It was an unseasonably hot day in Vermont when a colleague, Anna Sutton, and I made a trip to Montpelier to visit Anne Sarcka, the daughter of Spring Lake Ranch (SLR) founders Wayne and Elizabeth Sarcka. Her home, tucked into a stately Victorian, was cool and inviting. We sat at the kitchen table and inevitably started with a discussion of the heat, then moved into the history of Vermont’s weather. Anna and I are both transplants from hot southern states, so we have a keen interest in tales of Vermont winters. Anne said she remembered the snow being so deep that she and friends would slide off SLR’s sugar house roof into drifts reaching the eaves.
Anne grew up at Spring Lake Ranch, not moving away until her teen years. She has fond memories of this place as a haven, miles away from all that was happening in the world. We agreed how thankful we are that such a place exists not only for residents but for us—employees and family, who spend partial lifetimes “on the hill.”
In Darkness, Still Joy, acrylic on canvas 2025
Eventually our conversation turned to art. We had just visited her exhibition of acrylic paintings at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, and we were eager with questions. When did she start painting? Who inspired her?
Her first foray into art took place at the Putney School where students were introduced to a variety of genres. It was here that she took up sculpting, following in the footsteps of her dad who sculpted marble extracted by the Proctor Marble Company. She later studied drawing and painting at Antioch College and eventually moved to NYC, where she taught art but also turned her eye toward social work and community organizing, this time inspired by her mom who had done much the same in New York years earlier. Eventually, in the 1970s, she made her way home to Vermont, moving to Montpelier where she served as director of the Vermont Commission on Women and program director for the Vermont Arts Council.
As we rummaged through histories and memories at the kitchen table, Anne seemed content to downplay some of her valuable work over the years, while I became more of an Anne fan each moment. In her life, she created (and still creates!) multi-disciplined works of art and helped students do the same, she fought the War on Poverty, assisted women in their struggle for equity, and published two books detailing her parents’ lives at SLR and beyond. At the age of 95, Anne still maintains an art studio outside of her home, is a board member for Spring Lake Ranch, and takes part in all that Montpelier has to offer, evidenced by her great suggestions for food throughout town. She also happily sets aside time to meet with interested folks like Anna and myself.
While we were there specifically to learn about Anne, I was surprised and delighted when she asked about our art. How did she know that Anna and I each had creative backgrounds? Our current roles at the Ranch are in Development & Communications and many of our coworkers have no idea we’ve studied and created art. I can only assume she googled our names or inquired about us in preparation for our get-together, another testament to her generous and humble nature.
I left her house feeling light in the heavy heat. The short visit reminded me of one of the reasons I love Vermont—the people are notably interesting, while being kind and welcoming. At least that’s what I’ve found when talking to anyone who has played a role at SLR. If you’d like to know more about the family who started this beautiful Ranch, check out Strong Spirit, Steadfast Heart: The Life and Times of Elizabeth Man Sarcka, compiled by Anne Sarcka and Laura Jinishian, and Giving a Lift in Time: a Finnish Immigrant’s Story by Wayne A. Sarcka with Elizabeth Man Sarcka.
*Photo of Anne Sarcka taken by John Lazenby
