Sunny Slope History Sunny Slope Orchard, located seven miles west of Massillon OH on SR 241, was founded in 1929 by Russel and Noma Baker. Russel and Noma were married in 1918, and after farming in Dover, OH for a few years, they found a farm located four miles west of Massillon OH on Millersburg RD. They bought the farm, and over the next few years, they had three children: Marjory, Victor, and Robert. As the children were getting older, Russel and Noma decided to turn the farm into an allotment. They built two-story homes which sold for $2,500, and they named the streets "Baker St.", "Marjory St.", and "Victor St.", thus creating "Moffit Heights." With the Great Depression hitting hard, the housing business went under, and the Baker's once again turned to farming. They bought another farm three miles down the road which is now the current location of Sunny Slope Orchard. The farm was all grown up with brush and trees. The Baker's spent the entire year of 1928 preparing the land to begin an apple orchard. The first apple trees were planted in 1929, and all three children helped Russel and Noma run the orchard over the next ten years. They sold their fruit from their home in Moffit Heights until they built a new home on the farm in 1937. Then in 1939, Russel Baker died suddenly, leaving the entire orchard to Noma and the children to run. After being called to the Service for a couple of years, Victor took over Sunny Slope Orchard in 1945. In 1946, Victor married Maxine Ripple from Dover OH. She began to take care of the book work for Sunny Slope and did so over the next fifty years. Also, in 1946, Victor began to wholesale Sunny Slope products to the grocery stores of Massillon, many of which still carry Sunny Slope products today! From 1937 until 1957, the Baker's sold all of their fruit from a garage located behind their house. They had a circle driveway where people could drive up, buy their fruit, and be on their way. Then in 1956, Victor decided to build a salesroom across the street. The same store that is still used today was completed and opened in 1957. Victor and Maxine also had three children: Greg, Mark, and Polly. The family all worked together over the years, and the business expanded. Many more apple trees were planted and peaches, pears, plums, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn, melons, and pumkins were raised, as they are still being raised today. Also, a bakery was added to the store along with a deli for fresh daily baked goods, meats, and cheeses. Victor's son, Greg Baker, always had a paticular love for the orchard. Although he served in Viet Nam and tried a few other jobs, Greg came back to the orchard and ran the orchard in partnership with his father, Victor, for many years. Greg and his wife, Susan, also had three children: Kevin, Eric, and Trisha. In 1976, Mark Baker decided to open up a salesroom of his own. He opened up Johnny Apple Cheese Place on the corner of "Fulton Rd." and "Hills and Dales Rd." in Canton, OH. Mark continued to run a great business selling many Sunny Slope products in his store for over thirty years. Mark retired from Johnny Apple Cheese Place in 2007 closing the store. In 1996, Victor and Maxine Baker sold Sunny Slope Orchard to Greg and Susan Baker. Shortly afterwards, Maxine passed away. Greg and Susan took over the complete operation of Sunny Slope Orchard and continue to run the orchard today. Victor still makes deliveries and helps out on a voluntary basis...

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