ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Joe Besecker, Johnny Appleseed Museum, (937)484-1303
Denny Lane, Johnny Appleseed Foundation Trustee, (614)824-5181
WHAT: The week-long Johnny Appleseed Birthday Celebration and Tree Planting Tour continues with the planting of genetically authentic Johnny Appleseed RAMBO Trees on historically significant Johnny Appleseed sites, including the recently rediscovered original Johnny Appleseed orchard in Hilliard.
These two events in the Columbus area on Friday are part of a special series being put on with the help of AMERICAN FORESTS, the Johnny Appleseed Foundation and Museum at Urbana University and cooperating land owners in celebration of Johnny Appleseed 235th Anniversary Birthday Party.
WHEN & WHERE:
1:00 p.m., Fletcher-Coffman Homestead, 6659 Emerald Parkway, Dublin, OH 43017
4:00 p.m., Samuel Davis Historic House, 4264 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43026
WHO:
Hank Fincken, noted Johnny Appleseed portrayer (see website)
Jennifer Rankin, Director, AMERICAN FORESTS’ Historic Tree Program
Denny Lane, Johnny Appleseed Foundation Trustee
Joe D. Besecker, Director, Johnny Appleseed Society
Local speaker, TBA
WHY: September 26th marks the 235th anniversary of Johnny Appleseed’s birth. Born John Chapman, Johnny Appleseed (1774 – 1845) planted apple trees across more than one hundred thousand square miles during his lifetime. His apples were a staple for many settlers moving West after the American Revolution.
The last known living apple tree planted by Johnny still grows on a farm in Nova, Ohio that was part of a Land Grant signed by John Quincy Adams in 1837. Cuttings from that tree – a Rambo variety, Chapman’s favorite – have been grown into the trees by AMERICAN FORESTS, the nation’s oldest conservation organization founded in 1875.
These Johnny Appleseed Trees will be planted on this anniversary tour and are available to the public for online purchase from www.historictrees.org. Plant a Johnny Appleseed tree and sink your teeth into a delicious piece of American history!
Come join us in this celebration of a legend – and be sure to keep an eye out for Johnny in the crowd.