Family Values

The Eyssens were big gardeners and soon grew more produce than their family could consume. They set up a table and umbrella alongside Pearl Road next to a well to sell their surplus harvest and the stand became a popular stopping point for travelers on their way to Cleveland.

Elmer was a big golfer and often boasted about shooting his age when he was 70 years old. On his travels to Mansfield to play golf, he met an apple farmer and became very interested in the growing of apples. He planted several apple trees at Mapleside, then quickly expanded his orchard once word got around and increased the demand for his delicious apples. Elmer soon moved on from the table and umbrella into a store that sold peaches, pears, apples and apple cider poured right from a wooden barrel during the fall harvest season.

Their youngest son, affectionately called Apple Bill, graduated from Ohio State, majoring in pomology, the growing of fruit. Bill returned to Mapleside, married his OSU sweetheart, Jane, and together they grew the business into one of the premier roadside markets in Ohio, often sharing their experiences with other farmers at conventions across the state. In 1962, the Apple House was opened, with its massive stone fireplace and Cider Bar. And since "apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze," it only made sense to open the Cheese House in 1965 to complement the apples. It featured a large wooden cuckoo clock made in the Black Forest region of Germany. In 1968, the Flower House was added at Mapleside, featuring fresh flowers and arrangements along with distinctive gifts. Bill and Jane included their six children – Dave, Linda, Bill, Janelle, Tim and Jon - in the development of the business and farm. As Mapleside continued to grow and expand, customers started to ask where they could go for a bite to eat. Apple Bill and Jane sat down with their grown family and said it was time to open a restaurant. Out of that discussion, the Apple Farm Restaurant was born and opened in September 1984.

Through the years, Mapleside has been changed and reworked to meet the needs of an ever-changing community. Today, the great tradition of quality products and services continues under the ownership of another local family – the Clements. Greg & Kelly Clement take seriously the passing of the torch to them to continue the rich traditions of Mapleside with the generations of beloved memories made here. They have a passionate belief in the farm and its timeless ability to charm and delight all visitors and are adding their own touches to continue building traditions for others.