By Sharon Oliver
Contributing Writer
LEOMINSTER – Several states can boast of having some of the largest apple orchards in America, but they did not have Johnny Appleseed. Born Jonathan Chapman in 1774 in Leominster, the pioneer nurseryman introduced trees grown with apple seeds to large portions of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario and the northern counties of West Virginia.
He sold or gave away thousands of seedlings to pioneers who were producing apple orchards. Appleseed lived a nomadic lifestyle, traveling from place to place on foot and often sleeping outdoors in the wild. He would venture into uninhabited areas to plant trees along specific routes in hopes that settlers would soon follow.
Route 2 rest area tribute
Motorists traveling westbound along Route 2 in the Leominster/Lancaster area will find one of the most impressive, above-average travel centers in the country. The Johnny Appleseed Visitor’s Center is more than a rest area. Visitors are greeted by a gigantic red apple as well as a bronze sculpture of a young Johnny Appleseed holding a basket full of apples before entering the building. There are 91 apple trees located on the premises, including three Rambo trees that are direct descendants of the last remaining tree known to be planted by Johnny Appleseed. Autumn months mean having the chance to score some free crisp apples. Sparkling cider, donuts and other treats are also available for purchase during this time.
The center is also stocked with a wide array of books suitable for all ages—from coloring books for kids to more serious historical volumes for adults. A display case serves as home to an assortment of Johnny Appleseed memorabilia, vintage sports equipment, regional historic and cultural items and agriculture tools. Of course, being a visitor center the facility provides pamphlets with information on the region along with a staff to answer questions. Inside the gift shop is where consumers will find local items, including jams, jellies, candy, and apple-related products.
Festivals across the nation
Throughout the year, visitors can catch a glimpse of the folk hero by way of a local re-enactor who is known to chat up visitors and stop by fairs and festivals. Speaking of festivals and celebrations, the first Johnny Appleseed Days was held in California in 1888. Suffice it to say, Massachusetts also shares the legend with other states, most notably Ohio which is where he lived out most of his remaining years. The first recorded Johnny Appleseed Festival was held in 1968 in Lisbon, Ohio.
Johnny Appleseed Days is celebrated in dozens of states during the month of September. Some vendors dress in 1800s attire, cook over an open fire, and serve food that probably was available during Appleseed’s lifetime. The Johnny Appleseed Festival is held in downtown Leominster each fall, featuring hundreds of vendors including food trucks, crafts and live music.
Even though most fruit trees have a life span of only 15 to 45 years, there is one last-known survivor of Johnny Appleseed’s legacy. This ancient apple tree lives on a farm in Nova, Ohio, where he is believed to have planted an entire orchard of Rambo apple trees in 1830.
Later life and legacy
In 1819, Appleseed was nearly killed in an accident in Ohio. One morning, a tree fell on him while picking crops, catching his neck in the fork of the branches. Eight-year-old John White found him struggling and cut the tree down, saving Appleseed’s life.
There have been schools, minor league baseball clubs, literary works and musicals written about Appleseed. In 1966, the U. S. Postal Service issued a five-cent stamp commemorating him. Once an owner of 1,200 acres of planted land, the famous nurseryman died from exposure in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1845.
RELATED CONTENT:
An apple a day may not keep the doctor away
How Earl Tupper turned one product into a household name
Autumn farm fun for the entire family
