Although it’s now known for its apples, ciders, and cider donuts, the farm that eventually became Bolton Orchards began as a 200-acre peach orchard. The Bolton Fruit Company’s trees were just coming to maturity in the early 1930s, but the business was unable to overcome the economic hardship of the Great Depression. In 1935, the orchards were purchased by Jonathan Davis, a dairy farmer at Davis Farm in Sterling, Massachusetts who had developed an interest in fruit production.

A decade later, the Bolton Orchards farm stand was constructed at the intersection of routes 110 and 117. The orchard, which expanded by 50 acres, currently grows apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, plums, corn, tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins — all available at the farm stand. Under the locally-famous “Shh, the apples are sleeping” sign, visitors will also find a deli, bakery, and a variety of gifts and specialty foods. By serving ice cream in the summer and selling Christmas trees in the winter, the farmstand functions as a year-round hub of the community.

Today, the orchard and farmstand are run by sixth-generation owners Sarah and Joel O’Toole. They proudly maintain the orchards off Wilder Road which represent more than a century of Bolton’s agricultural heritage.

Photo courtesy of Bolton Orchards

Sources: boltonorchards.co, townofbolton.com