The Naples Historical Society took advantage of Friday being “National Historic Marker Day” by unveiling a new historic marker celebrating one of the things Naples Valley is best known for – the Grape Pie!
The Historical Society provided the following information from its archives on grape pies and how Naples became known as “The Grape Capital of the World”:
“100 years ago, Naples was best known for its vineyards and wine, today Naples is known as “The grape pie capital of the world”.
In 1959, Al & Frieda Hodges owned the Redwood Restaurant. Al wanted to attract Rochester people to Naples to enjoy the delights of the Naples Valley. But what would lure people here? He decided to offer something on the menu that was unique to Naples. Al asked his chef to come up with a grape pie. The chef and a waitress named Olge tried 8 different recipes and finally came up with a grape pie made of concord grapes that tasted pretty good! In October 1959, Olge baked a dozen pies and Al put them on the menu. He also took off all the other pie offerings.
By the end of October, slices of two dozen grape pies were being sold on the weekends, with people coming back to buy a whole pie to take back home. As demand increased, Al went across the street and talked Irene Bouchard into baking grape pies for him and he encouraged her to put a grape pie sign in her front yard. In 1964, she baked 700 pies, selling for $1.25 each. By 1980, she was baking 300 pies a day during October. She became known as “the grape pie lady.” Ruby Fried also baked grape pies and made mouthwatering grape recipes for 65 years.
We have in the archives her recipes for grape ketchup, grape ice and grape conserve. There is no accurate way to determine how may grape pies are now being baked in the Naples Valley today, but we can guess – thousands made by many local bakers and businesses.
Naples is indeed the grape capital of the world with everything grape being offered during the annual grape festival, this year September 27 & 28. And just to let you know, the Naples Historical Society will be hosting a Grape Pie Making Workshop on September 13th so you can practice before entering “the world’s greatest grape pie contest” on September 27th.
Trish Lambiase, President of the Naples Historical Society, is grateful for the grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, who created National Historic Marker Day in 2021. Historic markers across the nation provide a glimpse into the past and preserve history for future generations. On the last Friday in April each year, National Historic Marker Day invites volunteers and communities to come together to maintain and celebrate their markers.
In 2024, the Naples Historical Society applied for a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for the Marker. Historical Society Board Members researched archival materials for substantiation and the grant was awarded.
The new marker came to Naples last fall, just waiting for the appropriate unveiling on National Historic Marker Day.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
