Applebutter

Welcome Hollinger Family and friends!

This page www.circa71.wordpress.com/applebutter has been set up to serve as a common spot on the web were we can view and share photos of our exploits at apple butter. Please enjoy the photos and slideshows below. Either click on the pictures or the links below to view the pictures. Anyone can view or download these images, free of charge, by following the links to the website Flickr. I will continue to make updates as more photos and info becomes available.

Hollinger Apple Butter Reunion 2009 The 108th Annual Reunion
By: Rob Anspach (Bonnie Hollinger, Barbra Minton, Jennifer Romick)

2009 applebutter weekend started off a bit touch-n-go on the wet side as cold October winds and rain greeted my son Dallas, his girlfriend Kate and I as we journeyed back into Mark and Pam Heirholzer’s woods Thursday to set up camp. After setting up mom’s trailer we decided pretty quickly to get a fire started and that we not only needed to get some tarps up to block the rain but that we could also use a few more. After a quick trip to Ansonia Lumber the tarps were stretched out from the trees, we began the process of staying dry and cooking around the fire. As evening approached we were joined by several others throughout the night.

Friday morning rolled around and Mother Nature greeted us with much more of the same weather. After a late morning breakfast Joe Ungericht and I ran to pickup cider and apples at Downings Orchard over by New Madison, Ohio. The apple smell when we walked in the barn at the orchard was truly overpowering. I’ve never wanted to eat an apple so badly in my whole life. All toll this year we used 13 bushels of 4 varieties of apples and 90 gallons of cider. Despite the rain and the cooler temperatures many of our relatives came out Friday night to find the bad weather subsiding for the weekend. Those who braved the elements gathered around the fires and under the tarps to enjoy several massive trays of ribs and other assorted goodies. Festivities continued well into the night and left yours truly as a casualty beside the fire.

Soon after and early Saturday morning the applebutter fires were started and our process of making applebutter began by boiling down the cider, coring, peeling and snitzing the apples. Everything proceeded as if we’ve done this a time or two in the past and around lunch we gathered together for a few announcements, the saying of grace and a wonderful meal compliments of the many generations of wonderful cooking traditions that run through our family. I’m always amazed by the amount of wonderful dishes—the pie table alone is enough to challenge even the sweetest tooth of the group. And of course the chicken spitted and cooked rotisserie style over the file is always a treat.

As day turned into night everyone began lining their crocks up in anticipation of the fresh hot applebutter. This year’ we finished with 38 gallons. Once everyone claimed their applely deliciousness many gathered around the chicken fire-pit for a festive end to a hard day’s efforts. Overall our attendance was a little lower this year than it has been in the past. Thanks to all of those who joined us this year and special wishes go out to all our family members and friends who were unable to join us for this years event. You were all missed.

The Hollinger applebutter reunion is a wonderful event that helps to pass on our families culture, heritage and our traditions. Special thanks to all those who help keep this event going year after year.

Photos from 2009
Please follow this link to view photos from the 2009 applebutter reunion.

If you took photos and would like to add or upload them to this Flickr set simply e-mail photos to this e-mail address: body33social@photos.flickr.com
Questions and Information: e-mail: circa71@gmail.com phone: (937) 422-4055

Please enjoy the photos contained below and check back every year for updates. Simply click on either the photos or the links in blue text beneath each photo for a photo slideshow of pictures from years past. All comments are welcome. You can see photos by visiting; http://www.flickr.com/photos/circa71/collections/72157607100445832 hope you enjoy them! Rob

Photos from 2008

Hollinger Apple Butter Reunion 2008 The 107th Annual Reunion
by: Jennifer Minton Romick
Greetings from the 107th Hollinger Reunion. When I went back into family records, I found that the 1933 Minutes show that it was the 33rd reunion and that there were parts of the family living in Illinois and Indiana as well as Ohio. Hazel Fletcher was the Secretary Treasurer and they elected a new President every year. In 1933, it was held at Greenville Park and 109 attended. In 1936, it was held at Garfield Park in Muncie, Indiana and was hosted by the McKees and a history of the family was given by Walter Hollinger. Ice Cream was cranked and eaten by the 96 members attending. In 1939, the reunion was held at the IOOF Hall in Paris, Illinois. Remarks about family history were again made by Frank, Ike, and Hiram Hollinger. 1940 saw the reunion back at the Greenville Park and in 1941 it was held at the Fletcher Brothers Garage in Paris, Illinois due to a violent thunderstorm. The Fletchers were family who ran the garage. Beginning in 1941, the reunion returned to the Gettysburg Grange Hall and pretty much stayed in Ohio due to the advanced age of the Hollinger uncles who could not easily travel.

