There is a little country store packed with vintage goods, antiques, homemade soaps and love opening in the Corryton community. The little slice of a country market, called Becky’s Hen House, will host a Grand Opening event on Saturday, September 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the family out, discover the new business, and be treated to complimentary hot dogs, chips, drinks, and cookies, not to mention a chance to shop at Snow Cone Eddie with his legendary snow cones and Ada Bee’s Boutique with clothing, hats and jewelry.

Bridget Calfee is the owner of Becky’s Hen House. The venture came about from her late mother-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Calfee, who loved to craft and was well known in the Gibbs area for her delightful cooking and bargain hunting skills. Bridget shares that her mission is to provide a country home feel with unique items and gifts as unique as Becky was.

In 2014, Becky originally opened the Hen House to provide women a place to shop, take crafting classes, and chit chat over a meal. Becky made homemade gift cards and a variety of soaps and lotions to sell; the ladies shopping at her store loved it.

On occasion, she would welcome the senior citizens of Gibbs to come for lunch and feed them for free. When she held basket-making classes, she would spend more money on the ingredients to make the food than the profit she made from the class. Becky was not in it for the money, she liked the fellowship and doing for others in her community. She had a huge giving heart.

Becky was married to Ronnie Calfee for forty-eight years, and they had three children together; Matthew, Jeremy, and Nathan. From the boys, they had eleven grandchildren, which Becky adored very much. She was always talking about her boys or her grandbabies, ask anyone who visited the store.

Sadly, in March 2019, Becky was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and it was throughout her body. She only survived until April 4. When she found out she had cancer she said, “What is going to happen to my little hen house?” Her son and Bridget’s husband, Matt Calfee, assured her the family would do its best at getting it up and running again. Once she passed away, her husband, Ronnie suggested changing the name to Becky’s Hen House in remembrance of the wonderful soul that created it from the ground.

Bridget works a full time job with Union County Public Schools, therefore the Hen House is only open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For convenience, there is a website for shopping when the shop is closed. Not far in the future, Bridget hopes to host basket weaving, painting and couponing classes, but for right now, the store has a lovely assortment of antiques, homemade items, home decorations and gifts. The handmade soaps are made by Bridget and her niece Teagan Calfee. The antiques were mostly purchased by Becky herself.

The shop has the warm rustic feeling of a traditional country store. The bathroom door is even one of an outhouse, which Becky came up with in her creativity. The community loved Becky as she was always doing something to help in some way. Becky loved the Gibbs community and was a giver in many ways.
Bridget says, “I think people will come to the Hen House to remember Becky and to get to know me and to see what changes I have made.” She has created a memorial area in the Hen House for Becky with some baskets that she made in some of her classes. This way if someone asks “Are you Becky?,” she can smile and show and tell them about her. Bridget sends out a warm thanks to all the family and friends for their love and support.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phillippians 4:13, is the scripture Bridget keeps in mind as she takes on the endeavor of reopening the little Hen House. Stop in for a visit and an old country welcome at 7917 East Emory Road, Corryton, via phone at 865-216-4334, or on the web at www.BeckysHenHouseCorryton.com