Eat and visit in Shirleysburg

The Hidd'n Valley Restaurant spent seven and a half years in Shade Gap before it moved in March 2016 into the former Captain’s Deli location in the heart of Shirleysburg. Torrie DiBella, co-owner, said customers who had been faithful in Shade Gap followed the business to Shirleysburg. A June 2016 Daily News article named the owners as mother and daughter Violet Shields and Torrie DiBella.

That article named the 12-ounce haddock, baked or fried, among the restaurant's trademark dishes. In 2016 the owners also made a homemade ham pot pie every other week, took requests for meals, did banquets for area clubs and organizations, and offered delivery to area businesses and takeout.

DiBella said lunch and supper bring in a lot of business because of nearby businesses and schools, and that the back lot has handicap accessible parking.

• Moved from Shade Gap into the former Captain’s Deli location in Shirleysburg. source
• A 2016 article named the 12-ounce haddock, baked or fried, among the trademark dishes. source
• In 2016 the owners made a homemade ham pot pie every other week. source
• In 2016, DiBella said the back lot has handicap accessible parking. source
• In 2016 the owners offered delivery to area businesses and takeout. source

““People think it’s just like home,” said Shields. “The people in town love it.””Violet Shields, Huntingdon Daily News, 1 June 2016

““Facebook has been good for us,” said DiBella. “People who travel like to stop at diners, and they want to know where we’re located.””Torrie DiBella, Huntingdon Daily News, 1 June 2016

“They’ve become known for some trademark dishes like the 12-ounce haddock, which is either baked or fried, but they also take requests for meals and have daily specials.”Kylie Hawn, Huntingdon Daily News, 1 June 2016

Fort Shirley stood on a knoll at the north end of Shirleysburg, just off U.S. 522 in southern Huntingdon County. The Huntingdon Daily News calls it the first stockade and a major link in the frontier fort chain west of the Susquehanna River. A historical marker stands on Croghan Pike (U.S. 522) just south of Pump Station Road, and a second Fort Shirley marker stands beside it. A 2023 Daily News article says the fort remains lie under the back lawn of a private house, the Leas House, with both markers out front.

The Fort Shirley Heritage Association runs a log cabin museum that opened in 1981. The Huntingdon County Historical Society lists holdings that include Native American artifacts, pottery from three local potters, blacksmith tools and a replica of George Croghan's trading post. Appointments are made by phone.

The museum is open by appointment and during several special events, including an open house each June with a speaker and special exhibits. The Daily News announced a June 7, 2026 open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the museum.

• A marker stands on Croghan Pike (U.S. 522) just south of Pump Station Road, on the right when traveling south. source
• The log cabin structure opened in 1981 as both a museum and the association's home. source
• An open house is held every June, with a speaker and special exhibits. source
• The Daily News announced a 2-4 p.m. open house on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the museum. source

“The fort played an important role in the 1756 Armstrong expedition and served as the first stockade and a major link in the frontier fort chain west of the Susquehanna River.”No byline shown (photo caption), Huntingdon Daily News, 29 April 2026

“The museum is open by appointment as well as during several of the Association’s special events throughout the year.”No byline shown (Fort Shirley Heritage Association entry), Huntingdon County Historical Society

“To help us remember, the Fort Shirley Heritage Association will share the town’s contributions to history during its open house activities set for 2-4 p.m., Sunday, June 7, at the museum”No byline shown, Huntingdon Daily News, 29 April 2026

The Fort Shirley Heritage Association runs the Fort Shirley Heritage Museum in Shirleysburg. The Huntingdon County Historical Society says a log cabin opened in 1981 as both a museum and a home for the association.

The museum holds images and artifacts from earlier eras. The association's 2025 open house notice listed an 1850s wooden weaving loom, given to the museum, among the donations to be on display. Because of its size, the loom was located at the community schoolhouse. Published dates, not a daily timetable, show an open house each June from 2 to 4 p.m. on a Sunday, and Free Museum Day on Sept. 19, 2026, when the museum was listed to open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. The roundtable reported 28 visitors that day.

George Croghan built Fort Shirley in 1755 and 1756 on the north end of Shirleysburg, just off Route 522, and a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker identifies the site. A 2025 talk by historian Joel Warner about Croghan highlighted the association's open house that year.

• Log cabin museum, opened in 1981 as a museum and home for the association. source
• Free Museum Day, Sept. 19, 2026: the roundtable counted 28 visitors to the museum. source
• Open house 2 to 4 p.m. on a Sunday in June; the June 7, 2026 open house was announced. source
• George Croghan built Fort Shirley in 1755 and 1756; a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker identifies the site. source
• Admission is free at participating locations on Free Museum Day. source

“In 1981 the log cabin structure, picture above, was opened to serve as both a museum and home for the Association.”Huntingdon County Historical Society

“The Fort Shirley Heritage Association will open its museum doors from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, June 2, for its annual open house.”REBECCA BERDAR, Huntingdon Daily News, 31 May 2024

“Association officials will host historian Joel Warner who will share his extensive research into the life and times of celebrated Pennsylvania Indian interpreter and agent George Croghan, who built Fort Shirley 1755-56, and served as its commander.”RON MORGAN, Huntingdon Daily News, 12 April 2025

The Aughwick Creek Antique Tractor Show is an annual three-day show of antique tractors in Shirleysburg. The show's own site, as archived in June 2024, places it on the third weekend in September and lists free parking and admission. In 2024 it was scheduled for Friday to Sunday, Sept. 20 to 22, on the grounds of the old Shirleysburg schoolhouse on West Street. The Daily News gave the 2025 dates as Sept. 19 to 21, featuring Ford Ferguson tractors.

In 2019 owners brought tractors made by John Deere, International Harvester and Ford Ferguson, some handed down from a father or grandfather. The parade that year ran on the last day, a Sunday. The Fort Shirley Heritage Association, which runs a museum in Shirleysburg, served breakfasts at the show in 2024 and sold apple dumplings for it.

The Daily News gave the 2026 show as set for Friday, Sept. 18. In September 2026 the Daily News also said other events would be held throughout town during the show weekend, in a story about Free Museum Day.

• 2024 edition scheduled for Friday to Sunday, Sept. 20 to 22, on the grounds of the old Shirleysburg schoolhouse on West Street source
• 2025 edition set for Sept. 19 to 21, featuring Ford Ferguson tractors source
• 2026 show set for Friday, Sept. 18 source
• The 2019 parade ran on the last day, a Sunday source
• The Fort Shirley Heritage Association sold 250 apple dumplings for the show in 2024 source

“It has sentimental value.”Albert Morgan, Hill Valley, Huntingdon Daily News, 23 September 2019

“The three-day event featured activities for all ages and was one of several events held in the county over the weekend.”Photo by REBECCA BERDAR, Huntingdon Daily News, 23 September 2019

“Other events will also be taking place throughout town as part of the Aughwick Creek Antique Tractor Show weekend!”No byline on the page, Huntingdon Daily News, 16 September 2026