New life in an ancient orchard
From left, property owners Bill and Denise Glover along with their son Bryan Glover have worked to revive 120-plus year old apple trees from Black Rock Commercial Orchards, located on their property in Black Rock, to save the rare varieties and a piece of Coeur d'Alene's history. HANNAH NEFF/Press
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
A string of bad luck brought Coeur d’Alene’s 120-year-old commercial apple orchard to a rough ending, but one family's passion is bringing it back.
Bill and Denise Glover of Black Rock have spent the last five years reviving the remaining trees of the former Black Rock Commercial Orchards, a property that’s been in their family since the 1940s.
“It's a lifelong dream of mine growing up here with the apples to be able to save these trees, the DNA, to make new trees for our grandchildren and their communities,” Denise Glover said. “There's just such amazing flavor.”
The orchard was started in the 1890s by Fredrick Johnson, an immigrant from Sweden, according to Coeur d’Alene Press archives.
Johnson filed a deed on Feb. 9, 1901, for 157 acres in Black Rock under the Homestead Act of 1862.
An Oct. 26, 1895, Press article reads, “Fred Johnson, who is opening up a farm near Black Rock, was in town Tuesday and became a subscriber to the Press. He is preparing to put out an extensive orchard.”
According to Press articles, Johnson sold apples, pears, peaches and grapes from the 1890s through 1915.
“I kept looking for search terms like Black Rock and orchard or apples,” said the couple’s son, Bryan Glover. “It was really interesting.”
An article dated May 22, 1897, says Johnson “set out 700 fruit trees which are making strong and healthy growth. He is also experimenting with different varieties of grapes and finds that the Concord does well in this locality.”
On Sept 24, 1898, The Press wrote that Johnson left Concord grapes at the Press office. “(Johnson) already has one of the finest orchards in this end of the state, and a start for a fine vineyard.” the article says.
A Press article dated May 1, 1907, reads Johnson and his brother Ed “are the largest fruit growers in this vicinity having a 30 acre orchard all in bearing at Blackrock.” The article says the Johnsons planned to add 10 more acres to the orchard over the summer.
Fast forward more than a century. Bill Glover said he and wife Denise realized when they moved to their Black Rock home full-time that the orchard was all grown over by forest. They discovered the varieties they had were rare.
“We started sampling what fruit there was, and saying, ‘Oh this taste is something worth saving,’” Bill said. “We started learning about how to do that and we're still learning.”
The family started clearing around the old trees, clearing almost a full acre and tagging them, as well as learning to propagate.
Much of the property has been sold off since Denise's grandfather bought it in the '40s, but the family still owns about 20 acres in the heart of the orchard between Denise and two sisters.
The Glovers said they found it interesting that their section of the orchard had many different varieties, which is unusual for a commercial orchard, but they think that section may be the area once used for experimenting.
So far the Glovers said they've identified 11 heirloom apple varieties with the help of the DNA program at Washington State University and apple detective David Benscoter.
“These are just wonderful apples. You want the next generations to be able to enjoy them all,” Denise said. “There’s a sense of urgency because most of these trees are 120 years old and they’re dying off.”
Denise said she has memories of picking apples when she visited her grandparents in summer as a child and the orchard was less overgrown.
To restore the orchard to some of its former glory, the Glovers are planting more heirloom apple trees to create more of a usable fruit orchard. Bill Glover said next year they're planning to take the pruning and clearing to the next level.
They might even be able to name a new apple variety if findings show fruit from one of the old trees hasn't been registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
While they'll be bringing in a lot of apples, the Glovers said they don’t plan to go commercial. The project's focus is to save a piece of history.
“We just find it interesting to rescue this stuff and make sure that future generations can enjoy these plants,” Bill said.
