Molly PavlovichAs if by fate, Ferne Hetrick once shared with her sons, Bruce and Homer, that if the Hetrick family farm were ever to be sold, it’d be a great location for a retirement community—a one-day vision that Messiah Lifeways was not privy to when we first inquired about the property.
“We’re blessed to have connected with the Hetricks and honored that our plans to expand the reach of our services for older adults will honor the hopes of Ferne and her family,” said Messiah Lifeways President & CEO Karl Brummer. “It feels like divine intervention.”
Messiah Lifeways purchased the Hetrick’s 85 acres of land, located off of Spangler Mill Road in New Cumberland, in October of 2023. And as we’ve learned more about the land and the life lived here through the reflections the brothers have thoughtfully shared, we fully embrace its past, present, and ongoing story—the land as it once was and as it will grow to be.
THE HISTORY
In 1948, the Hetrick family purchased the farmland—moving from their former residence in Camp Hill to the New Cumberland property with the hope of combining urban comfort with country charm. Matriarch of the family, Hetrick, who is Fernecrest’s namesake, along with her husband, Horace and their two sons, Bruce and Homer, set down roots here, making it home for many decades.
While the property evolved with the Hetricks as they updated their abode to suit their needs best, the broader landscape transformed tremendously over the decades too, including the development of several surrounding highways, the Capital City Mall, and other nearby shopping centers.
The land, often referred to as Fernecrest Farm, was used to harvest wheat, oats, and alfalfa. It also housed an array of animals and livestock, from chickens and sheep to bees and Shetland ponies, and most notably, peacocks. Esteemed in the local agricultural community, the Hetricks were even honored with hundreds of ribbons during state and national farm exhibits for the care and quality of their livestock.
The first pair of peacocks were a present to Ferne from a family friend and became a beloved addition that grew alongside their fondness for the free-roaming majestic creatures—caring for up to 10 at a time. As written in a 1974 Evening News article titled “Peacocks, Pea Hens are ‘Family’ on This Farm”: “More than watchdog or simple decoration, the birds serve, Mrs. Hetrick says, as a fascinating—and reassuring—display of life continuing.”
The Hetrick family long lived in the three-story stone and white clapboard farmhouse that overlooked the acres of land. A homemaker at heart, Ferne won awards for her cooking and baking and took pride in her well-designed home—mixing modern pieces with antiques and luxury with practicality.
The now timeworn home, which has stood vacant for more than a decade following Ferne’s passing in 2013, is the resting place for plentiful memories of life well-lived and land well-loved.
It was on this property that Ferne made strides for women in government—serving 12 years on the PA Historical and Museum Commission and appointed as its first Chairwoman. She shared in a January 1976 news article that her biggest accomplishment in this role was “getting the message across that it’s a people’s museum.”
Living the idyllic countryside childhood that Ferne hoped for her boys, Homer and Bruce remember riding ponies across the rolling greens and wooded patches, getting muddy by the Yellow Breeches Creek that flows alongside the farm’s property lines, and learning lessons of life while caring for the family’s livestock and crops.
THE FUTURE
As we break ground on this new campus of Messiah Lifeways, homage to the farm and the Hetrick family is not only seen in our name but also in countless tasteful touches that blend the old and the new. It will be seen in the wood beams—reclaimed from the family barn—that will add visual interest and a piece of history to our on-campus dining venue, Peacock Café & 1948. Plus, the natural beauty of the property will be maintained, including the wooded areas and creek bed, with walking trails, firepits, and overlooking patios added for optimal enjoyment.
Through a shared appreciation for the nurturing power of nature, the pursuit of passions and hands-on experiences, and choosing the path less traveled, the land of the Fernecrest community—in its past and future forms—will long remain a place where history is cherished and memories are made.
To further explore our plans for Fernecrest, including floorplans, amenities, upcoming events, and more, visit Fernecrest.org.
