Todd
| Todd | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bend, Oregon |
| Tree Count | 3 |
| Species | 3 apple |
| Varieties | 0 identified |
The Todd orchard sits on the former homestead of John Todd and his family along the Deschutes River in what is now Bend, Oregon.
History
The Todd orchard sits on the former homestead of John Todd and his family, who farmed this land in the late 1800s. The property was located along a river crossing where Todd attempted to construct a toll bridge — one of the earliest bridge-building efforts in the area. Todd was also involved with some of the first schools in the community. Todd Lake was named after him.
A canal dating to approximately 1888 was dug to channel water from the river onto the plateau above for ranch irrigation. A possible fish hatchery was located on the opposite side of the bridge, referenced to around 1914.
Land patents for the area record several owners: Kate Warner in the 1880s, John S. Ismar in 1883, Blanche Parker, and the Santa Fe Railroad, though Todd may have predated some of these recorded patents. Historical records and photographs of the property are maintained at the Bend historical society.
The homestead included deliberate plantings of fruit trees, chokecherries, holly, and other non-native species. A notable Gravenstein apple tree at the nearby mill site at Bluff and Bond was productive for at least 50 years before being removed. Three apple trees survive on the former homestead today, showing evidence of decades of beaver damage, snow damage, and repeated regrowth. The trees appear to produce multiple varieties, including green and yellow-skinned apples. Scion material was collected from all three trees in February 2026.
The homestead site is now located along a walking trail in a residential neighborhood in Bend, Oregon, and is broadly coincident with Farewell Bend Park.
Orchard Map
Trees
| Condition | Count |
|---|---|
| Good | 0 |
| Fair | 3 |
| Poor | 0 |
| Dead | 0 |
| Total | 3 |
