Historic Hood River
“8 Year Old Spitzenbergs”
9-19-2023
Notes
These eight year old Spitzenburg apple trees at the Maxwelton Orchard are ready for harvest. That may be Mr. Maxwelton himself.
Spitzenburgs were found in the Hudson River Valley of New York in the 1700’s. This article claims they were the favorite apple of Thomas Jefferson. They are still being grown in the Hood River Valley, though not in nearly the quantities of these early days.
We previously saw the crew of the Maxwelton Orchard in this great image.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier of 1910-06-09, page 9 says the east side orchard which was recently bought by Mrs. Marion MacRae and S. M. Mears, of Portland, from R. W. Stebbins, has been renamed Maxwelton Orchards for Mr. Mears’ son, Maxwelton Mears.
Jeffrey Bryant
I think his name was actually Samuel Maxwell Mears Jr., b. 1890.
Jeffrey Bryant
Samuel M. Mears Called By Death – Cordage Company President Leader in Business
Donation of Rope to Frigate Constitution Causes Name to Appear on Plaque.
Samuel Maxwell Mears, for more than a half century one of Oregon’s leading businessmen and conspicuous for his public service, died at his home, 1717 Montgomery drive, yesterday afternoon following a heart attack. He had been confined to the house for the past six months.
Mr. Mears was born at Madison, Wis., June 1, 1856. He received his education in the public schools of his native state and at the University of Wisconsin. He came to Oregon in 1878 and was married in 1883 to Laura Virginia Savier, daughter of Thomas Savier of Norfolk, Va., the wedding taking place in this city. Mrs. Mears died here four years ago.
Three sons and two daughters survive. They are Henry, Arthur M. and Samuel Maxwell Jr., Mrs. Norman Rupp and Mrs. Frank Buchart, all of Portland.
For more than 30 years, until his retirement just before he became ill, Mr. Mears was president of the Portland Cordage company. He was also president of the Columbia Engineering works and the Ewbank Electric Transmission company and the Linnton Realty company and was identified prominently with flouring mills and banks in various parts of the Pacific northwest.
He served a term as chairman of the Port of Portland commission and at one time was president of the Portland Chamber of Commerce. He also served one term as a member of the state legislature. He was still a member of the chamber of commerce at his death and belonged to the Arlington club and the Waverley Country club.
Fishing was a sport to which Mr. Mears was attached, and he spent much of his leisure hours along the streams of Oregon until his health precluded his enjoying this recreation.
The visit of the frigate Constitution to Portland last summer was of more than ordinary interest to the cordage manufacturer, for the reason that he had trod its decks in 1881, when Old Ironsides was stationed at Annapolis, where Mr. Mears spent a year as a midshipman.
When the government asked for donations for the ancient war vessel Mr. Mears furnished several thousand feet of rope, which is still in use in the rigging of the constitution. As a reward for the gift the name of the Mears firm was listed among others on a bronze plaque carried by the frigate.
Funeral arrangements will be made today.
[The Oregonian, 18 Jan 1934, p8; w/photo]
Samuel M. Mears was for many years in the front rank of those citizens who worked to build up Portland as director and for one term, president of the Chamber of Commerce, as director of the Traffic & Transportation association and as member of the Port of Portland commission. He was a leader in the successful fight for the Columbia basin rate differential and in other contests for just freight rates; in efforts for building of the jetties and improvement of the Columbia river ship channel and for improvement of the upper Columbia. He was active in the struggle for an American trans-Pacific shipping line with Portland as its home port. Reaching a ripe age, he lived to see all the things for which he strove accomplished.
The Manufacturing and other enterprises which he started and managed for many years are practical proof of his confidence in Portland as a manufacturing and commercial center. As he handed the reins to others, he took pleasure in seeing them carry on the work for the city which he had done for many years.
Always genial and sociable, he hid a fighting spirit behind his smiling front.
[The Oregonian, 20 Jan 1934, p8]
L. E.
My husband grew up on a farm at the west end of the Gorge that had an old orchard. A favorite of his mother’s was the Spitzenberg apple tree. She said it ripened later, when all the other fruit was done, and the flavor improved with storage.
I can see why it would lose favor with orchardists, because of its late ripening, and actually isn’t all that great picked right off the tree.