Lithgow Springs: Difference between revisions

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|name=Lithgow Springs
|name=Lithgow Springs
|location=CRNG, OCHOCO NF
|location=CRNG, OCHOCO NF
|tree_count=7
|species_breakdown=5 apple, 1 pear, 1 plum
|variety_count=5
|lat=44.447151857142856
|lon=-121.07947014285715
}}
}}


The '''Lithgow Springs''' orchard contains 7 documented heritage fruit trees.
The '''Lithgow Springs''' orchard contains 7 documented heritage fruit trees.
== History ==
'''Lithgow Springs''' is a historic homestead orchard site located on the Crooked River National Grassland in Jefferson County, Oregon. The orchard takes its name from the natural spring at the site, which provided essential water for early homesteaders in this semi-arid high desert environment.
=== Homestead Era ===
Like many homestead sites in the Gray Butte area, the Lithgow Springs property was likely settled during the '''homesteading boom of the 1900s-1910s''', when hundreds of families attempted to establish farms on the high desert plateau east of the Cascade Range. The presence of a reliable spring made this location particularly valuable for fruit tree cultivation.
The identity of the original Lithgow homesteaders remains under investigation. Historical records from the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office and Oregon State Archives may contain additional information about the original patent holders. Research into Jefferson County (established 1914 from Crook County) and Crook County homestead records is ongoing.
=== Orchard Layout ===
The Lithgow Springs orchard is distributed across two distinct areas:
'''Upper Lithgow Springs''' (near the spring):
* 2 apple trees (Field Tags #102, #103)
* Both identified as '''[[Baldwin]]''' variety through DNA analysis
* Large, robust trees in good condition with spreading crowns
'''Lower Lithgow Springs''' (approximately 0.4 miles northeast):
* 5 trees including apples and pears (Field Tags #104, #105, #106, #107, #119)
* Varieties include '''[[McIntosh]]''' (2 trees), '''[[Esopus Spitzenburg]]''' (1 tree)
* Also contains pear trees and possibly a crabapple
=== Forest Service Management ===
According to '''Duane Ecker's 2001 field notes''', the Lithgow Springs site originally contained '''4 apple trees''':
* 2 trees on the upper hill side above the springs
* 2 trees on the west side of the 500 road
All trees were pruned in '''FY 2000''' as part of the Forest Service's heritage orchard preservation efforts.
=== 2024 Survey ===
During the '''2024 CRNG Fruit Orchard Survey''', Forest Service personnel conducted comprehensive assessments of all trees at the Lithgow Springs sites. DNA samples were collected to determine varieties, revealing the [[Baldwin]], [[McIntosh]], and [[Esopus Spitzenburg]] varieties present at the site.
The 2024 survey documented:
* 7 living heritage fruit trees across both upper and lower sites
* Trees established at the '''[[Clarno Arboretum|Clarno Apple Arboretum]]''' for preservation (2025)
* GPS coordinates and condition assessments for all surviving trees
=== Varieties Identified ===
DNA profiling conducted in 2024 identified the following heritage varieties:
{| class="wikitable"
! Variety !! Trees !! Notes
|-
| '''[[Baldwin]]''' || #102, #103 || Classic New England apple, excellent keeper
|-
| '''[[McIntosh]]''' || #104, #105 || Canadian heritage variety from 1811
|-
| '''[[Esopus Spitzenburg]]''' || #106 || Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple
|-
| Pear (variety unknown) || #107 || Clump of pear trees in good condition
|}
=== Historical Context ===
The Lithgow Springs orchard is part of a network of historic homestead orchards scattered across the Crooked River National Grassland. These orchards represent the aspirations of early 20th century settlers who attempted to establish farms in this challenging environment. Many homesteads were abandoned during the drought and economic hardships of the 1920s and 1930s, and the land was subsequently acquired by the federal government as part of the Resettlement Administration's marginal lands program.
Today, these surviving heritage fruit trees serve as living artifacts of Central Oregon's homesteading era and contain genetic diversity that may be valuable for agricultural research and preservation.
''Sources: Duane Ecker field notes 2001; CRNG Fruit Orchard Survey 2024; Jefferson County Historical Society''
== Orchard Map ==
{{#ask: [[Has orchard::Lithgow Springs]] [[Has coordinates::+]]
|?Has coordinates
|?Has field tag
|?Has condition
|format=leaflet
|height=400px
|width=100%
|zoom=15
|scrollwheelzoom=off
}}


== Trees ==
== Trees ==


=== Good Condition (3) ===
{{Orchard tree list|orchard=Lithgow Springs}}
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 102|Tree #102]] - Baldwin
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 103|Tree #103]] - Baldwin
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 107|Tree #107]] - pear


=== Fair Condition (3) ===
{{Condition summary|orchard=Lithgow Springs}}
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 104|Tree #104]] - McIntosh
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 105|Tree #105]] - McIntosh
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 119|Tree #119]] - plum or poor DNA
 
=== Poor Condition (1) ===
* [[Lithgow Springs Tree 106|Tree #106]] - Esopus Spitzenburg


