Oxford Area Historical Association 

The Oxford Area Historical Association serves as a repository of local stories. We are the story-keepers in this part of Southern Chester County.

Tell us about Oxford Area Historical Association.

Oxford Area History Association (OAHA) was founded in 2000 by Dr. Faye Doyle. Since then, OAHA has worked to preserve artifacts and memories and stories of events, people, and places from the Borough of Oxford and the five surrounding townships which comprise the Oxford Area School District. Now that OAHA has moved into the historic Union School Building, we can display items in our collection in both permanent and rotating exhibits. The History Center (OAHA) is located at 119 S. 5th St. in Oxford. We are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 am –12 pm and the first Sunday of each month from noon-3 pm.

In addition to preserving and displaying artifacts, OAHA presents history programs at 7pm on the second Thursday of most months. Programs are free and are held at Vista Ridge Pavillion at Ware Village (1162 Kensington Lane, Oxford). You do not have to live in Ware Village to attend. Programs are also livestreamed on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OxfordAreaHistoricalAssociation). Recordings of programs are available on the Facebook page as well. The programs usually relate to the Oxford area either in topic or presenter.

I see that you have moved! Do you now own the old Union School Building?

Not yet! Last year, OAHA signed an agreement of sale for the former Union School Building at 119 S. 5th Street in Oxford, along with a very affordable five-year lease which will allow us time to raise money to purchase the building. Renovated to include an accessible entrance ramp, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, a full-building HVAC system and a large generator, the building requires very few alterations to make it an ideal location for OAHA’s History Center. This location has increased our space from 1,000 square feet to over 6,000 square feet and it has the capacity for large exhibits, for volunteers to work, and for schoolchildren and other visitors to tour. We hope to make the building a Gateway to historical tourism in Southern Chester County, and we have started a $1.2 million dollar capital campaign for the purchase of the building and major improvements such as an elevator. For more information, or to learn how to get involved, you can download our case statement here: https://oxfordhistorical.org/giving/.

What kind of artifacts do you have?

OAHA has all kinds of artifacts. We have manuscripts, deeds, photographs, and newspaper articles, some of which are originals and some are copies. Additionally, we have maps, paintings, books, and ephemera like play bills and event flyers. Finally, we have physical objects, like business signs, school desks, clothing, and trophies.

What are some of the most interesting items you have?

We have a ledger from the Oxford Hotel that was signed by then President Ulysses S. Grant when he stayed at the hotel, a wedding dress made from a WWII parachute, and a switchboard from Penn Fuel Gas Co. Always a hit with the kids (and guys of all ages), we have a soapbox derby car from the late 1940s. It was built and raced by a young Vernon Ringler. He won a trophy, which we also have, with that car. We have items and memorabilia from businesses, civic organizations, and doctors, including two doctor bags that were used when making house calls. Another popular part of our collection is the full run (from 1924-2023) of the Kernal, the OAHS yearbook. Folks love to come in and relive high school memories or look up relatives and friends.

Where do your artifacts come from?

Almost all of our artifacts have been donated to OAHA by people and organizations in the community. We continue to welcome donations, and not just old items either. Today’s events will become tomorrow’s history. With the help of members of Union Fire Company, we compiled a binder of photographs from the September 2023 fire and have also recently added items concerning the COVID epidemic.

How can someone donate an item to OAHA?

Most of the time people just bring the item with them to the History Center during our open hours. Sometimes they reach out to us first, but often we have no idea what people are going to walk through the door with. This summer a visitor brought us a set of knives used at Alexander’s Meat Market and another visitor came in with a tent pole from the Wheeler Brother’s Circus. If the item is large, like the counter used at the roller-skating rink at the Oxford Presbyterian Church, arrangements need to be made for transportation and volunteers to help move the item.

What types of exhibits have you had?

Since we moved into the History Center, we have had two large exhibits and several smaller exhibits. Our first exhibit was called Education of Oxford and followed the growth of education from academies and one room schoolhouses to the consolidation of Oxford Area School District to the present. In addition to buildings and academics, we had a section which focused on extra curriculars like the arts, athletics, and clubs. The exhibit also included material on Lincoln University and the Oxford Public Library. Our current exhibit focuses on Third Street and its changing appearance over the years. Included in the exhibit are many photographs and objects from businesses of yesteryear. Coming at the end of September is a traveling exhibit called I’ve Endured: Women of Old-Time Music. One of the women featured in this exhibit is Oxford’s own Ola Belle Reed. OAHA will augment the exhibit with objects and photographs about Ola Belle, Campbell’s Corner, and Sunset Park from our collection. Our smaller exhibits have been about Oxford’s first responders, the Borough and each township, and the Agricultural Fairgrounds and Wheeler Circus. Going forward, we hope to develop a few permanent exhibits on topics about which we have ample material, like the railroads in Oxford.

Can I do research at the History Center?

OAHA welcomes researchers; however, the amount of material we have available will vary depending on the topic. We currently do not have a publicly searchable database and we do not always have a volunteer present to assist with walk-in reference questions, so providing us with advanced knowledge of what information you are looking for is most helpful. We only have the materials which have been donated to us, so we may not be able to provide in-depth genealogical information or historical house/ building information. Our volunteers are always happy to check through our collection, provide what we can, and point you to other resources if needed. Research questions can be sent via email to information@oxfordhistorical.org or mailed to OAHA 119 S. 5th St., Oxford, PA 19363.

Can you accommodate groups?

Yes, we can! One of the more exciting things we have done over the past year is to partner with the school district to host classes from Oxford schools for field trips. OAHA partnered with three 6th grade classes over the 2023-24 school year. These classes came to the History Center twice and we visited their school with a presentation once. Additionally, all Kindergarten classes came to the History Center for a field trip to celebrate their 100th day of school. OAHA shared with them what it was like to live 100 years ago. For the past two years, OAHA has partnered with OASD to welcome newly hired teachers to OASD and give them an overview of the history of education in Oxford and to tell them what resources we offer. OAHA looks forward to continuing this collaboration with the school district and growing new partnerships with homeschoolers, civic organizations, and youth groups, like the scouts. If you have an interest in bringing your group or organization to visit OAHA email us at information@oxfordhistorical.org

Does OAHA ever need volunteers?

Oxford Area Historical Association is a volunteer run organization and welcomes those interested in volunteering. There are a variety of tasks volunteers can perform. Volunteers can come in regularly to work on specific projects or be on call to volunteer when extra help is needed, like when new exhibits are put up. We have opportunities for folks who like to interact with the public, like volunteering during the Sunday afternoons we are open. And opportunities for volunteers who like to work behind the scenes, like data entry. If you are interested in volunteering with OAHA you can email us at information@oxfordhistorical.org or stop by when we are open to fill out a volunteer interest form.

Why is it important to have an organization like the Oxford Area Historical Association?

OAHA serves as a repository of local stories. We are the story-keepers. Humans have always shared stories—on cave walls, with song and dance, on quilts, and around campfires, dinner tables, and porches. By listening to these stories, we learn what it means to be a part of the land, part of our families, and part of our communities. OAHA shares the area’s rich history and compelling stories with our friends, neighbors, and visitors. We keep those stories alive. Additionally, Oxford no longer has a local paper, so OAHA will play a vital role in collecting and documenting current events, like the September 2023 fire, for future generations of Oxfordians. Our motto is “Honoring the past. Celebrating the present. Shaping the future.” OAHA fulfills this motto by preserving our history, collecting current material, and displaying both the past and the present so that our roots and pride in our community are strengthened as we look to the future.