The PCHA program for April 9th will dive into the rich history of Saluda’s earliest apple orchards. During the early 20 th Century, Polk County became known as a premier location for growing some of the most flavorful fruit in the US. Two featured speakers grew up on the same apple orchard in Saluda, yet a generation apart. They will share their stories, one, a great storyteller with a wealth of local history to share and the other, an avid researcher. Both speakers share a love of history, a love of apples, and DNA. The scheduled speakers are Lee Atkins, and his daughter, Robin Atkins Wierzbicki.

Did you know that Saluda was home to the first Apple Festival in North Carolina? It’s true!
Apples became an integral part of life in Saluda in the early 1900s. Some of the first large orchards were considered a “Show Place” due to the natural beauty, bountiful fruit, and well managed properties. In April, hundreds would flock to Overbrook Orchard, the first commercial orchard planted in Saluda, just to see the beauty of the apple trees in full bloom. While many of the early orchards are now only a memory, their legacy will continue. Come learn about the history of apples in Polk County. The program will cover a brief history of the apple orchards in Saluda as well as stories from the guest speakers.

The program will be Tuesday, April 9th at 2pm inside the Polk County Historical Museum. The museum is located in downtown Columbus at 60 Walker Street. The program is free of charge and the public is encouraged to attend.

Photo Caption: Overbrook Orchard in 1920 when owned by Henry P. Corwith, photograph taken by renowned photographer, George Masa, of Plateau Studios.