Peaches and the Depression
- Lawrence Lore
- Oct 31
- 2 min read
During the depression times were hard for the people of Lawrence County. In August 1931, the Lawrence County News noted that peaches used to sell for $3 to $5 a bushel but were then selling for 50 cents to $1.50 a bushel and the local orchardists were facing a financial loss. Three railroad cars of peaches were shipped from the Van Syoc Orchard near Sumner but most of the orchardists were delivering the fruit by way of the highways using trucks for the larger shipments and automobiles for smaller quantities. The average price was about a dollar for choice sprayed fruit.
One of the largest orchards in Lawrence County was that of Dowels on Route 1 north of Lawrenceville. Mr. Dowell estimated his crop to be 5000 to 8000 bushels. Another fine orchard was that of Stanley Stoltz about a mile north of Sumner; he raised Hale freestones. Many of them that year measured 3 to 4 inches in diameter with excellent color.
The Treadway Orchard near Billet was also the scene of much activity as the yield was exceptionally heavy and the quality excellent. All of these orchards had been sprayed 5 to 7 times.
Another orchard that attracted considerable attention from passing motorists was that of V C Buchanan just east of Lawrenceville. He raised Champion and Alberta fruit. While small in comparison with some of the orchards in other parts of the county, this was one of the best cared for in this section of the state.
The Severns Orchard near Sumner, the Gerhart and Fritchie near Birds, the Foster near Bridgeport, and scores of smaller orchards were giving employment to many men and women picking and sorting peaches. The prevailing wage scale being $1.50 per day.
