Last Thursday evening, the Haystack Historical Society hosted a special presentation on the Dudley Winter Apple, the variety credited with putting Aroostook County on the apple growers’ map.
John Bunker of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association reviewed the history of the apple and his search for authentic Dudley Winter Apple trees. His talk started with a small piece of genealogy involving the local Dudley family; apparently their ancestors left an English village where they lived at a place called Castle Hill.
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- John Bunker of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association spoke recently at the Haystack Historical Society about the Dudley Winter Apple, following which John Hoffses, SAD 1 School Farm manager, reviewed the farm’s orchard and cider education programs. Members of the Dudley family were present at the event. From left are Bunker; Lena Dudley Kenney and her son, Russell Kenney (both holding Dudley Winter Apples); Lena’s daughter, Janet Kenney Hopkinson; and Hoffses. (Courtesy/Terry Sandusky)
After touching on the family’s local arrival, Bunker discussed the importance of the “Duchess” apple, which was a Russian apple that had been imported because of its root system’s ability to withstand the cold. He described the discovery of the Dudley Winter Apple by the Dudley family in the mid-1800s as a chance event. The Dudley was found in 1877 from seeds planted by Mary Dudley. From this chance finding, they were grafted to hardy root stock, which stabilized the Dudley apple that was asked for and enjoyed throughout New England.
In 1893, the Dudley farm had an orchard of 275 trees, of which 200 were the Dudley Winter apple. Apples were the dominant agricultural product until potatoes found their way to The County. Potatoes become important to the Dudleys, as well, and by 1910, they had switched to potatoes and the orchard had been cut down for use as a potato field.
“But the Dudley Winter didn’t die,” Bunker said. “It caught on and became popular in northern districts of Canada and the upper Midwest. I have tracked down some different orchards in Canada and Minnesota or Wisconsin … that still have the apple listed.”
He added, “The Dudley Winter Apple was also sold under the name North Star, which was popular for a while.” The new name was later dropped in favor of the original name.
Bunker said he calls himself a “fruit explorer,” as he attempts to find heirloom and lesser known apples. In 1999, he began his research of the Dudley Winter Apple. After a few trips to The County, three Dudley Winter Apple trees were found in the orchard of Sophie Jacobson in Westmanland, which had been planted around 1900. More Dudley apples were found in an abandoned Castle Hill orchard, and from these trees Fedco Seeds sells twigs for use in grafting to grow Dudley Winter Apples.
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- The Mapleton Lions Club donated $1,000 from its Crown of Maine Balloon Fest food booth income to the Homeless Services of Aroostook. Club Treasurer Dennis Hoffses, right, presents the check to Stephen Eyler, shelter executive director. (Courtesy/Terry Sandusky)
Following Bunker’s presentation, John Hoffses, SAD 1 School Farm manager, talked about the facility’s orchard and cider processing education programs. The farm has 2,900 apple trees with 18 different varieties, and last year sold more than 20,000 8-ounce bottles of cider to school districts from Fort Kent to Bangor.
He invited everyone to visit the farm and to shop at the farm store for apples, cider and fresh vegetables.
Shelter donation
The Mapleton Lions Club donated funds raised at the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest food booth to Homeless Services of Aroostook. 2017 is the centennial year for Lions Clubs International, and clubs were asked to identify and support a new cause that was important to their local community. With that in mind, the Mapleton group gave their net income of $1,000 to the homeless service, best known as the Sister Mary O’Donnell Shelter.
In accepting the donation, Stephen Eyler, executive director, commented, “This is huge. This is big for us.” He thanked the club for their generosity, and plans to meet with them to discuss Homeless Services of Aroostook.
Because the shelter is a private not-for-profit agency, financial donations are critical for its ongoing operations. The service provides a safe, drug- and alcohol-free environment for individuals and families while they are getting back on their feet. Over the last four years, 718 people stayed for a total of 32,100 bed nights. Of those served, there were 180 children.
Photo contest extended
Due to some confusing dates posted online, the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest photo contest deadline will be extended to Sept. 30. The Mapleton Lions encourage all amateur photographers who snapped photos of the balloons or activities to send in entries.
There are two age divisions: age 18 and under and age 18 and older. Rules of the contest are online at the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Website (http://www.crownofmaineballoonfest.org/balloon-photography/amateur-photography-contest/) or at the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. There are cash prizes as well as the publication of the winning photographs in next year’s Crown of Maine Balloon Fest 2019 Calendar.
Special services
Maralee Gardiner of the West Chapman Advent Christian Church announced the church will host special services with Rev. Brenda Cross from Brunswick on Sept. 22-24. The weekend’s theme will be “Unlocking God’s Treasure”.
Friday’s and Saturday’s sessions will be special services for women only. Friday’s session will be start at 6:30pm and Saturday’s session will be at 9:00am. Refreshments will be provided.
Additional services later Saturday evening, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 24, at 10:45 a.m. are for everyone.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
