Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup Inc.
Bringing our family tradition to your table for 4 generations
Bringing our Family Tradition
to Your Table
for 4 Generations
Our History
Our story begins with Justus "Dutch" Asthalter.
Grandpa Dutch and his wife, Nellie, bought the original 5 acres of property on what is now called Aden Road, back in 1937. Through the years ~and after WWII~they bought the 70+ acre parcel across the road specifically for continuing to make his maple syrup as he had done since his youth. As years went past he and Nellie built a block building for his sugaring operation (it was supposed to be a garage) and after many sucessful years of making maple syrup, he was promted to get into dealing maple sugaring equipment for Leader Evaporator of Vermont.
"Gary Gaudette (the current President of Leader Evaporator) was just a stock boy" Grandpa would say- "Now, he's a good man. ..... and Bruce (Gillian- current Vice President), " he would go on..."is a good boy too." I am sure Grandpa meant that as a compliment :)
Tin cans gave way to plastic containers, buckets ebbed towards tubing, and Grandpa was right there. He would take Charlie Bacon, the creator of "The Bacon Jug" around in his truck to introduce him to other sugarmakers. Grandpa had the first tubing lines set up in his woods, and eventually the first Vacuum system in New York was on working display for all to see. Times were a changing, and Grandpa kept pace. Not only was he a stocking dealer for Leader Evaporator Company, but, he also had a large inventory of SugarHill Plastic Containers.
As the industry grew and word spread, tour groups came by to see Grandpa "Dutch" in action. The next Generation was right there to help. Dutch's daughter, MaryLou could be seen gathering buckets, making pancakes and helping out to run the maple buisness. She did this for many years, even after she got married and had Sean- yup, third generation sugarmaker!
All his life, Sean has been at his Grandfather's side. Ever since Sean was 8 years old, he has been involved in the maple sugaring with Dutch.(So much in fact that the name Sean was synonomous with Dutch's mention) As the third generation grew up, Dutch would assign more and more responsibility to Sean, and it was becoming a merger of the generations in the family buisness. As years past, Sean went to college and started his own construction buisness, and Dutch slowed down with his buisness.
As his 80's approached, Dutch knew the buisness was in need of getting back on track with the newer technology in sugaring, and had Sean take the reigns of the buisness. Together with his wife, Dawn (an incredibly awesome woman-for lack of a better word-lol) they began the battle of increasing inventory, getting the word out about maple, updating the process to current standards, and letting the world know the JUSTUS ASTHALTER was all about maple. Grandpa had called Leader Evaporator and made sure that it was ok that Sean take over the dealership, and the Leader Family was happy to see the continuation of the buisness in Seans hands as it was well know that it was Dutch's wishes.
Grandpa was proud of us! For years, he would come over to the sap house and tell us that we had 10x more than he did, and how nice everything looked and how much things had changed. He would tell his friends and would carry sample jars of our syrup for all to taste. Dutch was notorious for putting a 50 ml glass maple leaf in the drive thru windows at the banks! That's pride if I have ever heard it!
Sean and Dawn had four children~ Aurora, Aric, Hauk and Bryan. As the children grew, they too were assigned sap house chores. For the first few years, they took it all in, but that was not nearly where that stopped. The children decided they wanted to "do it themselves". Here, here! Generation four!
Grandpa walked to the trees with Aric and pointed out where to drill the tap hole with his cane. Aric would drill, Aurora would tap, Hauk would hang the bucket, and Bryan would watch-haha. They were only aged 10(Rory), 8 (Aric), 6(Hauk), and 4(Bryan). Pretty good for little ones yet!
Todd Brown, Neversink NY, lent the kids a flat pan to use- if they promissed to take care of it and "make some syrup"! We build a block arch and attached a stove pipe to the back. I am not sure why- it didnt work-lol. Anyways, the kids would get off the bus, gather their buckets, and light their fire, everyday. The first year they made a whole lot- a half pint!
The next year, the kids did the same, but made a bit more syrup, and everyday they asked for an evaporator. They proved themselves to us, so we bought them a Leader Evaporator Half Pint. Well, that was 2 years ago, and this year they sold their half pint and bought a Leader WSE 2x4. Ohhhh were they excited!
Justus "Dutch" Asthalter started a Family Tradition that we continue to this day. We thank you for reading our story- though quite abbrieviated- and hope you enjoyed it. We did lose Grandpa in July of 2006, at 93 years old, but everyday we re-tell a story, laugh at one of "his jokes", talk to some of the countless people who knew him and carry on the tradition that he started and we love so much. Thanks Grandpa.