Years later, the reunion almost disappeared, especially those members in Illinois and Indianapolis. In 1953, Secretary Grace Reck wrote, “…almost a fizzle with only twelve present.” 1952 was better with 84 attending. In 1953, there was no reunion and someplace in there, I remember we had one of the reunions
at Aunt Iris and Uncle Leonard’s old house in Gettysburg.. I also remember another reunion at their new house in Gettysburg sometime in the 60”s. Our records are spotty, but I also remember one reunion at my house out on SR 185 and another at my Mom and Dad’s close by. Records got better and Bob & Judie Welch hosted several reunions at their house out on Bectel Rd. near Greenville. By 1981, the reunion had found its current home at Bob & Myrtle McKnight’s camp north of Ansonia, where we’ve made apple butter every year since.

That first year, we only made 26 gallons. In 1986, the family began buying chickens and barbecuing them on spits made by Curlie Welch and Glenn Huffer. Today, the camp belongs to Pam (McKnight) & Mark Hierholzer who graciously host the reunion each year.

This year we made 44 gallons of apple Butter. We used 18 bushels of apples: three bushels each of Jonathan, Winesap, Golden Delicious, Northern Spy, Ida Red, and McIntosh. As usual, the guys started the 44 gallons of cider boiling about 4:00 o’clock Saturday morning. For some of the campers, this was pretty early since they had sat around the campfire until very late that night. Thanks to the guys for getting this started and to Ron Emory who always gets up early to start the peeling so the “Snitzers” have apples to start on when they get there.

I’ve heard that word ever since I was young and never realized that it was a mark of our German heritage., Snits or snitz means small pieces of apples cut thin and air dried. Grandma Bonnie always strung hers on a piece of string and hung them to dry in the top of Grandpa’s barn. Once dry, they could be used in pies and cakes when fresh ones weren’t available. It seems to me as I look back on those times the great aunts lived through, they learned to make do with very little since they lived in more frugal times and coped with the Great Depression. I never saw my Grandmother throw away a piece of tinfoil until it was in scraps or a piece of string from the butcher shop. It was always used to make do and as I remember my Great Aunts, they did the same.

I counted about 78 people at the reunion on Saturday. As usual, the weather co-operated and was warm and sunny allowing all of us to enjoy camping and the pond, even though the dry weather had lowered the water in the pond. One of the best things about the reunion is the Friday night barbecue and large campfire on both nights. I especially enjoy sitting around the campfire after we get done with the apple butter, having a drink or two and spending time talking with all the cousins. It’s time well spent and I always come away thinking what an interesting family we have. We were all especially glad to see Steve and Pam Ungericht who joined us all the way from Minnesota. Also Greg Gullett and his mom Peggy were here from Arizona.  What a delight to see Peggy in such good health and as sharp as ever. I also heard from Virginia’s family. It seems her son Rick and Randy are building her a new house near Randy in New Mexico. We all wish them well with the construction. Until next year, may you have good health, interesting work and a satisfying life.
Jenny Minton Romick

Hollinger Sugar Cookies
•    Cream together 1 c. packed brown sugar, 1c. white sugar, 1 1/8th c. shortening
•    Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp. Vanilla and 1 c. buttermilk.
•    Sift together 6 c. flour, 2 tsp. Baking soda, 1 pinch of salt.
•    Add dry ingredients to the beaten mixture.
•    Add to this—1 more cup of flour sifted with 1 tsp. of baking powder.
•    Grandma loved oranges so she grated the peel from 1 orange into the mix before rolling dough.
•    Roll out the dough to about 1/8th inch thickness and cut out with a well floured cookie cutter.
•    Sprinkle tops with sugar and bake in a hot oven (400) for 8-9 minutes.
Grandma always used an old tuna can to cut them out. Another example of making do, but it makes a nice size cookie. Once baked, keep them in a tightly sealed container or they get hard and you have to dunk them in a cup of coffee to eat them

Hollinger Cookbook
As I looked at the food-laden table, I thought what fun it would be to create a Hollinger cookbook.  Next year when you come, please bring a written copy of the recipe for whatever dish you bring and if you know of a family recipe, bring it too. Also, I know from camping out with them that many of the “Hollinger” guys are very good cooks, so I expect them to bring their recipes as well, and I’ll see if I can’t put them all together and make copies for everyone.

