The Hensley Homestead

Mary Beth Sallee

Editor

Hart Co. News-Herald

 

There’s a familiar sense of comfort that greets you the moment you step onto the porch of The Hensley Homestead – a feeling that you’re not just entering a place to shop, but a place where memories live.

For decades, the brick farmhouse that sits in the Monroe community of Canmer was home to Douglas and Judy Hensley, a place where music and singing filled the rooms and every corner held generations of laughter and memories made over the years.

 Though the couple has since passed, their family has preserved their legacy by transforming their home into a shop that offers not only vintage finds and handcrafted treasures, but also highlights the history that made this house a home.

Stephanie Hensley, the owner and namesake by marriage, is the driving force behind the transformation. A full-time music and art teacher at Cub Run Elementary, Stephanie had long dreamed of owning a boutique.

“I opened a small clothing shop in my basement about three years ago, which I opened to the public four to five times a year,” Stephanie said. “Otherwise, I sold online and did custom t-shirt orders.”

However, after the passing of her in-laws, Douglas and Judy, an unexpected opportunity was presented to Stephanie.

“My sister-in-law Monica and her husband Tim Sexton approached me about turning her parents’ house into a business,” Stephanie said. “Although it was exciting, I wasn’t sure I could manage running my own business while continuing to teach school…After a few weeks of consideration, and an overwhelming support from family and friends, I decided to take the plunge and go for the goal.”

From that moment on, The Hensley Homestead began to take shape.

Stephanie, with the help of family members, cleaned the home and sorted through 87 years’ worth of Douglas and Judy’s belongings after Douglas’ passing on March 3 of this year.

“For four months, I worked everyday at the house. Some days it may have only been 30 minutes, other days between 2 and 10 hours,” Stephanie said. “The transition of flipping this house was a very hard task but was truly amazing. Once the personal belongings were divided among family and the house was cleaned out, we began tearing out carpets and old fixtures in the house. Much to my surprise, there were beautiful hardwood floors beneath the layers of old carpet and laminate floorings.”

The transformation also included laying new floors, installing new fixtures, cleaning and painting walls, putting in new trim, pressure washing and painting outdoor porches/surrounding buildings, and much more.

“Through many hours of sweat and some tears, I enjoyed every second of flipping this house into my dream boutique,” Stephanie said.

Today, the Hensley Homestead offers a variety of boutique items, including clothing, jewelry, and accessories. An antique room is stocked with name-brand glassware and vintage treasures. Guests can also enjoy glass-bottled drinks and pre-packaged snacks.

In what Stephanie described as a very emotional process, she and the entire family made sure Douglas and Judy’s presence remains throughout the shop.

“We are so honored to be able to keep Douglas and Judy’s memory alive through the establishment of The Hensley Homestead,” Stephanie said. “…Through this establishment, Douglas and Judy’s family can forever have a place to visit where their memories of their mom and dad and granny and papa will never die.”

Several of Douglas and Judy’s belongings are displayed throughout the house, including two chairs – one for each of them – sitting in front of the fireplace.

Perhaps the most meaningful item that remains in the house is the 50+ year old refinished piano, once the heart of the home for gospel music gatherings. It now proudly displays the old Hensley Quartet albums.

“The keys on the old piano were broken, and it was in an overall bad condition,” Stephanie said. “I gutted the piano, sanded, painted, and added shelves inside of it. That old piano was the pillar of the Hensley family for many years, and the memories of Douglas and Judy will continue to live on.”

When considering that Douglas and Judy would think of their home now being a place for others to shop, Stephanie shared a comment made by Douglas’ sister, Delores Nunn.

“Judy was a shopper. She would be so excited to know that her home is now a place for people to visit and shop. I just wish she could be here to be a part of it,” Stephanie said. “Douglas, on the other hand, might think a little differently. When his sister Delores visited after we opened, she laughed and said, ‘Judy would just love all of this, but Douglas on the other hand would say, ‘Is all of this really necessary?’’”

For the Hensley family, selling the house was never an option they considered. Keeping it in the family – and open to the community that Douglas and Judy called home – felt like the only path forward.

“Douglas and Judy  Hensley were such well respected people in the Monroe community and surrounding areas,” Stephanie said. “I think our establishment will forever keep their memory alive for all of those who knew and loved them.”

The Hensley Homestead is located at 7788 Defries Road in Canmer and is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with special holiday pop-up events and themed weekends announced on their Facebook page. This summer, they’ll host a Back-to-School Event on August 1st and 2nd, featuring school apparel for Hart, Green, Barren, Caverna, and Glasgow schools. Their grand opening is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, and the first annual Monroe Days Festival is planned for October 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details will be revealed soon.

Though The Hensley Homestead offers a place for others to shop, its true purpose runs much deeper. It is a testament to the past, a place where memories and community become intertwined. More than anything, The Hensley Homestead is a reflection of what Douglas and Judy Hensley built together – family, faith, and a home where love and memories still linger in every room.