Grandpa Dutch and his wife, Nellie, bought the original 5 acres of property on what is now called Aden Road, back in 1937. Through the years ~and after WWII~they bought the 70+ acre parcel across the road specifically for continuing to make his maple syrup as he had done since his youth. As years went past he and Nellie built a block building for his sugaring operation (it was supposed to be a garage) and after many sucessful years of making maple syrup, he was promted to get into dealing maple sugaring equipment for Leader Evaporator of Vermont.
"Gary Gaudette (the current President of Leader Evaporator) was just a stock boy" Grandpa would say- "Now, he's a good man. ..... and Bruce (Gillian- current Vice President), " he would go on..."is a good boy too." I am sure Grandpa meant that as a compliment :)
Tin cans gave way to plastic containers, buckets ebbed towards tubing, and Grandpa was right there. He would take Charlie Bacon, the creator of "The Bacon Jug" around in his truck to introduce him to other sugarmakers. Grandpa had the first tubing lines set up in his woods, and eventually the first Vacuum system in New York was on working display for all to see. Times were a changing, and Grandpa kept pace. Not only was he a stocking dealer for Leader Evaporator Company, but, he also had a large inventory of SugarHill Plastic Containers.
As the industry grew and word spread, tour groups came by to see Grandpa "Dutch" in action. The next Generation was right there to help. Dutch's daughter, MaryLou could be seen gathering buckets, making pancakes and helping out to run the maple buisness. She did this for many years, even after she got married and had Sean- yup, third generation sugarmaker!
All his life, Sean has been at his Grandfather's side. Ever since Sean was 8 years old, he has been involved in the maple sugaring with Dutch.(So much in fact that the name Sean was synonomous with Dutch's mention) As the third generation grew up, Dutch would assign more and more responsibility to Sean, and it was becoming a merger of the generations in the family buisness. As years past, Sean went to college and started his own construction buisness, and Dutch slowed down with his buisness.
As his 80's approached, Dutch knew the buisness was in need of getting back on track with the newer technology in sugaring, and had Sean take the reigns of the buisness. Together with his wife, Dawn (an incredibly awesome woman-for lack of a better word-lol) they began the battle of increasing inventory, getting the word out about maple, updating the process to current standards, and letting the world know the JUSTUS ASTHALTER was all about maple. Grandpa had called Leader Evaporator and made sure that it was ok that Sean take over the dealership, and the Leader Family was happy to see the continuation of the buisness in Seans hands as it was well know that it was Dutch's wishes.
Grandpa was proud of us! For years, he would come over to the sap house and tell us that we had 10x more than he did, and how nice everything looked and how much things had changed. He would tell his friends and would carry sample jars of our syrup for all to taste. Dutch was notorious for putting a 50 ml glass maple leaf in the drive thru windows at the banks! That's pride if I have ever heard it!
Sean and Dawn had four children~ Aurora, Aric, Hauk and Bryan. As the children grew, they too were assigned sap house chores. For the first few years, they took it all in, but that was not nearly where that stopped. The children decided they wanted to "do it themselves". Here, here! Generation four!
Grandpa walked to the trees with Aric and pointed out where to drill the tap hole with his cane. Aric would drill, Aurora would tap, Hauk would hang the bucket, and Bryan would watch-haha. They were only aged 10(Rory), 8 (Aric), 6(Hauk), and 4(Bryan). Pretty good for little ones yet!
Todd Brown, Neversink NY, lent the kids a flat pan to use- if they promissed to take care of it and "make some syrup"! We build a block arch and attached a stove pipe to the back. I am not sure why- it didnt work-lol. Anyways, the kids would get off the bus, gather their buckets, and light their fire, everyday. The first year they made a whole lot- a half pint!
The next year, the kids did the same, but made a bit more syrup, and everyday they asked for an evaporator. They proved themselves to us, so we bought them a Leader Evaporator Half Pint. Well, that was 2 years ago, and this year they sold their half pint and bought a Leader WSE 2x4. Ohhhh were they excited!
Justus "Dutch" Asthalter started a Family Tradition that we continue to this day. We thank you for reading our story- though quite abbrieviated- and hope you enjoyed it. We did lose Grandpa in July of 2006, at 93 years old, but everyday we re-tell a story, laugh at one of "his jokes", talk to some of the countless people who knew him and carry on the tradition that he started and we love so much. Thanks Grandpa.
