Count down, week 2.

Its looking like a store!

This last week is the week that it really got exciting. Merchandise started arriving, our Point of Sales and Inventory system was being loaded up, we had our first meeting with staff, many decorative touches were being put into place AND the kitchen construction is completed!  Our preliminary inspection for the store and kitchen has been scheduled for this coming Tuesday and once we get past that, then we wait for our licenses.  

Dare we say we are shooting for a soft opening next week-end, the 29th – 1st?! If the stars align it could happen!

Meanwhile the dedicated CCM LLC management team and their volunteers continue to paint around the Feed Loft rooms outside of the kitchen, to be finished this week=end.

This last week we also had continued to taste, and make tastes, perfecting recipes and sourcing yummy stuff to stock the shelves.  We were still meeting with artisans and soap providers to stock the shelves.  And who knew that Canterbury had so many talented soap makers?!  We hope to showcase everyone eventually in one way or another…

The vegetarian sandwich taste-off with Casey. We got a thumbs up!

The surprise installation of the timber we showed you last week is complete.  Ta Da! This is a privacy/weather wall put in place at the front door so that if you are sitting at the window table you will not be blasted with air as the front door opens and closes. This was the brain storm of Kevin Bragg [he is really brilliant] and Dave, executed by Chance, Jared, Steve and Sue.

Here is the story about the timber itself.  As you may know, Canterbury resident Steve Fifield is a heritage building restoration expert – we have all been grateful for his part in the preservation of so many New Hampshire historical buildings.  He has a personal collection of antique timber from which our wall came. The large side posts are beams that Steve rescued from a 1830’s barn in New Hampton, NH  that had fallen into disrepair.  The top beam is from the 1796 Amherst, NH Congregational church.  It was the connecting girt between the posts that supported the octagonal belfry.  Note that huge mortise/tenon end.  Our own Sue Hardt, who formerly worked here at the Canterbury Country Store, now works with Steve along with Betty his wife.

The rest of the wall story…  Most of you will remember the old barn across the road from the store to the right of the cemetery.  It belonged with the “Ames House” across the road from it, once the same piece of property.  It was constructed c. 1748 and had been used by the Fellows family since before the civil war.  During the Great Depression it was sold to Sabin Guertin and family so we have always referred to it as the Guertin barn.  It too fell into disrepair and several years ago Steve determined it could not be saved so it came down, BUT most of the timber was saved into Chance Anderson’s personal collection.  The boards at the bottom of the wall are from this barn.  We love that we have a bit of this barn still here in town center.

Much will be happening this week-end to push us over the finish line.  We are accepting craft from all of our artisans to display on the shelves next week, Jane is finishing the mural in the public bathroom, the history graphics will be applied to middle room wall and the Feed Loft will be finished painting. Like always, there are a myriad of other construction details that will fall into line over the week-end and into next week. STAY TUNED FOR NEW POSTS next week!

---

We are thinking pumpkins…

Support all our local farmers. Pay a lot to buy their pumpkins. With all the rain it was a really tough year for growing pumpkins; all farmers lost at least 1/2 of their crops.

Enjoy this turning of the seasons and we will see you very soon!

Your storekeepers, Jane and Dave