History Speaks in Athens: Apples, Botany and Cider

“Apples, Botany, and Cider” will be the topic when Paul Whitaker appears at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 13, at Athens High School Library. This presentation is part of the History Speaks in Your Town series presented by the Marathon County Historical Society and the Continuing Education office of UW-Stevens Point at Wausau. Where did apples come from? How do we get new types of apples? Why can’t one Honeycrisp apple tree make another Honeycrisp apple tree unless people get involved? Was Johnny Appleseed actually a purveyor of hard cider or of wholesome Americana? And how do we get crisp, fresh apples in Wisconsin in April? Come find answers to these and other questions about America’s second favorite fruit. Paul Whitaker is Professor of Biology at UW Stevens Point at Wausau, where he teaches courses including botany, zoology, and environmental science. He’s also an avid gardener and enjoys making both sweet and hard cider using apples from about a dozen apple trees in his yard. This talk is free and open to the public. All donations are appreciated. Registration is not required. The Historical Society is grateful to the Murco Foundation and the Larry and Elsie Lohr Fund for their support for History Speaks In Your Town. For more information, please call the Marathon County Historical Society at 715-842-5750.