meeting a 12-year-old who is so passionate and completely absorbed in accuracy—that’s rare,” Morley says. Then, she jokes: “Although now I think they request me because I always bring cookies.”

Morley’s own path to Gettysburg interpretation began decades earlier after watching Ken Burns’ landmark documentary The Civil War and traveling extensively through Civil War battlefields in the United States. She later earned a Ph.D. in history and taught Civil War courses. She describes Will as someone who impressed her immediately with both knowledge and seriousness.

“He knows more about Chamberlain in some areas than
I do,” she says. She is one of the people with whom Will 
discusses the location of the cross on Chamberlain’s uniform. Morley recognizes something special in Will, which makes her hopeful that appreciation for these important stories will continue emerging in future generations. 

The Story of Little Round Top

Standing on the ground where history once turned, Will narrates Chamberlain’s most famous moment: the defense of the Union left flank. He describes repeated Confederate assaults, the exhaustion of soldiers running low on ammunition and the increasing strain on a position that cannot afford to fail.

“It keeps coming—attack, retreat, again and again,” he says.

He speaks of Sgt. Andrew Tozier carrying the colors through chaos, flag under one arm, weapon in the other. He describes reinforcing weak points as the line stretches thinner.

Then comes the turning point.

“I order the bayonet charge,” Will says. “We swing down like a door.”

He describes the sudden forward movement down the slope of Little Round Top, the breaking of Confederate momentum and the capture of prisoners.

He recounts the encounter with Lt. Robert Wicker of the 15^th Alabama, unholstering a replica 1851 Colt Navy firearm as he speaks.

“He points this gun at my head and barely misses,” Will says. “With one prick of my sword to his throat, he surrenders.”

A Story Still Unfolding

Will Morris is a 12-year-old seventh grader from Vermont. At home, his life includes school, hockey, four cats, dozens of chickens and two horses.

His parents are dedicated to helping Will become great at whatever he chooses to pursue.

In Gettysburg, where history is not only preserved but continually interpreted, Will stands at a rare intersection—childhood and scholarship, imagination and discipline, past and present.

He is, in the simplest terms, a boy in a very accurate uniform. But on the slopes of Little Round Top, where decisions made in 1863 still shape how history is understood today, he is something more.

He is part of how the story continues to be told.  

Living history schedules can be found on the Gettysburg Heritage Center website, gettysburgmuseum.com, and through the National Park Service at nps.gov.

The Historic Cashtown Inn

Photography by Casey Martin

Danielle and Jeremy Davis are bringing new life to one of Adams County’s most storied buildings. A charming historic atmosphere paired with locally sourced, made-from-scratch food defines the appeal of The Cashtown Inn and its restaurant. The Davises reopened the inn in 2021 after it had been closed for four years. They opened the restaurant in 2023 after what began as a much smaller plan; they had intended to focus solely on getting the fading property back on its feet as a bed and breakfast.

Instead, public demand nudged the Davises into the restaurant business. Sunday breakfast service started when curious passersby noticed overnight guests being served their morning meal and stopped in to ask if breakfast was available to everyone. Eventually, they added a full dinner operation.

The return of front-of-house manager Brian Smith helped make it all possible. Smith had worked at the inn under previous owners and started helping before the restaurant formally opened. When former members of the kitchen team also reappeared, Jeremy chuckles, “That’s how we got the band back together.”

When longtime chef Billy Martino retired, the transition to chef Joseph Huggins could have been difficult. “But honestly,” Jeremy says, “it could not have gone more smoothly.” Then he adds with a wry smile, “Billy found him for us at the SPCA.” The Davises, Smith, Huggins and the rest of the staff share a warm rapport, and Danielle and Jeremy describe the team as invaluable and deeply dedicated.

Chef Joseph Huggins lives nearby and has been cooking since his teens. He leads the kitchen with a menu that balances comfort and polish. Weekly specials rotate alongside customer favorites, and he emphasizes making as much from scratch as possible—from sauces and breads to delectable desserts. Specials have included clams in a white wine and Boursin butter sauce, a seared scallop and shrimp entrée over Parmesan-bacon polenta, and a grilled New York strip finished with Danish bleu cheese and port wine demi-glace. The Ham and Bean Soup is a cassoulet made with duck confit, bringing exquisite French technique from the Languedoc region to a local favorite while remaining intentionally unintimidating on the menu. The Peanut Butter pie boasts rave reviews in a category all its own.

Where it All Began

Danielle’s parents moved up the road from the inn in the early 1990s. She and Jeremy met in the 10^th grade at Gettysburg Area High School. They were high school sweethearts and later built their own home behind the inn. They spent years watching the property shift from local hot spot to something that, as Danielle puts it, looked “pretty sad.” 

“It started as a joke that we should buy it,” says Danielle. When the joke became an actual consideration, they couldn’t make the numbers work at first.
But when it came up for sale again in 2021, they purchased it even though they had just taken on a few other rental properties. More than a business opportunity, it felt like a chance to save a special place.

