Orchard

Annie's Orchard is a 0.34 acre lot in lower Boulder with several heirloom fruit trees, picnic area, and a monument honoring our ancestors. It is the last portion of the original ranch still owned by descendants of C.A. and Annie Hansen.

Red Apple

September-October. Possibly Rome Beauty or Winesap.

Yellow Apple

September-October. Possibly Yellow Delicious.

Pear

September-October. Possibly Bartlett or d'Anjou.

Peach

September. Unknown varieties.

Currant

Possibly Red English (under yellow apple tree).

Green Grape

September. Possibly Thompson seedless (near east peach tree).

Asparagus

Spring (along ditch banks).

Please inquire before harvesting the fruit.

One of Annie's granchildren wrote: "Grandma also had two orchards. The Hansen organization still owns the remnants of one, with a half-dozen fruit trees, but she had a lower orchard of about 30 or 40 trees and in the fall we would go down with the wagon and haul apples up to two root cellars. There was one big cellar for the pigs, and one for the humans: the less desirable fruit we would put in the pig cellar, and the red delicious an water-core and the good ones we would keep for us to eat all winter long. In addition to apples she raised peaches, pears, apricots, plums, and cherries. What we didn't can, Grandma Hansen used to dry: a lot of fruit, big bags of apricots and apples to hang upstairs, and we would eat a lot of dried fruit."

A Monument is Established

After Paul Hansen donated the orchard property to the C.A. Hansen Family Organization in 1995, a family reunion and celebration was organized in July the following year. Descendants from across the country traveled to Boulder and built a monument commemorating their Hansen Ancestors. Richard Hansen wrote about this event, and the story was published in the Deseret News.

The Hansen Memorial Orchard by Richard Hansen.pdf

Remembering the Orchard

As a boy I fondly remember visiting Grandma Hansen (Annie Catherine). There were a lot of fun things to do at Grandma's, among them was visiting “the” orchard. Though at that time there were 3 of them, the old orchard (near the original cabin), the orchard (south of the old house, just west of the Barch home), and the new orchard (north of Grandmas house). This new orchard is the one we have as the family park- “Annie’s Orchard”. At that time this orchard consisted of young trees, but were of fruit bearing age- it had the newer varieties and had a grape vine. These same trees are now much older, but then so am I.

I remember thinking how lucky Grandma was in that she could grow an orchard and have delicious fruit right on her own trees. In Richfield we could not grow food fruit trees, iron chlorosis because of the very high calcium content of the soil. Oh we had a few plum trees, but to me these were not real fruit trees like Grandmas. There was one favorite apple tree in the regular orchard, a “water core”. Richard, Bob and I would climb up in this very large old tree to pick the most delicious apples I have ever eaten (at least that is what my memory recalls of the “water core” apple.

Things I remember of the “new orchard” (Annie’s Orchard) include the following: (1). Peaches, I had never had fresh peaches directly from the tree before. (2). Grapes- green ones. Though in spite I was never there hat harvest time, I could imagine how good they would taste. It was intriguing to see the vine growing on the trellis (I think that it was the same one that is still there). (3). The very nice apple trees, that seemed only to have apples too green to eat (though I did eat a few of these green ones). And (4). The large strawberry patch Grandma had just south of the orchard. I remember eating some of these strawberries.

I think it was great (and a lot of foresight) that Paul saved “the orchard” for the family, and that how that now each descendant owns one share. Thanks Paul! I only wish my health would allow me to travel to visit the orchard again. So, while you are there enjoy it just a little bit for me too.

Annie’s first grandchild,

Freeman Johnson

The Hansen Ranch

Delores Bowman wrote "Grandpa and Grandma arranged to trade their home in Richfield, valued at $1,400, for the Brinkerhoff Ranch in boulder, with Mr. Baker. The price was reasonable, but not much more than Mr. Brinkerhoff had had to pay the government for it. Grandpa didn't want his sons to be miners, as he had been, when he was a young man."

Chris later homesteaded additional land north of the canal, adjoining his original purchase.

To contribute to this section, please contact us.

Original Boundaries of Hansen Ranch by Freeman Johnson.pdf

Annie's House

Annie’s “new house”, built in 1923, was moved from its original location adjacent to the orchard to its current site about 3/4 mile to the west. Annie built the house with the money that her brother Joe left to her when he died. From here she ran the Boulder post office for many years. The “old house” and “old, old house” – both log homes on the ranch where the Hansens once lived – have long since been torn down.

Annie's daughter, Vera, wrote:

Built in the latter part of 1922 or early part of 1923. At that time Mother inherited a little money, which she used to build this house. If I remember correctly it cost $900.00. The upstairs was unfinished, did not include painting, no wiring for light, no plumbing. All cabinets & colonnade with book cases not included. Mother hired Wellborn Moosman to build them. Don’t think Coleman (Sam) finished the outside steps either.

At it's current location, the house was expanded and renovated. It now operates a bed and breakfast named in her honor: Annie's Place.

More About the Hansen Ranch and Annie's Orchard

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