The Appleseed of a Nation

Posted by on Oct 21, 2024 in | Comments Off on The Appleseed of a Nation In an article in The Atlantic magazine in 1862, Henry David Thoreau observed that it’s “remarkable how closely the history of the apple-tree is connected with that of man.” He wrote, “The cultivated apple-tree was first introduced into this country by the earliest settlers, and it is thought to do as well or better here than anywhere.” He presented to his readers the image of a westward-bound...
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The York Imperial Apple

Posted by on Oct 21, 2024 in | Comments Off on The York Imperial Apple Apple picking is a popular fall activity across Pennsylvania, as many orchards offer customers the chance to pluck the fresh fruit directly from their trees. Pennsylvania ranks fourth among states in apple production, growing 400 million to 500 million pounds a year. Fruit production — especially apples — has been a strong agricultural staple in the Keystone State since the late 18th century,...
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Editor’s Letter

Posted by on Oct 21, 2024 in | Comments Off on Editor’s Letter The three features in this edition of Pennsylvania Heritage focus on endeavors by visionary individuals to change or improve some aspect of life in the Keystone State. One of the earliest struggles for Black civil rights in Pennsylvania — the effort to desegregate streetcars — took place in Philadelphia during the Civil War era. The operators of the 19 streetcar companies in the city at that...
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