Naples celebrated a sweet chapter of its history on Friday by unveiling a historic marker dedicated to its famed grape pie during National Historic Marker Day. Installed by the Naples Historical Society, the marker highlights the village’s transformation from a wine-producing town to the “grape pie capital of the world,” a title rooted in a tradition that began in 1959 when Al and Frieda Hodges of the Redwood Restaurant introduced the now-iconic Concord grape pie.
The marker recounts how a waitress named Olge perfected the original recipe, sparking a booming demand that led other local bakers like Irene Bouchard and Ruby Fried to join the movement. Bouchard, famously known as “the grape pie lady,” produced hundreds of pies each October, while Fried expanded the tradition with creations like grape ketchup and grape conserve. Today, thousands of grape pies are baked annually, with the legacy celebrated each fall during the Naples Grape Festival, scheduled this year for September 27–28, and a Grape Pie Making Workshop on September 13.
Trish Lambiase, President of the Naples Historical Society, credited a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for making the marker possible. After extensive archival research, the Society secured the funding in 2024, ensuring the marker’s grand debut coincided with National Historic Marker Day. The event not only honored Naples’ culinary tradition but also showcased the community’s dedication to preserving and celebrating its unique history.