That sense of responsibility comes through when they talk about the inn. Jeremy’s dry humor reappears when asked about the inn as a labor of love. “Love’s gone,” he says.  “We’re all labor.”

And there has been plenty of labor. Work has ranged from painting and routine maintenance to replacing furniture and pulling up multiple layers of carpet and flooring, revealing stunning original hardwood that had been hidden for years.

The Davises have tried to preserve elements from each era of the inn. In some places, they intentionally left walls exposed so visitors can see old signatures and dates from the inn’s stagecoach-stop years, when travelers marked their stays right on the guest room walls.

The dining room tells another story. During its renovation, the Davises incorporated reclaimed barn wood and exposed earlier decorative paint details on the brick. When the design of a new fireplace they built looked out of place because of the modern bricks used, the mason on the job found and repurposed brick from a 1797 building in Abbottstown. The resulting fireplace is a beautiful centerpiece to the dining room, crafted to give diners the sense that they are eating somewhere with real age. It also serves as Danielle and Jeremy’s contribution to the evolving layers of the inn, which is part of its charm. 

A History of Community

Jeremy points out that visitors often over-simplify Gettysburg-area history to a few days in 1863. While the Cashtown Inn’s Civil War significance is real, the property’s story stretches before and beyond that familiar frame—through early settlement, road travel and town life. Photos from the filming of the movie Gettysburg decorate the lobby, and the couple points out the room Sam Elliott occupied during the 1993 filming, now available as part of the bed and breakfast. 

Over the years, the inn has been a stagecoach stop, tavern, Confederate headquarters, hospital, social hub, bar, restaurant, civic library and bed and breakfast. It is storied to have given the town its name, thanks to first innkeeper Peter Marck’s reported insistence on cash-only payments. 

Visitors arrive for different reasons. Some come for Civil War history. Some come because the inn appeared on ghost-hunting television shows in the 2000s and carries the usual collection of stories about unexplained doors opening and closing, sounds of footsteps and a resident spirit named Mary. Danielle and Jeremy do not emphasize the paranormal in the experience they provide to visitors, but they don’t argue with anyone’s raised eyebrows, either.

What they do emphasize is the rich history. They want guests to come for whatever first sparks their interest, then leave with a fuller sense of the building’s place in the community and the care that has gone into keeping it alive. Travelers from across the country often tell front-of-house manager Brian that staying there is a bucket-list item. Locals come because they are happy to have such a treasure in their own backyards.

Thanks to the care of Danielle and Jeremy Davis, the Cashtown Inn has not been reduced to a single romanticized chapter. It is a working inn and restaurant, still evolving, still patched together with determination, humor and a great deal of effort—which, despite what Jeremy says, may be the most honest definition of love available. 

THE HISTORIC CASHTOWN INN

1325 Old Route 30, Orrtanna

717-334-9722

cashtowninn.com

RESTAURANT

Wed.: Casual Dining, 4–9 p.m.

Thur.-Sun.: Fine Dining, 4–9 p.m.

Sun.: Breakfast, 9 a.m.–noon

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

Year-Round Pest Control Starting as Low as $35/Month! Tired of ants, spiders, wasps, stink bugs, mice, and all the other pests that seem to show up at the worst time? Kuhn Termite and Pest Management is now signing up new customers for year-round pest control plans starting as low as $35 a month! Your home stays protected through every season, and your service is fully guaranteed. That means if covered pests come back between regular treatments, so do we. No waiting until the problem gets out of control. No running to the store every few weeks buying sprays, traps, and bait that only seem to work for a little while. Just reliable local pest protection from a family-owned company that actually cares. Protect your home now and enjoy peace of mind all year long. Message us today to get started. Spots are limited! Kuhn Termite and Pest Management LLC Serving Littlestown, Hanover, Gettysburg, New Oxford, Abbottstown, East Berlin, Spring Grove, York Springs, and surrounding PA areas.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

The Gettysburg Chapter DAR recently recognized the Adams County Library System (ACLS) for their extraordinary effort in raising awareness of Revolutionary Patriots and America's 250th anniversary. Pictured from left are,

Adams County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ACSPCA) is closed until further notice after taking in 29 Dachshunds from one Conewago Township home Friday, according to an

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg provides local news, weather, sports, community events and items of interest for Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York and nearby towns and communities in the greater Harrisburg area including, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Jonestown, Annville, Gettysburg, East Berlin, New Oxford, Littlestown, Biglerville, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Newville, Middletown, Halifax, Steelton, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Millersville, Columbia, Quarryville, Ephrata, New Holland, Dillsburg, Etters, Enola, Lewisberry, Manchester, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, Dallastown, Hanover, Chambersburg, Mont Alto, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Mercersburg, Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Reading, Newport, New Bloomfield, Marysville, Duncannon, New Buffalo.

The Adams County SPCA is temporarily closed as staff care for 29 Dachshunds found inside a Conewago Township home near Hanover on June 26, 2026.

The Adams County SPCA is temporarily closed as staff care for 29 Dachshunds found inside a Conewago Township home near Hanover on June 26, 2026.