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- McConnells' Farm has been owned
and operated by the McConnell family
since 1787, making it (we believe)
the oldest farm operated by a single
family west of the Allegheny Mountains.
- The original property was 1,000 acres made in payment for service by Capt. John B. McConnell in the Revolutionary War. He formed and commanded a militia outside Philadelphia during the war.
- Nine generations of family members have worked the farm, the newest of whom is six months old (Julia Claire Schaarsmith, granddaughter of co-owner Cal McConnell). The current owners are brothers Ed and Cal McConnell, who raise the peaches themselves.
- Four generations of the family
currently work the farm. The oldest,
Anna McConnell, the mother of the
current owners, just turned 90 (Aug.
6) and the youngest, Julia, just
turned six months (July 26). Besides
owners Ed and Cal, they include
Cal's daughter and son-in-law, Amy
McConnell Schaarsmith and Dave Schaarsmith,
and Ed's sons Calvin, Will, Joel
and Merle.
- The farm now consists of 200 acres, much of which is planted as a peach orchard.
- On the farm, there are more than 4,000 peach trees of more than 50 varieties. About 2,500 of them are of bearing age. (We also raise apples and press raw cider in the fall, and grow corn, tomatoes and other vegetables.)
- Most people think of Red Havens (ready end of July) when they think of peaches. Everything after them, however, is even better. Some great peaches that might be new to you? Try Glowing Star (mid-August), Jersey Glo (mid-August and after) and Harcrest (end of August).
- Our peach season usually begins in mid-July and lasts until mid-September.
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