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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2019)
A18 NEWS Wallowa County Chieftain Wednesday, August 21, 2019 Small County store off ers big amenities whom stay at the hotel, pro- vided the inspiration for the store. Instructors at Hennes’ Prairie Mountain Folk School also helped. “We feel really lucky that we have such a great com- munity,” Tackett said. “We have a lot of people that helped us with the hotel, peo- ple who are artists, and peo- ple who make products, fur- niture and different things. I feel like we’re sharing a per- spective of art and culture that Joseph has as a town of the arts.” However, Tackett shared that the store’s cre- ative direction also offers a more modern and contempo- rary art perspective as well. “We thought that having an outlet for all of our creative community in a retail space and not just in a hotel would be awesome.” Tackett also gave a shout out to sawmill owner Jim Zacharias and 1917 Lum- ber who provided much of the material and fi nishing. Local quilt maker, Gail Hill- ock, has sewn a large quilt to use to separate the store and work space behind it. The space once housed Arrowhead Chocolates, and when refurbishing the future store area, the low ceiling was removed and restored to its former height and tran- som windows were installed to provide a greater view of the surrounding area — By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain A lot of action is happen- ing in Joseph on the Jennings Hotel block of Main Street in Joseph these days. The latest addition to the busi- ness world is the upcoming opening of “Small County,” a store dedicated to the fi ner things in life. Ashley Tackett is co-owner of the store with Greg Hennes, who owns the Jennings Hotel. The Small County moniker is not a slam; it refers to the popula- tion and rurality of Wallowa County. Tackett is from a small Indiana town that she left at 18. She later spent time in San Francisco, Eugene and Portland, working in architecture and hotel design, which is how she met Hennes. She moved to the Wallowa Valley three years ago. Her small town upbringing allows her to feel at home here in Joseph. It was while working with Hennes on the hotel that she thought about adding a retail component. “We live in the most beautiful state, and people from the west side tend to go to Cannon Beach or Bend and forget the whole state is really beautiful, especially at the corners,” Tackett said. The local community of artists and artisans, many of WALLOWA COUNTY Health Line 519 W. North Street, Enterprise 541.426.3413 Mon-Thurs 9 to Noon/1-5pm; Fri. 9-1 Hells Canyon Mule Days Dutch Oven Cookoff Have fun, demonstrate Dutch oven cooking skills, and introduce the public to the joys and fun of Dutch oven cooking. Teams may enter one dish in two entry categories. There will be cash awards for 1st and 2nd place, and a gift basket for the People’s Choice award. FMI: 541-263-0104 hellscanyonmuledays.com for entry form & more info. “We took our daughter to Dr. Allen on several occasions, and we were extremely happy with the care we received…” -Enterprise Mom Dr. Allen is a family practice physician and doctor of osteopathic medicine. Call Dr. Allen to schedule your appointment today! Steve Tool/Chieftain Greg Hennes (L) and partner Ashley Tackett stand inside one of the arches uncovered during the recent renovation of the downstairs of the Jennings Hotel at 100 N. Main St. in Joseph. The two are opening a retail store selling a number of amenities for hikers, picnickers, explorers and lovers of well-made items whether in Wallowa County or elsewhere. The store opened Saturday, Aug. 17. especially Mount Joseph. The former ceiling is now the fl oor of Small County. The hotel doesn’t have a front desk, so the store will also serve as an informal information booth that offers amenities to enhance the Wallowa County experience for visitors. Tackett noted that although many visitors come for the lake or to hike the mountain trails, she and Hennes love the prairie and canyons. “I feel like Wallowa County has all these amaz- ing people — guides and makers, but you have to be in the know to know where to go, so part of our dream is to have information avail- able not just for our guests, but for any guests or visi- tors,” Tackett said. “We can say, ‘Hey, you can check out so and so.’” As an example, she used honey from the 6 Ranch just outside of Enter- prise