Hello friends! I’m in search of a way to connect with apple folk in the Des Moines, Iowa area. I’ve been tracking down a “lost” apple variety called Black Annette. I recently read a publication claiming that it was planted in an orchard at the Iowa State fairgrounds as of 1967. I believe remnants of this orchard were still there until some time between 1990 and 2002. I’m looking for anyone who was familiar with the apple scene around that time, who had any connection to the orchard at the fairgrounds, or who knows where the Black Annette is!
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Is it part of the Iowa Woodland Trail of Trees on Fair Property?
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This is likely much more information than can be found elsewhere.
https://www.chathamapples.com/ApplesNY/BD.html
" BLACK ANNETTE.
REFERENCES. 1. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul ., 76:30. 1902.
A variety which in 1866 was introduced under this name from Marietta, O., into Northern Iowa has proved very hardy there. Because of its hardiness it is considered worthy of attention in the Northwest (1). Its season extends into the spring. Possibly it is distinct from the Black Annette formerly grown in some parts of New York, which is a late fall apple. [see below from Vol. II. Correction above applied as per errata. ASC]Black Annette
REFERENCES. 1. Elliot, 1854:167. 2. ? Warder, 1867:713. 3. Downing, 1869:99.
SYNONYMS. None.
A rather small dark red apple formerly grown to a limited extent in some sections of New York and other Eastern states. Season November and December. It is now practically obsolete here. The Black Annette mentioned by Hansen when grown in Central Iowa keeps through the winter which indicates that it is distinct from the variety here described. See Vol. I."
This is likely the document your referring to “The Pioneer Orchard on the Iowa State Fair Grounds
In 1967 the Secretary of the Iowa State Fair, Kenneth Fulk,
established a Pioneer Orchard to show some of the first apples
planted in Iowa. It is located just northwest of Pioneer Hall on the
state fair grounds. This orchard consists of twenty-four trees of
Hibernal, which was planted as a hardy understock. Over a
period of four years each tree was budded to one of the following
varieties: Anisim, Ben Davis, Black Annette, Black Gilliflower,
Fameuse (Snow), Golden Russet, Huntsman, Longfield,
Maiden Blush, Malinda, Northern Spy, Oliver (Senator), Ram-
bo, Roman Stem, Salome, St. Lawrence, Seek-no-further (or
Westfield), Tolman Sweet, Tompkins King and Wolf River.”
https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/article/id/14568/download/pdf/
When i looked for the apple i found a black anne in a large collection Order Scions – Temperate Orchard Conservancy
Pioneer hall has been there since 1886 as shown below
The apples were once very common Report of the Iowa State Fair Board - Iowa. Dept. of Agriculture. State Fair Board - Google Books
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It may have been at one point, but the orchard was removed some time between 1990 and 2002 and no longer exists.
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Thanks for compiling all this for us! Yes, the article from Harry Nichols is the one I’m referring to. I suspect that someone in the area has memory of the orchard and might know if Black Annette was grafted out at some point before the orchard was pulled.
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TOC lists a Black Anne. I have zero idea if Black Anne and Black Annette are the same.
TOC-Scion-List-for-Website-12-2021.pdf (temperateorchardconservancy.org)
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I saw that and had the same question. Unfortunately Black Anne is distinct from Black Annette.
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I have been looking for the Black Annette apple for years, and have come across most of the info shared here. I got as far as corresponding with a lady who’s family grew it in their orchards North of West Branch, IA. But she said those trees are long gone. I thought about putting an ad in one of the local papers but it was kind of expensive. She made it sound like it was a relatively common variety back in the day, I bet there is still a tree out there somewhere.