It’s apple-picking time at Hopewell Furnace.

UNION TOWNSHIP >> Apple picking at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will continue while the crop lasts. The apple orchard will be available for picking apples, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day the park is open. This will be the 30th year the National Park Service has invited the public to harvest apples from the park’s trees. The proceeds of apple sales go toward maintaining the orchard and other historic entities of the park.

Hopewell’s orchard has been found to be nearly as old as the iron furnace itself. Mentioned in contemporary accounts as early as 1782, apple trees were planted, pruned and harvested yearly. The orchard was replenished with new trees throughout the 19th century and provided valuable food for furnace community residents, both man and beast.

The present orchard includes over 30 varieties of apples, many of which are historic varieties that may have been found at Hopewell when the furnace was active. Early varieties such as Gravenstein and Summer Rambo were introduced from Europe by early settlers. Others such as Jonathan, Stayman, and Pennsylvania’s own Smokehouse were “discovered” in America and became favorites during the 19th Century. Some of these varieties are hard to find today since they are no longer raised by modern commercial orchards. Also, Hopewell’s apples are allowed to grow and ripen without the use of applied herbicides or pesticides, allowing them a historic quality and taste.

Persons wishing to pick apples should stop by the park’s visitor center to obtain a list of apple varieties that are ripe available to pick and orchard map before beginning to pick. Picking poles and buckets will be provided by the park. Apples cost $1 per pound regardless of variety. All are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Availability of apples varieties vary from year to year. Of the varieties that are available earliest in the season, Gravenstein availability is poor but Duchess is good. The expected yield for the remaining varieties is fair to good.

In addition to picking, park staff will provide informal apple talks in the orchard, and daily tours of Hopewell Furnace. Check in the visitor center for times offered.

Hopewell Furnace is one of the most complete examples of a late 18th and early 19th century ironmaking community. Park visitors can walk its pathways of history, exploring structures such as the Cast House, Ironmaster’s Mansion, Blacksmith Shop and Barn. Livestock at the park include type reminiscent of those used to support the work force when the furnace was an active business and community.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets and early American industrial community and landscape. Showcasing an iron plantation and its surrounding countryside, all the park’s facilities are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day through the beginning of October. The remainder of the year, the park’s facilities will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Presidents Day and M. L. King Day.

Hopewell Furnace is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off Route 345. Entrance to the park is free for all ages.