Wolf River

Alexander seedling. Near Wolf River, WI, 1875.

Wolf River is one of those old heritage apples with a long documented history that traces its beginnings from the shore of Lake Erie to its birthplace along the banks of the Wolf River near Fremont, Wisconsin.  Around 1856 William Springer packed his family and possessions onto a wagon and began heading south from Canada to Wisconsin. Somewhere en route he stopped along the shores of Lake Erie and purchased a bushel of apples, believed to be Alexander, itself an old apple originating in Russia and imported into this country in the 1800’s. (It’s a remarkable fact that we even know which variety of apple Mr. Springer purchased on his journey to Wisconsin!) When he reached his destination in Wisconsin, he planted a handful of Alexander seeds along the banks of the Wolf River that ran through the middle of his new farm. From these chance seedlings arose one of America’s greatest apples, Wolf River. It’s ironic that Mr. Springer probably never saw any of the apples as it is believed he sold his farm to a Mr. Henry Riflen before it fruited!