Our History

1908 Siler's Sugar Shanty was started by Robert J Siler with 300 buckets and a stone arch using flat pans. Sap was collected using a horse drawn sleigh.

1940 A new shanty was constructed with a 4X12 arch using English Tin pans for faster evaporation. As the years passed the sugar operation expanded.

1944 John (Robert's son) and his wife Elizabeth took over the sugar bush.

1960 John advanced to the tubing system on the steepest hills where buckets were not feasible.  He also switched from a horse drawn cart to collect sap to using a tractor with a small gathering wagon.

1977 Joe (John's son) and his wife Mary joined John and Elizabeth in the maple operation.

1982 The shanty burned. In order to not suffer a total loss for the season, the Siler's built a temporary shanty to finish out the maple season.  That summer a new sugar shanty was built.  It was large enough to house 2(5X14) evaporators.  The sugar bush had grown to 3200 taps.

1990 Joe and Mary took the sugar bush over when John and Elizabeth retired.

1992 The Siler's built a new shanty roadside.  Joe purchased one of the first reverse osmosis machines used in sugaring. This machine is used to separate water and sap for faster boiling.

1993 The Siler's added maple creme, maple sugar, maple jelly and maple granulated sugar to our product shelf.

1995 The Siler's, along with 11 other producers, joined together to start Maple Sunday to allow the public an opportunity to tour the sugar shantys. Since that date Maple Sunday has turned into maple weekend.  Every year the Siler's enjoy opening the sugar house to the public.  Check out www.mapleweekend.com for more details! 

2004 Joe Jr. joined forces. We now have a total of 8000 taps and we sell our maple products around the world.

2008 will mark our 100th anniversary!  Come and celebrate making it the best year to remember.