In the early 1900s, when members of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania chose a site for a retirement home, fertile soil was one of the main requirements. While that might seem odd, their intention was to make Masonic Villages self-sustaining.
Today, the Elizabethtown complex includes a beef herd, an orchard and plenty of bees across 1,400 acres. And, make no mistake, they all help to sustain the residents here. In fact, the cows are a daily topic of conversation for many residents.
"If you saw how many pictures there are of cows on my phone," laughs Sandra DePue, a resident since 2018.
"Sandra is our resident cow photographer," says Debra Davis, public relations manager for Masonic Villages.
DePue, a former fashion designer, uses the photos as references for her artwork. Every year, she sells them at a local fair, and she says the cow paintings are the first to go.
Even when she isn't photographing them, DePue still enjoys the cattle. "The cows are moved pasture to pasture, and the pastures are beautiful," she shares. "I love that I can hear the cows mooing here."
For Frank Miller, memories of the family dairy and time spent with his grandfather brought him to live at Masonic Villages. He and wife, Linda, moved here in 2018.
Source: dtnpf.com
Categories: Pennsylvania, General