03/06/2026
What a special Vault video from 1992 of our late owner, Norris Rees, speaking about catching a late spring freeze on the apple trees after they've budded. Thank you to Doug and Melissa from WIBW for jogging our memory, and for sharing a piece of Rees Fruit Farm history with their viewers!
Like Doug, so many of our customers and friends remember seeing Norris at the store, working for him in their youth over summer or in autumn, and remember his character. As Norris got older, he sat in the store daily and supervised from his stool (if you remember, you know!). Norris was on the farm right until his last day on earth, like many of the good ol' farmers do.
Norris' son, Rex, is still the owner and operator of Rees Fruit Farm. He'd love to see you and hear stories about his dad, and any other old farm history you've got! Come on in and say hi - and like Melissa said, the slushes are still as good as ever!
Another of Norris' sons, Jack, is also featured in a video clip from 1987 of Skinner's Garden Store, talking about-- of all things--lawn flamingos! What a very fun trip down memory lane for the Rees family!
We take a trip to Rees Fruit Farm to see concerns from the freezing and thawing temps and get a look at the yard art craze taking Topeka by storm in the late 1980s.
Also in the archives, we find a sure sign of spring: when Charlie Porubsky was winding down chili season at his beloved deli!
WATCH HERE >>> https://www.wibw.com/2026/03/05/watch-video-vaultthink-spring/