to tell inquiring visitors about the ranch’s farmstand or to recommend Wild Car- rot herbals in Enterprise. “It’s been great to work with locals and bring them into the fold,” Tackett said. The inventory is varied, and much of it dedicated to exploring Wallowa County or inspired by the folk school. For example, Oregon road atlases are offered, but so are hand-carved wooden spoons and spoon carving knives and axes in a display case. While local artisans have a large presence in the store, the store carries items from outside the area as well; for example, handmade brooms from a woman in Kentucky who grows her own broom corn. Literature is also part of the county’s heritage, and books, many local, are also offered, as are art supplies and notebooks. Behind the counter and display case is a large area to be temporarily used for stor- age, but the couple also has other plans for the space. “The long-term dream is to have workshops for the folk school in back, so peo- ple hopefully come in here and say, ‘Hey. what are those people doing,’” Tack- ett said. “It’s a great avenue for us to talk to people about folk school curriculum and upcoming courses. The cou- ple’s other dream is to utilize one bare wall in the back for seasonal art. In order to inspire visi- tors to explore the county, the store also offers gour- met picnicking supplies that include not only culi- nary items but the baskets as well. Also included are a pic- nic and “makeout” (yes, that kind of make out) map of the county that includes places for skinny-dipping as well. “It’s all of our favorite spots to do all of the above,” Tackett said with a laugh. Locals need not worry. “We’re not giving away any local hard core spots or secrets.” The store offers a nice selection of natural wines, pickles, meat, cheeses and other items to place in a pic- nic basket. If you don’t have a picnic basket or can’t afford one, the store also offers bas- ket rentals that come with a blanket. The store is also con- tributing to the local econ- omy as they have hired one employee and are looking for others to fi ll in on days here and there. “We’ve got a lot,” Tack- ett said. “We’re trying to wedge, weave together a story, a sense of place here. We feel lucky we have this awesome slice of Joseph, and we want to make it as good as possible.” Small County is located at 100 N. Main St., Unit A and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enterprise Farmers’ Market closes for the season Joseph Saturday market continues through Oct. 12 By Ellen Morris Bishop Wallowa County Chieftain This year the Wallowa County Farmers’ Mar- ket has offered fresh pro- duce, locally made soaps and other items on the third Thursday of every month at the Wallowa County Courthouse. The Market chose to be open on Thursdays to be in conjunction with the Thursday evening Court- house Concerts. August 15 was the last Enterprise Farmer’s Mar- ket of the season. The Sat- urday Farmer’s Market in Joseph continues through October 12. Ellen Morris Bishop Vendors at the Thursday Farmers’ Market in Enterprise included Alder Slope Nursery with a variety of plants and vegetables. 541-426-7900 603 Medical Parkway (next to Wallowa Memorial Hospital) Enterprise, Oregon 97828 We treat you like family 601 Medical Parkway, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3111 • www.wchcd.org Wallowa Memorial Hospital is a equal opportunity mployer and provider SPACE RESERVATION DEADLINES people with disabilities? Care for adults in your home or as a separate business. Lisa Barlow, 541-889-7553 Ext 655 or Tony Boyd 541-963-7276 Ext 342 Matt Brockam es p to the week honor go This week’s athlete of t Brockamp. In addition h, Mat Wallowa football coac ccessful football program, the su to running a highly on a week early in order to run coach started his seas football camp for grade school a four-day Cougar ayers, assisted by their high and junior high pl school counterparts. udly Pro onsore d b y p S Adult Foster Home Licensors 209 NW First St., Enterprise • 541-426-4567 201 E. Hwy 82, Enterprise • 541-426-0320 www.edstaub.com WEEK Contact Jennifer Cooney at jcooney@wallowa.com • 541-805-9630 Do you have a passion to care for have older a adults Do you passion and to care for with older disabilities? adults and people OF THE for weekly advertising is 5pm Friday for the following week. Ad copy is DUE on Monday at 10am. Ads MUST be approved by Tuesday at NOON. ATHLETE Mountain View Medical Group
