William Polvinale volunteers with the Jefferson High School baseball team to help stir apple butter at the fire department last week. Toni Milbourne

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Each October, folks from far and wide await the annual Apple Butter Festival at the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department. For more than 30 years, the department has carried on the tradition of making apple butter during the last week of the month.

That tradition was upheld once again last Saturday, as community volunteers turned out to produce just over 4,200 jars of the tasty treat. Jars were quickly disappearing from the sale table; however, many are still available at a cost of only $8 per quart.

The funds raised from the event, according to SVFD Treasurer Denny Barron, go into the company’s general fund to cover operational costs.

According to Barron, Domino sugar once again donated the sugar used to make the apple butter this year. Barron contends that the use of Domino sugar helps give the apple butter its flavor, which ensures the fire department will not switch to a cheaper brand. The original recipe, which came from Naomi Miller, called for Domino sugar, and sticking to the recipe is what continues to make the best product.

Kettles were set up inside the engine bay last week, staffed by dozens of volunteers from both the fire department and various other Jefferson County-based organizations.

As always, members of the Jefferson High School baseball team could be found stirring kettles.

“This is a great opportunity for the kids to give back to the community and to get community service time,” said Coach John Lowery. “It also creates togetherness and a sense of team spirit.”

That team spirit could also be seen with members of the JHS softball and football teams, as those players returned to take turns stirring the aromatic kettles.

Members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Brothers of Harmony Lodge #42 were also return volunteers who spent hours at the station helping out.

“We are here every year to give back to the community and to support our local fire department,” said Brothers Harmony Lodge member Bernard Fennell.

Along with the apple butter bubbling away in the engine bay, crafters and vendors returned to the social hall this year to offer their wares, as shoppers began to look ahead to the holiday season. The vendors were absent in 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and were happy to return this year.

Additional fire department volunteers provided breakfast and lunch fare for guests at the SVFD station.

Quarts of apple butter are currently available for purchase at several locations in Shepherdstown, including the fire department.