An Autumn Memory

 Just today, I read a blogpost that reminded me of  shared childhood memories and thought I would write mine down as well. The author of the blog grew up on the same street as I did.  It was a great neighborhood.  The shared memory involves the orchard that she writes about.  

The post that stirred my memory can be found here:  https://open.substack.com/pub/nancyhonicker/p/mein-freund-nikolaus?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

My memory is of Sunday drives that our family would take in the autumn back in the 1960's.  We would always go out to the Hegins Valley in Schuylkill county and visit the same Blazer Orchard.  On our way to and from we would watch for an especially colorful tree bursting with the reds, yellows and oranges of autumn.  Dad would pull over and we would get out and collect a few of the most colorful leaves.  I can remember, in the days before seat belts in cars, standing up in the back seat and leaning over the front seat to look for the trees. It was a very beautiful and scenic trip out to the farmlands. When we arrived at the orchard, Mom would pick out her purchases, always Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples were brought home.  The orchard had many types of homegrown fruits and vegetables and regularly advertised in our hometown newspaper.  We always looked forward to these short trips every year. Just one small but special childhood memory.  

Pottsville Republican, Oct 17,1964

Pottsville Republican, Oct 12, 1963

Pottsville Republican, Aug, 24, 1962

My family has other connections to orchards.  I wrote about my great grandfather who was a prominent orchardist in both Indiana and Pennsylvania.  His son also went on to establish his own orchard in Biglerville, Adams county, PA and supplied apples to the Musselman company.  Their story here:

 https://eclecticann.blogspot.com/2022/02/week-7-landed-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks.html

My husband and I drove thru the rolling hills in Adams county a number of years ago and we were amazed at the acres and acres of fruit trees.  I have a fruit crate from my grand uncle's farm. It serves as a nightstand now.  But I do remember my grandfather having fruit from his brother's farm.  It was delicious! We have continued visiting various orchards and farm markets over the years with our children and grandchildren, sometimes picking our own apples and peaches. A tasty family legacy.

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