Gilfillan Farm
The Orchard
New Orchard
Since the Township of Upper St. Clair acquired the Gilfillan property with the original orchard, the remaining 15-acres of the Gilfillan Farm no longer had access to one. Therefore, in 2015 the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair planted a new orchard. It is the goal of HSUSC to attempt to reproduce the last remaining apple tree from the original orchard through a grafting process.
Original Orchard
The original orchard at Gilfillan Farm was a large area located on the northern side of the property, that was dedicated to growing fruit trees. The fruits from the trees were used for raw consumption or baking. The fruit could even be sold for additional income.
The original orchard is located on a tract of land that was donated to the Township of Upper St. Clair by the Gilfillans for the purpose of establishing a community park, now known as Gilfillan Park. Unfortunately, there is only one surviving apple tree on the orchard. In 2021, the Director of Education at Audubon Society of Western PA attempted to take a graft from the apple tree in order to reproduce it on the new orchard. The graft was unsuccessful, but plans are in the works to try again in the near future.
The original orchard is located on a tract of land that was donated to the Township of Upper St. Clair by the Gilfillans for the purpose of establishing a community park, now known as Gilfillan Park. Unfortunately, there is only one surviving apple tree on the orchard. In 2021, the Director of Education at Audubon Society of Western PA attempted to take a graft from the apple tree in order to reproduce it on the new orchard. The graft was unsuccessful, but plans are in the works to try again in the near future.
