According to many sources, including the US Census, retail corporations, and of course, hear say, Mother’s Day is the peak day for long distance phone calls; the busiest day at restaurants; the second highest gift-giving holiday following Christmas; and participated in by almost 96% of Americans. Believe what you will, but it sounds right to us. And guess what? West Chester plays a small part in this mom-tastic holiday!

West Chester’s role in the creation of the holiday¦

Anna Jarvis was so moved by her mother, Ann Jarvis, that she spent years tirelessly working towards the establishment of a celebration of America’s mothers “ an accomplishment still in practice today.

Anna Jarvis hailed originally from Virginia, but moved to Philadelphia in 1902. After her mother’s death, Jarvis (with the help of Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist John Wanamaker) welcomed the arrival of Mother’s Day in 1908. She spent most of her life commercialization. Jarvis was greatly unhappy with the way florists and greeting card companies had chosen to exploit the popular holiday- she was even arrested and tried in court for her public disturbances! Jarvis thought that pre-made greeting cards were, well, lame – just a way to send a letter you were too lazy to write yourself.

Towards the end of her life, Jarvis was sent by friends to spend the last of her years in – cough, pay attention, cough “ the Marshall Square Sanitorium, in, you guessed it, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

See… our town is SO well connected.