While growing up in Clifton Park, Carrie Shea idealized the hamlet of Charlton - just 25 minutes away, yet a seemingly magical, faraway land.

“Charlton is so rich in history, and I love history!” said Carrie. “Character exudes from these homes and it just calls to me.”

After spending more than a decade working in Manhattan, she, and husband, John, chose Charlton to call home. They settled into the charming town in 2019 and have been raising their two sons in a circa 1791 historic farmhouse that, since late Spring 2023, has also been home to Sugarbush Lane Mercantile, an intentional collection of home goods celebrating American history, and the Charlton community.

Capturing the Imagination

When Carrie Shea started furnishing 2022 Maple Avenue, she was not just building a home, she was creating a legacy.

One that comes with her Nana’s vintage tea cart and a bench by the door welcoming visitors to Sugarbush Lane Mercantile. Here, the symmetry and enduring charm of colonial architecture is blended with a nostalgia for bygone eras that captures our imaginations.

Deeply rooted Americana, the mural flanking the central staircase, painted in 1995, features the local landscape and structures significant to the home’s previous family, including the house, Charlton Road to Maple Avenue, the Saratoga Race Course, and Saratoga Golf and Polo Club.

“They took such pride in the home and paid great attention to its preservation and restoration,” said Carrie. Built in three sections, the central structure is original, and the entire home exhibits original flooring, windows, and fireplaces spanning three centuries.

A Mercantile is Born

Appreciating the authenticity and enduring character of a historic home is something Carrie enjoys sharing with the community.

As she started putting the pieces together and her vision began materializing, Carrie “put the pedal to the metal” and in May 2023 was issued a stamp of approval to open her shop, just in time for the town’s annual Founder’s Day celebration.

Carrying a limited assortment of items until their grand opening in September, “by the grace of God” everything came together in time for the holiday season, she said.

That Rare Find

Carrie has maximized the space in a way that appeals to contemporary sensibilities, and the shop’s arrangement promotes a flow that accommodates both daily life and special occasions.

Prominent wooden furniture displays dressed in a marriage of high quality faux and locally harvested greenery, highlights a fully stocked pantry of local honey, syrup, handcrafted artisan goods, and tasty blends from Upstate Coffee Roasters and Saratoga Tea and Honey, crockery, custom gifts, vintage accents, tiny enchantments, and everyday staples. Carrie also enjoys sourcing from local family businesses such as the Ellms Family Farm and the Farm Store at Tiashoke for her seasonal outdoor displays.

From the brass bells to the wooden sleigh and skis, these pieces were chosen because they possess a story, functionality, and timeless design that captures the essence of America’s heritage.

“I’m an old soul with a sentimental heart that’s drawn to things – items, homes, and people – with a story,” said Carrie, something, she said, that “can be a lot more difficult to come by these days.”

In November, Carrie invited Pantry Hill’s Darien Rozell to share the special gift of her homemade vanilla extract - then to celebrate the holiday season - Carrie secured an antique one-horse-open-sleigh from the New York Catskills and parked it out front along with some oversized bells, as a jolly “Ho! Ho! Ho!” to passersby.

Keeping the magic of the holiday alive, Carrie opened the doors to the historic dining room and invited the community to “Storytime with Mrs. Claus,” providing a delightful opportunity to sit by the home’s huge hearth sipping hot chocolate and nibbling cookies.

Sugarbush Lane Mercantile, a family first business, is open Fridays 3pm – 6pm, Saturdays 11am – 5pm, and Sundays 12pm – 5pm. For more information, follow along on Instagram @sugarbushlanemerc, on Facebook @sugarbushlanemercantile, and online at sugarbushlane.com