Nonsuch apple trees rescued from Revere construction site

by John Benson

A casual conversation between longtime residents Ralph Waszak Sr., Richard “Buzzy” Davis, Bob Hooper and Pat Norris late last year led to a joint effort to save the Richfield Nonsuch apple trees, which were in danger of being cut down because of the new Revere High School construction.

“There were like four trees over there that we believed were Nonsuch,” said Waszak, a Richfield Village councilman. “Buzzy, who sadly passed away last weekend at age 96, was aware of the trees. When we went over to look at the trees, some of them had apples, which we sampled.

“We knew of the impending construction of the school and thought it would be nice to one way or another save the trees or take cuttings to preserve the trees for future generations.”

While the friends knew the result they were trying to attain, going through the correct process wasn’t simple. Eventually Waszak sought free technical assistance from the right place, Ohio State Agricultural Research and Development Center’s Secrest Arboretum in Wooster.

“On March 8, we drove

[to Wooster]

the 27 scions, or cuttings from the trees, we had collected,” Waszak said. “They made these incisions into the rootstock and grafted the scions using a special wax and a rubber band. Lo and behold, we got some apple trees growing.

“I think they’re likely to spend the winter in Wooster. We’ll get them in the spring. We haven’t determined what we are going to do with them.”

There’s a history of Nonsuch apple trees in Richfield. In fact, this isn’t the first time Nonsuch trees were in danger of disappearing. In the early 1950s, Richfield Garden Club’s Eunice M. Merton planted the scions in various public places, including in front of then new Revere High School.

“The trees tie back to Eunice, who was a very colorful gal,” Waszak said. “Apparently she was the first woman to graduate from Ohio State with a BS in horticulture. She initially had difficulty getting into the college as a woman.”

Even though Richfield Nonsuch apple trees may not be well known within the community, Waszak said their history dates to the 1880s or earlier. “Not only is it nice to keep the Richfield Nonsuch apple trees alive,’’ Waszak said, ‘’but also the memory of Eunice, who essentially did what we have just done, back in 1951.’’