Hollinger Time Capsule
Sitting around the fire, the idea was discussed that we would also do a time capsule next year. We would put items of interest relating to the Reunion into a sealed box and bury it away and leave it sealed for 20 years and then open it. Hopefully some of us will still be around to help read it. Please put on your thinking caps and bring something to the reunion next year for the “Time Capsule.” Keep in mind, we need to keep the size of these items as small as possible. If any of you living out of state have something you want to put into the capsule, send it to me at the address above.

Hollinger Tomatoes
Good news on the tomato front Elvedore Hollinger gave me some tomato seeds kept by his father and granddad.  Large and slightly pink and very sweet, they were unlike any tomatoes I had seen. I sent some of the seeds from the tomatoes I grew from Elvedore’s seeds and pictures of the tomatoes to an organization called “Seeds of Change,” whose mission is to preserve heirloom varieties of plants. I was recently advised by Seeds of Change, that they were doing genetic testing to make sure no other tomatoes were the same as ours. If no others are found, they will designate it as the Hollinger tomato and add it to their seed bank so it will not disappear.

Please make sure we have your updated or current email addresses for yourself and everyone in your family. We will begin sending the newsletter via email to as many of the family as we can to save money on postage.

Please enjoy the photos contained below and check back every year for updates. Simply click on either the photos or the links beneath each photo for a photo slideshow of pictures from years past. All comments are welcome. You can see photos by visiting; http://www.flickr.com/photos/circa71/collections/72157607100445832/

Hooray for fall and apple butter!
by: Rob Anspach (Minton)
The Hollinger Applebutter Reunion has come to be a fall activity that many of our family looks forward to with great anticipation. I know I do. It’s a chance to reconnect with family and friends and to spend some time enjoying the simpler things in life.

Set against a backdrop of blazing fall leaves at Bob and Myrtle McKnight’s pond just outside of Ansonia Ohio, the family gathers in fellowship to celebrate our proud history and the traditions of a bygone era.

The festivities usually begin on Thursday and Friday nights as campers begin arriving for the long weekend. Fires are built and camp begins to come to life as everyone catches up and readies the shelter house and wood piles for the next day’s events.

Fires for the applebutter kettles are built and ignited before first light on Saturday morning. Apples are peeled, cored, cut and toted to the 2 large copper kettles where they are added to cider, boiled over an open pit wood fire and stirred continually for the next 8 or so hours by everyone in attendance.

Covered dishes of all types and a desert table that would put any bakery to shame, complement the open-pit rotisserie chicken prepared for lunch.

Kids play away the day, the Buckeyes finish up their game and evening draws close—everyone gathers with jugs, jars and containers of all sorts to claim their batch of fresh hot applebutter.  Clean-up commences after which, many head for home but a few stay to enjoy another evening around the campfires with plenty of stories, spirits and good times to be had by all.

Sunday morning comes soon for those who sat too long around the fires. The smells of bacon and cooking fires again fill the air as breakfast is prepared and final clean-up finish up. The final few pack up and head out leaving the pond, the shelterhouse and wildlife to once again enjoy the quiet silence of the great outdoors.

photos from 2007

photos from 2006

We would really like to receive photos from previous years that any family members may have. Please send all electronic photos to Rob Anspach (Jenny Jo’s son) via the email address: circa71@gmail.com  Or if you have hard copy photos, We’ll be happy to scan them and return. Be assured they will be treated as our own and returned in the same condition as we receive them. Hard copies can be sent to Jennifer Minton Romick at the address below. These images will be used to create more galleries so people can view and share our families memories history and rich traditions on-line.

Jennifer Minton Romick
8760 W. Covington-Gettysburg Rd
Covington, Ohio 45318
Email: romickje@who.rr.com

Please make sure we have your updated or current email addresses for yourself and everyone in your family. We will begin sending the newsletter via email to as many of the family as we can to save money on postage.

The Hollinger Applebutter Reunion