Blue Hills Orchard (Part 1 of 2) (141 Blue Hills Avenue, Wallingford (Central Valley))

Barn Record Wallingford

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Building Name (Common)

Blue Hills Orchard (Part 1 of 2)

Building Name (Historic)

Blue Hills Orchard

Address

141 Blue Hills Avenue, Wallingford

Typology

Overview

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

n/a

Field Notes

Apple barn surrounded by orchards, additional modern metal structures. See Part 2 - 125 Mansion Road for additional barn. Eric Henry’s great, great grandfather knew good land for peaches when he saw it. Blue Hill Orchard boasts quality soil, proper elevation and a Northern facing slope something that delays maturation in peaches and increases their likelihood of withstanding New England weather. Dean of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, at the time, William Arnon Henry couldn’t resist the opportunity. The Henrys packed up and moved to Wallingford, Connecticut in 1904 to grow peaches and cherries. Blue Hill Orchard covers just over 300 acres - 250 acres are in apple production while another 30 are in peaches with a sprinkling of nectarines here and there. To make the growing season as long as possible, the Henry family has planted over 25 varieties of peaches. Each variety has a peak season of a week or two, so from early July to late September when one peach is finished another is ready for harvest. The whole family pitches in on this fifth generation orchard. Eric Henry manages the orchards and packing facilities. His mother, Rita, does the bookkeeping and wife, Rebecca, runs a small retail facility on the farm. “Farming is a way of life,” explains Eric Henry. “It’s in our blood. It can be quite a challenge but the rewards definitely come through. It’s great to live in the middle of an orchard!” Source: http://www.redtomato.org/farm.php?pos=4

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