Theodore Williams

Theodore Williams Pear

Origin/History

A seedling of Kieffer raised by Theodore Williams and introduced by Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchard Company about 1914. (Hedrick; Stark Bros. Year Book 5:40, 1914.)

The Stark Bros. catalog (1910) indicates the variety was secured by them from Williams, promoted for its vigor and hardiness, and grown with notable success in northern and northwestern regions. [NOTE: The 1910 Stark Bros. source text is significantly garbled, likely due to OCR corruption; the following details are salvaged from legible fragments and should be treated with caution.]

Tree

Hardy; reported to have stood a temperature of 40 degrees below zero without injury (Hedrick). Described as being of much vigor and hardiness (Stark Bros.).

Fruit

Size: Hedrick gives the fruit as medium. The Stark Bros. source, where legible, suggests large size — a possible conflict, or may reflect variation.

Skin: Yellowish-green (Hedrick).

Flesh/Flavor: Sweet and juicy (Hedrick). The Stark Bros. source describes quality as good, with fine appearance and commercial suitability.

Form, Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin, Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Not described in source.

Uses

Commercially oriented; the Stark Bros. source notes the fruit will sell well and has a fine appearance, suggesting market use. Grown successfully in northern and northwestern regions.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Parentage: Kieffer seedling. The Stark Bros. Year Book entry predates the Hedrick citation by several years, suggesting the variety was in commercial circulation before the 1914 formal introduction date given by Hedrick, or that Hedrick's date refers to broader release.