Apple Orchard - Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site - Elverson, PA
Posted by: 
Janila
N 40° 12.420 W 075° 46.337
18T E 434277 N 4451018
The Hopewell Village Apple Orchard is believed to be as old as the iron furnace as the first mention of it was in the Pennsylvania Gazette on April 2, 1788.
Waymark Code: WMZCWF
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 10/21/2018
Views: 0
Today, the apple orchard at Hopewell Village contains about 30 varieties of apples. These trees are not the originals, 50 trees were planted in 1942 after the site was named a National Historic Site. Another 150 trees of various varieties were planted in 1960. Most of these varieties were planted for their historic value, most were also available during the days that iron was produced here.
The public is allowed to pick the apples at the cost of $1 a pound during apple harvest time, usually in October. When the orchard was first planted in the late 1700s, records indicate that potatoes, oats and corn were planted with the apple trees. There is also indication that the livestock was permitted to graze from the fruit in the orchard.
The apple orchard is listed as contributing building #43. From the nomination form for the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site: "Apple orchard of approximately 200 trees. Presently has 27 varieties of apples, not all historically associated with this orchard, but preserves historic scene. Tree trunks painted to simulate historic white-washing. Planted 1785. Partially replanted in 1940 and 1959."
The nomination form for the Hopewell Village National Historic Site has not yet been scanned and uploaded to the NRHP website. It you wish to view it, I have uploaded it to my blog at (
visit link) .