LANCASTER — When you hear the term “Big Apple,” you immediately think of New York City. But if you live in central Massachusetts, you think of a different apple. On Route 2 stands a giant red apple, the largest in all of New England. It is about three meters tall and weighs more than 450 kilograms. At this size, it is said to be big enough to hold more than 20,000 apples.
“When most people come into the visitor center, we get a lot of questions,” said Sabbra Reyes, assistant director of the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center. “They expect a real edible apple and I have to lead them back outside to the big apple.”
More than just a giant piece of fruit, this particular apple represents Central Massachusetts’ strong agricultural heritage and its connection to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, the state’s official folk hero.
“People just love the apple. I have photos of people hugging it, kissing it, lying under it and so on,” says Diana Burnette, director of the visitor center, who has served in that role for 17 years and has been a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce for 27 years.
“I got a call from a local farm telling me they had received this huge apple and had no room for it. When they asked if we wanted it for the visitor center, I didn’t hesitate,” she said.
The visitor center and rest stop are more than just the home of New England’s largest apple.
“The Big Apple is just one of the things that really showcases the entire region with its 27 communities,” said Roy Nascimento, president and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 361 days a year.”
The site is home to a number of historical items honoring Chapman and the Appleseed story, including a bronze statue of the legend himself. Inside are memorabilia, cultural artifacts associated with the region, and display cases full of history.
“When I got this job, my husband bought me a jeweled apple. Since that first apple, the collection has really grown through gifts from him and then from the public. A lot of it comes from the public,” Burnette said, adding that her favorite piece in the exhibit is a German nutcracker by Johnny Appleseed.
“People find things in their attics and think of us. We are all very proud of the visitor center and our goal is to make the community aware of what is in our own backyard,” she said.
Recently, a small building similar to the one in which Chapman may have lived was donated to the visitor center.
There are also 91 apple trees on the property, at least two of which are said to be direct descendants of trees planted by Chapman.
“We really try to prevent the consumption of the apples on these trees,” Reyes said. “They are not safe to eat, they are extremely bitter. Instead, we offer every single visitor a free apple donated by a local farm.”
“I love these apple trees,” Burnette added. “They are old trees, they can’t be replaced.”
Chapman was born in Leominster in 1774 and would have turned 250 on September 26. The town hosts a week-long celebration each year to honor the icon, which includes a festival, scavenger hunt and parade. It’s safe to say the town loves its homegrown celebrity and has named a variety of places after the folk hero.
Although the stories of Johnny Appleseed are known to many, history books are missing some of the most important details. Yes, Chapman planted acres and acres of apple orchards across the United States. But those apples weren’t for eating; they were for drinking. Hard cider was America’s favorite beverage in the early 1800s, not to mention it was safer than water for explorers of the western frontier.
It is estimated that the average settler at that time drank 300 ml of cider per day.
The visitor center had plans to partner with a local farm to make cider using the apples from Chapman’s original trees, but this year’s weather meant the apple crop was too poor to try. Hopefully next year will bring a better crop, Burnette said.
After Chapman’s death in 1845, many of his orchards soon followed. Then, during Prohibition, the FBI began clearing what was left of Chapman’s cider legacy. In 1948, Appleseed was reintroduced to the American public through the Disney film. Melody time, This completes the picture of the barefoot Appleseed walking through the United States with a sack full of perfectly ripe, ready-to-eat apples.
Rich, who declined to give his last name, is originally from Arkansas and now lives in Fairhaven. He and his wife were just passing through when they stopped at the visitor center.
“I’m not from around here,” he said with a thick accent. “But yeah, the Johnny Appleseed thing is pretty cool, who would have thought!”
Many visitors, like Rich, are simply driving through and only stopping to use the restroom. During one visit to the rest stop, several visitors stopped, got out of their vehicles and quickly waddled inside before walking back out with a sigh of relief.
“We really want this rest stop and visitor center to be the best in the state,” Nascimento said, adding that every Saturday in the fall, the visitor center showcases local talent or entertainment, whether it’s an artist, a musician or a visit from a local alpaca farm.
By the end of the year, the visitor center will also have six new charging stations to continue to provide energy to electric car drivers.
“The pride these communities have in the visitor center is incredible,” he said. “A lot of what we have accomplished is only possible because of them.”
As you look around the visitor center, amidst the history of the region, local produce, jams, jellies, honey, soap and items made from alpaca hair are for sale. One of the best sellers is dried apple chips, which come in a variety of flavors.
“Once a year this bus comes from Indiana,” Reyes said with a laugh. “That’s where Chapman died in Fort Wayne, so Indiana is closely connected to him, too. When this bus comes, all the passengers get off, we open a bag of apple chips, and they buy the Massachusetts versions of the memorabilia.”
Chapman’s 250th birthday celebration continues through Oct. 12 with various events throughout the city. If you want to celebrate Appleseed in style, the visitor center on Route 2 and Sholan Farms, the last working apple orchard in Leominster, will serve a slice of birthday cake on Sept. 26.
T&G Engagement Editor Sarah Barnacle gets to know Central Mass. by exploring some of the best places to visit and things to do in Worcester County. If you have an idea or suggestion, please email [email protected].
