New life in an ancient orchard

Pictured items include a label for Black Rock Commercial Orchards found at a museum in Yakima by the Glover family's relatives, the original title for the property, an apple research book and fruit from the 120-plus year old apple trees. HANNAH NEFF/Press

This photo shows the original deed filed by Sweden immigrant Fredrick Johnson on Feb. 9, 1901, under the Homestead Act for the 157 acres on which Black Rock Commercial Orchards was operated between the 1890s through 1915. HANNAH NEFF/Press

An apple tree estimated to be around 120 years old stands overgrown by forest on the property of Bill and Denise Glover in Black Rock, the former location of Black Rock Commercial Orchards. HANNAH NEFF/Press

The Glover family has cleared almost an acre of forest to cultivate the 120-plus year old apple trees growing on their property, part of the former Black Rock Commercial Orchards in Black Rock, in business from the 1890s through 1915. HANNAH NEFF/Press

This screenshot from the Coeur d'Alene Press archives dated Sept. 24, 1898, reports that Fred Johnson who started Black Rock Commercial Orchards in the 1890s brought grapes from his farm in Black Rock to the Press office. Image courtesy of Bill Glover

A June 5, 1915, article in the Spokane Daily Chronicle reports that the steamer Idaho was burned in the waters edge on the previous night at the deck of Black Rock with $300-400 worth of apples and farm produce from Black Rock Commercial Orchards on board. The steamboat was out of service and used at the time as an apple warehouse by orchard owner L. W. Chandler. Image via screenshot

This June 5, 1915, article in the Spokane Daily Chronicle covers the burning of the steamboat Idaho in Lake Coeur d'Alene the prior night, destroying the boat along with $300-400 worth of apples and farm produce from Black Rock Commercial Orchards in Black Rock. Image via screenshot

From left, Denise, Bryan and Bill Glover taste apples from the 120-plus year old trees on the family property in Black Rock, part of the Black Rock Commercial Orchards that closed in 1915. HANNAH NEFF/Press

This Aug. 17, 1912, article in the Spokane Daily Chronicle records plans to ship apples from Black Rock Commercial Orchards to South Africa. Image via screenshot

This photo, estimated to have been taken in the early 1900s, shows Black Rock Commercial Orchards which closed in 1915. Photo courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho

This Dec. 17, 1907, photo shows Black Rock Commercial Orchards and Cash Store with the house on the hill. The orchard was in business from the 1890s through 1915. Photo courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho

The original description for this circa photo reads, "an apple orchard above and north of Black Rock, looking across to Carlin Bay and Powder Horn Bay." Black Rock Commercial Orchards was in business between the 1890s and 1915 in Black Rock. Photo courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho