It was a bright and beautiful fall day with a magnificent blue sky striking a dramatic contrast against the New England foliage at it's brilliant peak when Larry Bearfield came waltzing into the house and announced to his lovely wife Robin Emerson, who was busy cooking her loving husband a delectable multi-course dinner, "Honey, we're going to buy the store in the Town village center." OK, so I really don't remember if it was a bright and beautiful fall day and Robin wasn't cooking up a multi-course dinner. But she IS quite the lovely wife and I'm quite the loving husband if I do say so myself…. And I really did announce that we were going to buy the store. She cast a raised eyebrow, looked up at me and asked how much they were asking. "Well, it's not actually up for sale," I replied. "But let's approach them and make an offer!" She didn't say anything. See, after 20 years as business partners, she's pretty accustomed to my off-the-wall ideas. But this one seemed to resonate. And that's how it all began. A year later, on December 26, 2003 we acquired the business and on January 10, 2004 we opened the doors as Ferns Country Store. For that entire previous year we had set out across New England to research country stores. In our travels, however, we were surprised to discover that there really wasn't the ideal store we had imagined. So we had to create a composite from the little gems we discovered. Certainly, when we opened our doors, our local community walked in to find a very different establishment. Not only were things moved around, fresh paint on the walls brightened the space up, and the shelves were stocked with all sorts of new products. But most importantly, we set out to change the entire environment by bringing back the flavor of the old time village store that had graced our very spot since 1844. Above all else, beyond any of the physical attributes we may put into place, we believed that the true country store we were looking to establish was more of an attitude. And that belief led to the creation of our Mission Statement: "We are intently focused on creating the definitive business in the Town of Carlisle. We will facilitate the process by providing quality products at reasonable prices; Employees will be treated with respectful consideration; Customers with courteous appreciation; We will espouse positive values and ethics; We will contribute to the lifestyle of our town through our involvement with the community; As stewards of the property that is the core of our town center, we will add to the fabric of our towns image; Above all, we will endeavor to maintain the unique character of the Town of Carlisle." The paint on the walls, the products on our shelves, the way we greet and treat our customers, the support we provide to our community… all of it has its foundation rooted in that important statement. Each day remains an ever-evolving adventure. The warmth and support we continue to receive from our customers fuels our passion. And with each and every product we bring in or physical change we make, we remain true to our vision.