Applecrest Farm Orchards
Encyclopedia
Applecrest Farm Orchards (also known as Applecrest Orchards or simply Applecrest) is a year-round apple orchard
in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
. It is considered the oldest and largest apple orchard in the state of New Hampshire
and the oldest continuously operated apple orchard in the United States
.
that had arrived in North America
the same year. He married the daughter of Nathaniel Boulter of the neighboring town, Hampton
. For thirty years, he dwelled in the garrison
house now known as Prescott's Fort. In 1724, he moved to Kingston, New Hampshire
, and lived there until his death, four years later. His grandson, Ebenezer Prescott inherited the large parcel of land.
Aaron Wells of Ipswich, Massachusetts
, purchased the land from Ebenezer's descendents in 1774. His sole child, Eunice, married Newell Healey of the neighboring town, Kensington
. Their son, Wells, inherited the farm after his maternal grandfather's death in 1819.
Wells married Elizabeth Pickering of nearby town, North Hampton
. Wells died in 1857, and one of his sons, Newell H., became the owner of the large farm.
In 1913, Walter Baldwin Farmer with his wife, Gertrude (née Jones), and their two daughters, came from Brookline, Massachusetts
, and bought the farm. He set his mind on making the farm into a prosperous business. He purchased more land in surrounding areas, dredged brooks, dynamited boulders, and studied the latest methods on tree maintenance. Also, it was then, when the first apple tree was planted, that Applecrest Farm Orchards was established. Farmer spent the first ten years of his ownership of the orchard waiting for the several thousand apple trees he planted to fully mature. While waiting, he paid his bills by raising chickens. Nearly 200 hundred chicken houses dotted the hilly landscape. A small amount of those chicken coops still stand, but are no longer in use.
Applecrest Orchards is considered the oldest and largest apple orchard in the whole state of New Hampshire
and the oldest continuously operated apple orchard in the United States
. But many of the buildings on the grounds were built before the establishment of the business, including the Farm Market, built in 1812, and the home of the Wagners, built in 1815 by Wells Healey.
After Farmer's death, the lot was briefly sold to Major Platts. But shortly after in 1954, the orchard was bought by William L.
and Jean Wagner of New York. Although they knew next to nothing about apple tree maintenance, they decided to continue the business. It has been operated by the Wagner family ever since. When Bill died in 1984, the farm was run by Jean, the new president of the business. In 1985, 500 acres (2 km²) of land was owned by Applecrest. But from that year forward, land was being sold instead of purchased; 44 acres (178,061.8 m²) of that land was sold that year and divided into 18 house lots. In the late 1980s, another 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) parcel off Sanborn Road was subdivided and 12 lots were created. Additional sections of land, mostly along the main roads in Hampton Falls, have been sold off as well. 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) became four house lots in the early 1990s, a 12 lot subdivision called Coburn Woods was developed, and in around 2000, 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) off of Route 88 (Exeter Road) became a three lot subdivision, conforming in every instance to the town's 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) per house zoning ordinance.
As of 2005, the owners of the farm are Ben and Peter Wagner, the sons of Jean and Bill. In addition to the orchard, two markets were run by the Wagners on U.S. Route 1
, Hampton Falls and Junction 110 and Junction 150 in Amesbury, Massachusetts
. The former market was known as the Applemart. In 2004, both of the markets were shut down.In 2006, Peter Wagner purchased the farm and became the proprietary owner of Applecrest.
, Cortland
, Macoun
, Ida Red, and Red Delicious
. Other available foods include various vegetable
s, sweetcorn
, and peach
es.
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
Hampton Falls is a New England town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,236 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. It is considered the oldest and largest apple orchard in the state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and the oldest continuously operated apple orchard in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The property Applecrest Orchards currently stands on was first settled in 1665 by James Prescott, an EnglishmanEnglishman
Englishman may refer to:*English people*Grey Partridge*Jason Englishman, Canadian rock music singer and guitarist*Jenny-Bea Englishman, real name of the Canadien singer Esthero*Erald Briscoe, reggae musician who records under the name Englishman...
that had arrived in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
the same year. He married the daughter of Nathaniel Boulter of the neighboring town, Hampton
Hampton, New Hampshire
Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,976 at the 2010 census. Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination....
. For thirty years, he dwelled in the garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
house now known as Prescott's Fort. In 1724, he moved to Kingston, New Hampshire
Kingston, New Hampshire
Kingston is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 6,025.- History :Kingston was the fifth town to be established in New Hampshire. Originally, it was a part of Hampton, New Hampshire...
, and lived there until his death, four years later. His grandson, Ebenezer Prescott inherited the large parcel of land.
