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1236 Baugher Rd.
Westminster, MD 21158
Farm: 410-848-5541
Restaurant: 410-848-7413
Market
(at the Rest.): 410-848-7490
Bakery
(at the Farm): 410-848-5313
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Celebrating Over 100 Years
in Carroll County
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Our "Roots" |
Baugher's Orchard has been a working fruit and vegetable
farm since 1904. What started out as a 60 acre piece of land, has
become a 600 acre operation, and one of the biggest orchards in Carroll
County. |
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1752 |
The roots of the "Baugher" family began in Germany in 1725 with the birth of
Johannes Georgius Bager. As a young man, in1752, he took the long
journey to the United States and settled near Hanover, Pennsylvania.
There, he became a Lutheran pastor in the local church. Later, he
changed his name to "Baugher", married Elizabeth Schwab and raised 13
children. |
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1900 |
Of those 13 children, one was named Aaron Baugher. His first wife died
at the age of 35 with whom he had 11 children. His second wife,
Catherine Sweitzer, gave birth to another 5 children, one of which was
Daniel Sweitzer Baugher. During the 1800's, there were hardships to a
point that the children were entrusted to other relatives. Daniel went
to a leather-taner and farmer of Mennonite faith. In 1900, Daniel was
introduced to Mary Myers at a Meadow Branch Church function. Later,
they married and had 6 children.
1902 - Noah: went to college; had a bad heart
1904 - Jessie: died at age 21 of pneumonia
1906 - Lydia: married Nelson Harris & moved west
1909 - Harry: electrician & refrigeration repairman
1913 - Edward: farmer, founder of Baugher Ent.
1918 - Anna: nurse, married Charles Baughman |
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1904 |
In 1904, because their family was growing, they bought a 60-acre farm in
Carroll County near Frizzelburg & Pleasant Valley, Maryland.
The 8-person Baugher family depended on the 60 acre farm for their
lively-hood. It supplied them with food, shelter, transportation,
heat, recreation, and ice (for cooling food during the summer). The
farmhouse was used as the family birthing center, conference room, butcher,
party hall, bakery, and hotel. During this era, school and education
was of secondary importance to the farming work. |
Daniel & Mary Baugher bought the original 60-acre farm
near Frizzleburg, 1910. |
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1910 |
Daniel planted the first 12 acres of orchard after consulting his
father-in-law, Mr. Sam Myers (Baughman Valley Farm). He advised that
a good orchard would turn his financial situation around. |
Sam
Myers, circa 1900 (Mary Baugher's father) |
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1913 |
Edward Sweitzer Baugher was born to Daniel and Mary. After he
completed the seventh grade, he concentrated all his efforts into helping
his family build their orchard and farm. |
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1932 |
At. 19 years old, Edward marries Romaine Leppo. They rented the home
farm and began farming together. |
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1933 |
Daniel died and Edward and Romaine buy the farm from Ed's siblings for
$5,500. |
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1935 |
Romaine gave birth to their first son, Allan, in the farmhouse. He was
delivered by Dr. Bare for the bargain price of $12.50. Edward
continued to diversify the farm by hauling milk from county dairy farmers to
the Koontz Creamery on John Street in Westminster. |
The 1st and 2nd generation. Daniel, Noah, Edward,
Harry, Jessie, Mary & Lydia Baugher, circa 1917. |
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1939 |
Ed and Romaine's second son, Daniel is born. Ed used horses and mules
to do the orchard work, but had little patience with them. Because of
this, Ed taught himself many mechanical skills. Romaine enjoyed baking
for her family and helpers. She began making extra goodies and took
them to town to sell door to door. |
Romaine and Ed work well as a team, 1948. |
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1943 |
World War 2 was being fought and times were tough for folks everywhere.
A neighboring farmer, Calvin McGloten, sold his 85 acre fruit farm to Ed and
Romaine on a handshake with no money down. The first season of peaches
was a success and Ed paid Mr. McGloten back soon after the deal. Ed
and Romaine learned to work very well with each other with love and one
common goal: to be fair and work for success! |
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1945 |
A daughter, Miriam, was born to Ed and Romaine. Ed converted a chicken
house to a workshop which later burnt down, but the Graham family helped to
rebuild a much better one (still in use today). Allan began spending a
great deal of time with his dad to try and learn the business. He
cherished their time together and his wonderful education. |
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1946 |
The Kinser family joined the workforce at Baugher's. |
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1947 |
Construction of Baugher's Restaurant began and was completed for $75,000.
