Old-fashioned cider press brings new friends

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

It took an antique apple press to make new friends who could sit down and visit awhile.

Bob and Mary Alice Krist of Bellvue found themselves to be very popular people last year as word spread that they could juice apples the old-fashioned way in an idyllic country setting.

"People from all over were bringing apples," Bob said.

"Some came back, some came to watch," added Mary Alice. "Nobody visits enough anyway, so it was nice. I thought that was the nicest part."

The apple press, manufactured by the American Seeding Machine Co., had a lonesome life for many years. The Krists bought it in the 1960s for $25. They were living in Fort Collins at the time and used the press now and then.

When the Krists found their dream property between Bellvue and Lory State Park in 1973, the apple press moved with them but sat in a shed for 35 years. Mary Alice said that last year's bumper apple crop inspired Bob to haul it out and rebuild it. The metal parts only needed cleaning, but much of the oak wood had to be replaced. "It was pretty straightforward," Bob said.

"I would imagine the next time we have apples, we'll have a lot more people," said Mary Alice.