John Hershey - President Roosevelt at the TVA and the Downingtown Tree Farm

John W. Hershey, a well-known tree crop specialist, operated a nut tree farm in Downingtown, PA. In March 1934, he was appointed to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), where he worked to integrate tree crops into farming systems to combat erosion, enrich soil, and support long-term food production. While John was at the TVA, his wife Betty continued running the farm back home. In early November 1934, Betty visited John in Tennessee and filmed scenes featured in the first half of this video—including President Franklin Roosevelt’s visit to the TVA and Hershey on November 16. The movie camera was lent to the Hersheys by their friend Raymond Greenleaf, a pharmacist in Downingtown.

The second half of the video is undated but was taken on Hershey's tree farm on Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown, PA and most likely filmed by Raymond Greenleaf. Hershey is seen demonstrating tree grafting on the 8-acre farm.

The film was donated to the Historical Society by Don Greenleaf, Raymond's son. It was moldy and brittle and in generally poor condition, especially given its age. Special thanks to Jack's Cameras in Exton, PA for having the film transferred to digital.