Autumn time is apple time, cider time, pumpkin pie and squash time and to many it's Stephenson's Apple Orchard time and a ride out on old U.S. 40. Forty Highway was a dirt road in 1879 when grandparents of today's owners first began selling home-grown produce to folks traveling between Lee's Summit and Independence. Old-timers say their one room stone house was the halfway point between the two villages. Later generations of the family developed the apple orchard and continued selling to passing motorists. A small screened stand in front of the house provided other small grocery items. I remember well the two energetic young Stephenson twins, Les and Loyd, (grandchildren of the original owners) as they cheerfully ran to our car with a basket of apples or a jug of freshly ground cider. They were 12 years old and usually with white caps, white pants and a big smile. An elder brother, Norman, joined his father in the orchard business in 1935. (Orchard acreage today lies in Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Green Valley and Sibley.) With business growing, the family opened a restaurant in the old stone building in April 1946. They called it Apple Farm. The 10 booths inside served only 38 people the first day. They served hickory-smoked meats, fresh vegetables, homemade apple butter, preserves and relishes, all prepared in their kitchen in the same way their grandparents had taught them. One of the twins, Les, became an expert with his pastry crusts, and sometimes appeared making them on early Betty Hayes television shows. Gradually during later remodelings, the original stone building was engulfed, but still remains today as part of the present restaurant. A large brick-floored patio dining space among the apple trees conveniently joins the large parking area, which is almost surrounded by the orchard. Large parties, luncheons and dinners are scheduled with reservations starting at 11:30 a.m. Independence and Kansas City business people often drive out for lunch. One time, as I parked my car, Harry Truman (then retired) drove up and parked in the space beside me. The twins still operate the large facility, joined by their sons and grandchildren. A branch restaurant is located at Platte Woods, eight miles south of Kansas City's International Airport. It is run by Loyd's son, Steve. Les's daughter, Lisa, has opened Stephenson's Cider Mill Restaurant in Jane, Mo., near Bella Vista, Ark. Kansas City Times, October 21, 1988.
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