Baldwin apple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 'Baldwin' |
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| Hybrid parentage | Chance seedling |
| Cultivar | 'Baldwin' |
| Origin |  Massachusetts, USA, around 1740 |
The Baldwin apple is a bright red winter apple. It is known for its good quality and how easily it could be shipped long distances. For many years, it was the most popular apple in places like New England and New York. It was also a favorite for sending to other countries from America.
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Discovering the Baldwin Apple
The Baldwin apple was first found in Wilmington, Massachusetts, around the year 1740. Local stories say that a man named William Butters discovered the original apple tree. It was growing wild near a place called Wood Hill. William Butters then planted the tree in his own yard.
Later, the farm where the apple was found belonged to a Mr. Butters. He called the apple the Woodpecker apple. This was because woodpeckers loved to visit the tree. For a long time, people in the area knew it as the Woodpecker or Pecker apple. Some also called it the Butters apple.
How the Apple Got Its Name
A surveyor named Deacon Samuel Thompson from Woburn, Massachusetts, noticed this special apple. He showed it to Colonel Loammi Baldwin, who was also from Woburn. Colonel Baldwin started growing the apple himself. He helped spread it all across eastern Massachusetts. Because of his efforts, the apple eventually became known as the Baldwin apple.
A Special Monument
Today, there is a monument in Wilmington, Massachusetts, that marks where the first Baldwin apple tree was found. It is located on Chestnut Street. The monument was put up in 1895 by the Rumford Historical Association.
The words on the monument tell its story: "This monument marks the site of the first Baldwin Apple Tree found growing wild near here. It fell in the gale of 1815. The apple first known as the Butters, Woodpecker or Pecker apple was named after Col. Loammi Baldwin of Woburn."
Why the Baldwin Apple Was Popular
The Baldwin apple was very popular for many reasons. It was known for being a very hard apple. This meant it could be shipped without getting bruised easily. It also stayed fresh for a long time.
It was also a great apple for cooking, especially for making pies. Because it was so firm, it would keep its crispness even after being baked. Many people also loved it for making cider, especially hard cider. Some cider makers still use Baldwin apples from trees planted a long time ago.
Challenges for the Baldwin Apple
In 1934, a very cold winter hit New England. This harsh weather destroyed many Baldwin apple orchards. After this, the apple became less popular for eating fresh. However, some orchards were kept because the apple was still highly valued for making cider. Even though its popularity for eating has gone down, the Baldwin apple remains an important part of apple history.
Images for kids
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Plate from the 1903 Apples of New York book.
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Baldwin apples growing on a tree.
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