Ferndale Store: A Time To Remember

Step into the Heart of Rockville, Indiana – One Story at a Time

Join author Donna B. Gray as she takes you on a heartfelt journey from bustling city life to the quiet charm of small-town living in Rockville, Indiana. Her favorite spot? The beloved Ferndale Store-a cozy country hub where stories are as plentiful as the homemade blackberry jam.

First opened in the late 1800s by two members of the Martin family, the Ferndale Store quickly became the beating heart of the community. In those early days, folks arrived by horse and buggy, ready to stock up on everything from canned goods and soap to fabric, tools, kerosene lamps, maple syrup, and warm, fresh bread.

But for Donna, the true treasure of the Ferndale Store wasn’t on the shelves-it was around the old woodstove. There, in a circle of well-worn chairs, she’d sit and listen to Brad, Bud, and Edwin Martin, three of Parke County’s earliest residents, as they spun tales of the “good olde days.”

Inside this book are over 30 true short stories, each one brimming with small-town wisdom, humor, and history. Told by Donna and the Martins, these stories paint a vivid picture of a simpler time-when neighbors were family and every visit to the store was a chance to connect.

It’s a warm, nostalgic read written by good people with great stories. Pull up a chair by the stove-you’re in for something special.