Aaron Wells of Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
, purchased the land from Ebenezer's descendents in 1774. His sole child, Eunice, married Newell Healey of the neighboring town, Kensington
Kensington, New Hampshire
Kensington is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2010 census.-History:Once a parish of Hampton, Kensington was incorporated in 1737 by Massachusetts Governor Jonathan Belcher, when New Hampshire was still part of that colonial province...
. Their son, Wells, inherited the farm after his maternal grandfather's death in 1819.
Wells married Elizabeth Pickering of nearby town, North Hampton
North Hampton, New Hampshire
North Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,301 at the 2010 census. While the majority of the town is inland, North Hampton includes a part of New Hampshire's limited Atlantic seacoast.-History:...
. Wells died in 1857, and one of his sons, Newell H., became the owner of the large farm.
In 1913, Walter Baldwin Farmer with his wife, Gertrude (née Jones), and their two daughters, came from Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, and bought the farm. He set his mind on making the farm into a prosperous business. He purchased more land in surrounding areas, dredged brooks, dynamited boulders, and studied the latest methods on tree maintenance. Also, it was then, when the first apple tree was planted, that Applecrest Farm Orchards was established. Farmer spent the first ten years of his ownership of the orchard waiting for the several thousand apple trees he planted to fully mature. While waiting, he paid his bills by raising chickens. Nearly 200 hundred chicken houses dotted the hilly landscape. A small amount of those chicken coops still stand, but are no longer in use.
Applecrest Orchards is considered the oldest and largest apple orchard in the whole state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and the oldest continuously operated apple orchard in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. But many of the buildings on the grounds were built before the establishment of the business, including the Farm Market, built in 1812, and the home of the Wagners, built in 1815 by Wells Healey.
After Farmer's death, the lot was briefly sold to Major Platts. But shortly after in 1954, the orchard was bought by William L.
William Wagner
William Wagner was a Polish born immigrant to Canada who became a certified land surveyor after he reached the country....
and Jean Wagner of New York. Although they knew next to nothing about apple tree maintenance, they decided to continue the business. It has been operated by the Wagner family ever since. When Bill died in 1984, the farm was run by Jean, the new president of the business. In 1985, 500 acres (2 km²) of land was owned by Applecrest. But from that year forward, land was being sold instead of purchased; 44 acres (178,061.8 m²) of that land was sold that year and divided into 18 house lots. In the late 1980s, another 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) parcel off Sanborn Road was subdivided and 12 lots were created. Additional sections of land, mostly along the main roads in Hampton Falls, have been sold off as well. 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) became four house lots in the early 1990s, a 12 lot subdivision called Coburn Woods was developed, and in around 2000, 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) off of Route 88 (Exeter Road) became a three lot subdivision, conforming in every instance to the town's 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) per house zoning ordinance.
As of 2005, the owners of the farm are Ben and Peter Wagner, the sons of Jean and Bill. In addition to the orchard, two markets were run by the Wagners on U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
, Hampton Falls and Junction 110 and Junction 150 in Amesbury, Massachusetts
Amesbury, Massachusetts
Amesbury is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Though it officially became a city in 1996, its formal name remains "The Town of Amesbury." In 1890, 9798 people lived in Amesbury; in 1900, 9473; in 1910, 9894; in 1920, 10,036; and in 1940, 10,862. The population was 16,283 at...
. The former market was known as the Applemart. In 2004, both of the markets were shut down.In 2006, Peter Wagner purchased the farm and became the proprietary owner of Applecrest.
Produce
Currently, the orchard grows approximately 40,000 bushels of more than 40 different varieties of apples, including McIntoshMcIntosh
The McIntosh Red is an apple cultivar with red and green skin, a tart flavor, and tender white flesh. It ripens in late September....
, Cortland
Cortland (apple)
Cortland is a cultivar of apple.After the many attributes of McIntosh were discovered, plant breeders began crossing it with other varieties to enhance its traits. One of the earliest was the Cortland, combined with the Ben Davis variety...
, Macoun
Macoun Apple
Macoun apples are a cross between the McIntosh and Jersey Black varieties. The Macoun was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, by R. Wellington. Named after Canadian fruit grower W.T. Macoun, it was first introduced in 1923, and has been regarded to be the...
, Ida Red, and Red Delicious
Red Delicious
The Red Delicious is a clone of apple cultigen, now comprising more than 50 cultivars, that was recognized in Madison County, Iowa, United States, in 1880...
. Other available foods include various vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s, sweetcorn
Sweetcorn
Sweet corn is a variety of maize with a high sugar content. Sweet corn is the result of a naturally occurring recessive mutation in the genes which control conversion of sugar to starch inside the endosperm of the corn kernel...
, and peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
es.