Milestones on Mainstreet: Days of the Peach Ridge Apple Smorgasbord
September 9, 2010 by DDA
Filed under History, Milestones on Main Street
1951 – The First Time
Sixty three different apple dishes and recipes will be whipped up for the one day occasion by about 30 of the Peach Ridge farm women. One of the farm wives have called the new Apple Smorgasbord event a “wonderfully fresh idea”. The smorgasbord itself seems that it might become a very time consuming affair, as over 250 hours of weekly planning meetings have already taken place to prepare for the upcoming event. Farm wives are discussing making recipes like Ham and Apples, such as hams basted in sweet cider and garnished by coconut covered cinnamon apples. It is estimated that the event will serve about 100 farm folk and some specially invited visitors. The farm wives are in charge of arranging apple smorgasbord tables, and the farmers will be showing some guests a close-up of apple production problems and practices. It is heard that food editors from Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo are invited to the event to draw attention to the fact that apples are good for many things besides munching and this year will be a bumper crop.
The early part of September was chosen for the Smorgasbord, because the apple harvest begins then, and once the picking starts, everything else becomes secondary until the fruit is in storage.
1953 – It’s Really Taking Off
A Record 131 Dishes are sitting on the Apple Smorgasbord Table for this third annual event. This year it is held in the yards of the Kober brothers, John and William on Peach Ridge Rd. The ladies are beginning to swap recipes and sample the delicacies. This year, besides apple dishes, there are nine turkeys that are furnished free by the Michigan Turkey Growers Association.
This year will also host stunts, games, contest, and auctions. Wilbur Reister, it’s over heard in the group at the dessert table, is said to have accepted the chairman position of the 1954 smorgasbord already. Apple industry leaders including Representative Gerald R. Ford, Senator Charles Feenstra, and Rep. Irving Pennington are expected to be present. Looking around this beautiful layout of food, virtually everyone along the Peach Ridge seems to be in attendance and is contributing toward the success of the event.
1954
Rain may become a factor in the big Apple Smorgasbord tomorrow. Tonight, the men are working to erect a big tent, install the necessary electricity to run automatic deep fat fryers for the hot apple fritters and roasters for the hot apple-vegetable combinations, and put up the tables. Umlor orchards are expected to host over 500 local growers and their special invited guests to the fourth annual event.
One of the wives commented about the successes of the past few years, “We knew that a complete meal could be made of apple dishes!”
1956
The smorgasbord is becoming a real community affair, but for those who don’t “know” someone, the event is strictly by invitation only. This year, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Reister, of Conklin, will host the event with 600 guests expected and over 200 apple based recipes. The big copper kettle is heating up for the churning of Apple butter later this afternoon. Aunt Jemima, in her full dress, just arrived and is warming up her griddle for the apple filled pancakes she is planning to make.
1958
The downpour of rain, which came shortly after the dinner was served today in the 8th annual picnic, made sure the farmers stayed busy that afternoon pulling out mud caked vehicles. It took seven farm tractors to pull the 300 cars out of the oat field. “Not a single car in the jam-packed parking area could move out on its own power”, said D.J. Johnson earlier today.
Even with the rain, two interesting decorations highlighted the event with a five tier 30th anniversary cake for the Peach Ridge Fruit Growers Association designed and baked by Mrs. Geo. Kober and the beautiful apple replica of the Mackinac Bridge designed by Janet Kober.
1971
Each year, the Smorgasbord has changed, evolved and grown. This year, the tables will feature apple cookies in addition to the breads, desserts, salads, and more on the lawns of Robert Umlor. In attendance this year will be the 1971 Kent-Ottawa Apple Queen Charlene Schmidt and the 1970 State Apple Queen Brenda Lee Rasch. The Committee, which features literally dozens and dozens of farmers and their wives to pull of this event, agree that the original intent of the Smorgasbord was stated well by one committee member, “They wanted to have a real picnic, so for that reason decided to have the Apple Smorgasbord outdoors at the homes of different members. Each year, they tried to improve and add something new in the way of food, as well as entertainment.” Throughout the past 20 years, the Peach Ridge Fruit Growers Association has become a more unified and better acquainted group through the combined efforts of all to make our Smorgasbord a success.
Information obtained from:
From the notes of the 6th annual Peach Ridge committee in 1956
Ridge Economic Agricultural Partners website www.fruitridgemarket.com
Numerous Sparta Reminder, Sentenial Leader, and Grand Rapids Press Newspaper articles
