You didn’t mention the fact that that is the uphill orchard on the property. A hike away is another 50+ trees with a higher percentage of pears and stonefruit than apples. The upper orchard I planted as whips about 15 years ago, the lower was trees from my nursery 2 years before.
The Spitz remaining on the trees when you came were the runts of the litter, for the most part, and not the most exposed fruit. I believe they are the highest brix trees there, including Goldrush and Fuji, something that is not often in the comments about this fine old NY variety (that’s right- discovered near Woodstock, NY). Often it is said that it is not good off the tree and needs to be stored to reach best flavor, but that is in the mouth of the beholder. Some say the same of Goldrush.
The orchard is on a clay-loam soil that tends to stay moist all season, which is good for the trees but not so for the fruit. However, dawn to dusk sun compensates a great deal for the excessive moisture of the soil. One thing the moisture does do is assure the fruit properly thinned will get good size.