== Varieties ==
== Varieties ==
Line 30: Line 86:
* [[Esopus Spitzenburg]]
* [[Esopus Spitzenburg]]
* [[McIntosh]]
* [[McIntosh]]
* [[pear]]
* pear
* [[plum or poor DNA]]
* [[Plum or poor DNA]]
 
== Historical Documents ==
* [[Media:Duane_Ecker_CRNG_Legacy_Notes_2001.pdf|Duane Ecker Field Notes (2001)]]
''See also: [[Document Archive]]''
 
== Maps ==
 
[[File:Lithgow_Springs_Map_GoogEarth.pdf|thumb|600px|Spatial map with imagery]]
 
[[File:Lower_Lithgow_Springs_Map_GoogEarth.pdf|thumb|600px|Lower Lithgow Springs area]]
 
== Related Orchards ==
'''Lithgow Area Orchards'''
 
These orchards are located in the Lithgow Springs area of the Crooked River National Grassland.
 
* [[West Lithgow]]


[[Category:Orchards]]
[[Category:Orchards]]
[[Category:Crooked River National Grassland]]
[[Category:Crooked River National Grassland]]

Latest revision as of 12:10, 5 February 2026

Lithgow Springs
Location CRNG, OCHOCO NF
Tree Count 7
Species 5 apple,1 pear,1 plum
Varieties 7 identified


The Lithgow Springs orchard contains 7 documented heritage fruit trees.

History

Lithgow Springs is a historic homestead orchard site located on the Crooked River National Grassland in Jefferson County, Oregon. The orchard takes its name from the natural spring at the site, which provided essential water for early homesteaders in this semi-arid high desert environment.

Homestead Era

Like many homestead sites in the Gray Butte area, the Lithgow Springs property was likely settled during the homesteading boom of the 1900s-1910s, when hundreds of families attempted to establish farms on the high desert plateau east of the Cascade Range. The presence of a reliable spring made this location particularly valuable for fruit tree cultivation.

The identity of the original Lithgow homesteaders remains under investigation. Historical records from the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office and Oregon State Archives may contain additional information about the original patent holders. Research into Jefferson County (established 1914 from Crook County) and Crook County homestead records is ongoing.

Orchard Layout

The Lithgow Springs orchard is distributed across two distinct areas:

Upper Lithgow Springs (near the spring):

  • 2 apple trees (Field Tags #102, #103)
  • Both identified as Baldwin variety through DNA analysis
  • Large, robust trees in good condition with spreading crowns

Lower Lithgow Springs (approximately 0.4 miles northeast):

  • 5 trees including apples and pears (Field Tags #104, #105, #106, #107, #119)
  • Varieties include McIntosh (2 trees), Esopus Spitzenburg (1 tree)
  • Also contains pear trees and possibly a crabapple

Forest Service Management

According to Duane Ecker's 2001 field notes, the Lithgow Springs site originally contained 4 apple trees:

  • 2 trees on the upper hill side above the springs
  • 2 trees on the west side of the 500 road

All trees were pruned in FY 2000 as part of the Forest Service's heritage orchard preservation efforts.

2024 Survey

During the 2024 CRNG Fruit Orchard Survey, Forest Service personnel conducted comprehensive assessments of all trees at the Lithgow Springs sites. DNA samples were collected to determine varieties, revealing the Baldwin, McIntosh, and Esopus Spitzenburg varieties present at the site.

The 2024 survey documented:

  • 7 living heritage fruit trees across both upper and lower sites
  • Trees established at the Clarno Apple Arboretum for preservation (2025)
  • GPS coordinates and condition assessments for all surviving trees

Varieties Identified

DNA profiling conducted in 2024 identified the following heritage varieties:

Variety Trees Notes
Baldwin #102, #103 Classic New England apple, excellent keeper
McIntosh #104, #105 Canadian heritage variety from 1811
Esopus Spitzenburg #106 Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple
Pear (variety unknown) #107 Clump of pear trees in good condition

Historical Context

The Lithgow Springs orchard is part of a network of historic homestead orchards scattered across the Crooked River National Grassland. These orchards represent the aspirations of early 20th century settlers who attempted to establish farms in this challenging environment. Many homesteads were abandoned during the drought and economic hardships of the 1920s and 1930s, and the land was subsequently acquired by the federal government as part of the Resettlement Administration's marginal lands program.

Today, these surviving heritage fruit trees serve as living artifacts of Central Oregon's homesteading era and contain genetic diversity that may be valuable for agricultural research and preservation.

Sources: Duane Ecker field notes 2001; CRNG Fruit Orchard Survey 2024; Jefferson County Historical Society

Orchard Map

Loading map...

Trees

Condition Count
Good 3
Fair 3
Poor 1
Dead 0
Total 7

Varieties

Historical Documents

See also: Document Archive

Maps

File:Lithgow Springs Map GoogEarth.pdf

File:Lower Lithgow Springs Map GoogEarth.pdf

Lithgow Area Orchards

These orchards are located in the Lithgow Springs area of the Crooked River National Grassland.

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