What's Next for Schmidt Farms and Its Owners?

Sometimes life forces us to make tough decisions, life changing, even community changing events. So it is for Charles and Dutch Thurman. The 60 acres, market, home and all will be sold at an absolute auction by Chris Colson at 10 am on Saturday, Dec. 3rd.

In July, Charles had a fall and bumped his head. He didn't think much about it until he started having some concerning symptoms early this fall and decided to have it all checked out. After surgery in September, he and Dutch decided it was time to "sell the farm". Charles continues to make remarkable recovery, is back at the farm doing end-of-season chores, but he and his bride decided now is the time to end the long family tradition.

This fall isn't the same without their hayrides to the pumpkin patch, straw bale maze with haunting sounds, festive games, face-painting, hand-painted pumpkins, fall mums, herbs and blooming plants, fresh apples and produce, candy and that apple cider that people drove miles to sip and take home gallons at a time. Hot or cold it had the reputation of being THE best cider around, the opinion of many.

Grandfather Lewis Schmidt bought the farm land in 1921, and that's when it all began. The family farmed and sold fresh fruits and vegetables, spoiling the region with their quality produce and service. Charles and Dutch have been running the family business for over four decades, putting their personal touch on all they sold. The couple was there all the time, tending to details and genuinely enjoying all that maintaining an open air market demanded. It was hard work, but they both put their hearts and souls into the daily challenges of the business. It's been obvious to those of us who frequented the farm.

The three Schmidt sisters, Jennie, Julia and Dutch own the farm and all are hopeful knowing there's another family member who may be interested in purchasing the farm land. The market, where generations have bought fresh fruits and vegetables for over nine decades however, is no longer the Schmidt Farms Market. Everything in the market will soon be up for auction, on Saturday, Dec. 3rd.

"It's been a hard decision to make, but both Charles and I have been seriously considering retiring and now know it's time. Sentimentally we wish we could have made it to 100 years, but that's just not possible. Charles has some health restrictions as he recovers, and this is what would be our extra busy fall season, so this seems to be God's way of answering our prayers," said Dutch.
 
Charles and Dutch have been waking before sunrise and heading to the Schmidt Farm and Market since the mid-70s. First Charles left his Kentucky state job and then, a couple of years later, Dutch left her teaching career to help run her family's farm. "Now we're on a new adventure," said Dutch, "We both have said there never was a day that we dreaded going to work."

As we stood in the room where they've made that popular and oh so delish apple cider each fall since the 70's, we looked at the antique press used for decades to turn the apples into cider. This year it has cob webs instead of fresh apples in it. Dutch said in a good year they would make as much as 3,000 gallons of cider. She said they used 2 sweet to 1 tart apple in their cider. Most of apples were originally grown on the farm but in later years they brought in apples from local orchards.

Lewis Schmidt, Dutch's grandfather, started the family business in the 1920's. An aerial view of the farm shows where it is located on Old Cairo Road with the Brookport Ohio River bridge in the background. Dutch described a lake her grandfather dug out in the late 20's that was a real attraction for Paducah. He planted flowers around the lake, had picnic tables, a place for folks to enjoy the outdoors. It was a gathering place for the public to meet and relax. Dutch said it was called Schmidt Lake or Jacob's Lake.

The 1937 flood changed life for the Schmidt family, as it did for so many in the region. The rain started in January, melting snow and waters rose to levels never before experienced. The entire farm flooded and the layout of the land changed. The Schmidts took it all in stride, picked up where they left off and built a market near Old Cairo Road where the present sign is located. It was quite a nice looking building and full of many of the same items now at the current market.

In the late 70's Dutch told her Dad that in the fall, when pumpkins were reaching their prime, it might be a good idea to pick the pumpkins, place them on the ground in a designated area and bring visitors to the "pumpkin patch", maybe transport the visitors on a wagon of straw, pulled by a tractor, to choose their favorites and ride back to the market to purchase their favorites. Each fall, following her idea, this became the popular place for the community to come and celebrate fall with all the pumpkins, mums, cider, etc. This autumn children and adults will find another place to buy their pumpkins and mums and apple cider, but memories from decades of Schmidt Farm quality produce and experiences will live on.

Dutch plans to continue her painting and serves as the current president of Paducah Area Painters Alliance (PAPA). She and Charles will do a little traveling as soon as the farm is sold and all is in order. Charles enjoys bee keeping and intends to keep about six of the hives to produce honey which is extra fine. The couple, although overwhelmed with fond memories, is looking forward to their new adventure.  

Click on photos to the left to see some history of the family farm.  Click on center arrow in top right and it will move thru a slide show of the photos-all taken at the market.