Vintage Old Mission Recipes: Reba Dohm’s Apple Crunch

Today’s vintage Old Mission recipe comes to us from Reba Dohm and the “Community Cook Book” published by The Mary-Martha Circle, Ogdensburg Methodist Church (now known as the Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church).

I don’t have an exact date as to when this cookbook was published, but think I can safely say it was sometime in the 1960s. We don’t currently have a Mary-Martha Circle in the Methodist church (my home church), but if you google “Mary Martha Circle,” you’ll see that a lot of churches still have them – not just Methodist, but other denominations, too.

Here’s the recipe in the mimeographed form (that’s my mom’s Apple-Walnut Cobbler on the right – maybe I’ll do that one next!).

My life is forever wonderfully entwined with the Dohm family, so this recipe – Reba Dohm’s “Old-Fashioned Apple Crunch” – holds a special place in my heart. If you’ve been reading the Gazette for a while, you know that when we were kids, my sister, Carol, was good friends with Ginny Dohm (now Ginny Coulter, owner of Old Mission Flowers on the corner of Ladd Road and Center Road).

And I was good friends with Ginny’s younger sister, Barb Dohm (now Wunsch – she married Josh Wunsch of Wunsch Farms), so I spent a lot of time at the Dohm house, playing in the Dohm barn, and at the Phelps cottage on Phelps Road (Reba’s mother was Della Phelps).

Here’s a photo of me and Barb taken today. This was after walking three laps at Bowers Harbor Park with the OMP Walking Group (join us – 6 p.m. on Mondays at BHP). Hence, me looking sweaty and disheveled while Barb is cool as a cucumber.

Fred Dohm and his wife Kay still live in the Dohm house and have a roadside stand there (Twin Maples Farm). If you’re heading north on Center Road, it’s the first house on the left past Ladd Road; the barn with the multi-colored roof. Look for apples, maple syrup and other fall produce at the stand. Fred is Barb and Ginny’s brother (along with older sister Della).

Reba (formerly Kirkpatrick) Dohm was an active member of the Old Mission Peninsula farming community, including the Old Mission Women’s Club, Ogdensburg Women’s Club, Peninsula Community Library Board, Eastern Star and more. She also served overseas as a nurse during WWII.

Reba passed away when I was still in high school, but I have fond memories of many dinners at their house, including this apple crunch recipe. I recently stopped by Fred and Kay’s and was transported right back to those days when I saw the little dining nook where we always had dinner. It’s like a picnic table, but actually built into the house. I loved that nook and was geeked to see that it hadn’t changed over the years.

I also recall seeing Reba playing cribbage (I think), with either Fred Sr. or Fred Jr. It’s funny which memories stay with you, and I remember that little board game with the pegs. We played a lot of games in the Johnson household, but not that one; maybe that’s why it stood out to me.

It’s apple season on the Old Mission Peninsula right now, so a great time to post this lovely vintage recipe from a beloved OMP community member.

Reba Dohm’s Old-Fashioned Apple Crunch

• 8 tart apples
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. flour
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. melter butter
• 1 tsp. baking powder

Peel and slice apples. Place in greased baking pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 of cinnamon and brown sugar mixture.

Combine sugar, flour, egg, salt and baking powder (will act like pie crust dough – should be cut in). Spread this over apple slices. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon, brown sugar mixture over the top.

Bake in 350 degree oven about 40 minutes or til golden brown.

– Reba Dohm