Ed and Romaine's goal was to offer customers country cooking with fair
prices in a clean and friendly atmosphere. |
Baugher's Country Restaurant provides home-cooked meals
for the Westminster community, 1950. |
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1948 |
Baugher's Restaurant opened in January. It was a challenge managing
people and duties efficiently. The public opinion was that it would
not succeed. |
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1953 |
Allan graduates from Westminster High and begins helping full-time on the
farm. |
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1958 |
Daniel marries and later has four children: Daniel (1959), Scott
(1962), Paul (1964), Heather (1970). Ed and Romaine adopt a young girl
named Dottie. |
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1961 |
Allan married Marjorie Hull and later they have five children: Kay
(1962), Lynn (1964), Nathan (1967), Lorraine (1972), Dwight (1974).
Marjorie was taught by Ed to do all the bookkeeping for the farm. She
was instrumental in getting the farm's credit back in order (which was in
need of much help)! |
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1966 |
Baugher's Orchard was established as Baugher Enterprises, Inc. |
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1968 |
Allan began to build 20-bushel wooden bulk bins to harvest apples in.
It was a challenge to convince Marcos Diaz, a long time Puerto Rican fruit
picker, that there were only 20 bushels in each bin. |
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1969 |
Edward and Allan built the metal packing house building with help from other
farm employees. The grader was moved to the new building and
operations were much easier with forklifts moving pallets of produce around
instead of hand labor. Also, a cold storage room was built that held
30,000 bushels at full capacity. This facility was a huge advancement
and saved time and energy. |
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1970 |
The "apple man" logo was created by Allan and Bill Weaver as an advertising
and marketing tool. |
The "apple man" logo greets customers as they enter the
farm. |
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1975 |
110 acres near New Windsor, was purchased, called Valley View Farm. |
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1977 |
Dottie started working full-time, mostly at the Packing House with sales,
but also helped prune trees and some field work in the off-season. |
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1979 |
A large, 3-acre pond was constructed along Rt. 140 to pull water to the
fields for irrigation. This was the first of several more ponds
created out of need for water during drought years. |
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1980 |
Kay Baugher graduated from high school and began to help her mother with the
businesses bookkeeping and payroll. |
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1981 |
Baugher's Orchard Bakery was built by Allan for Romaine who had been baking
pies and cakes for the restaurant out of the small area in her basement
since the 1930's. This was a life-long dream of hers come true.
Edward had a massive heart attack this year. |
Romaine Baugher enjoys making pies in her new bakery
facility, 1981. |
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1983 |
The farm offered pick-your-own strawberries for the first time.
Devilbiss Farm was bought that had 85 acres. Baugher's Cider Mill was
built by Allan and began operations in October. |
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1984 |
Edward Baugher died of heart failure on October 22, Romaine's birthday. |
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1985 |
The entire peach and nectarine crop froze. A 55-acre farm was added
called Petry's. |
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1988 |
Nathan began running the retail end of Baugher's Fruit Market. |
Allan checks on Nathan as he takes on the responsibility
of managing the fruit market, 1988. |
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1990 |
A pond at Valley View was built. |
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1991 |
The home farm and the Devilbiss farm ponds were built. |
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1992 |
A new 70,000 bushel controlled atmosphere cold storage was constructed and
began being used the next year. Dwight began to manage the entire
vegetable production for the farm. |
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1995 |
A new computerized grader machine was bought in Canada. A 150-acre
farm on Pleasant Valley Road was purchased. (Arnold Farm) |
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1997 |
Lorraine began to manage the bakery department. |
The bakery gang, 2004. |
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1998 |
144 acres was bought in Middleburg. |
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2004 |
Celebration of 100 years! |
Kay, Lynn, Lorraine, Dwight & Nathan enjoy family parties,
2004. |
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2006 |
Romaine Baugher dies at the age of 94. |
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Today |
We hope we can continue to make history on our farm and for
Carroll County daily! |
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