Garden Spot Village Resident Anna Harsh to Celebrate 100th Birthday

Community invited to send cards to honor former Lancaster County schoolteacher.

NEW HOLLAND, Pa. — Sept. 29, 2009 —Born in Salisbury Township on Nov. 2, 1909, Anna Snader Harsh lived all her life in Lancaster County. She was a schoolteacher for more than 40 years. Today, the staff at Garden Spot Village, where Harsh has lived since 1998, hopes that some of the students whose lives Harsh touched will send cards to help celebrate her 100th birthday.

“Anna’s friends and family are hosting a greeting card shower for her here at Garden Spot Village the day before her birthday,” said Marcia Parsons, skilled care social worker at Garden Spot Village. “It’s a special opportunity for people to celebrate the life of someone who gave so much to the community.”

Harsh grew up on a farm in the White Horse area, then later moved to another farm on Route 23 west of Groffdale. Before she was married, she taught all eight grades in the local country schools, including the Amish schools. World War II caused a shortage of teachers, so Harsh accepted a position teaching first through third grades at the school in Bareville. She also taught at Upper Leacock and Leola elementary schools.

She and her husband, Samuel, a correspondent for several local newspapers, moved into a new home in Bareville in 1936 and attended Leola Methodist Church. Anna Harsh lived in Bareville until 1998, when she moved to an apartment at Garden Spot Village. Today, Anna Harsh lives in a skilled nursing household at Garden Spot Village, where she remains happily involved in household activities. She helps make applesauce, strawberry jam and canned peaches. She is an avid Bingo player and enjoys outings to Lapp’s Dairy Farm and country rides. In May, she attended a Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game.

“I think she had the biggest smile out of the entire bunch,” Parsons said. “Anna is the most easy going 99-year-old I have ever met, and in my field I fortunately get to see 99-year olds. Anna never misses a chance to have fun and tease the staff. She has developed loving and trusting relationships here are Garden Spot Village.”

Anna has one daughter, MaryAnn Spahr, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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