OSSIPEE - Memorial Day weekend is a big weekend for many local businesses, but for Donna Briden and Larry Figuerado, the weekend will be a landmark for them for years to come.  For more than a year now, they have been working to get their stone house ready for the public.

    Stone House Country, located in the granite house across from Kranky Franky's, will be opening its doors to the public for the first time ever this weekend, Briden said.  Briden, an interior designer, will be selling flower arrangements and other items with which to decorate a house.  All items for sale fit into a primitive or vintage country theme, including candles and candle holders, sconces, handcrafted folk art from Pennsylvania, shelving units, furniture, and textiles.  "These are one-of-a-kind things," Briden said, that can be used to decorate the inside or outside of a house.

    "Everything (you see in the house) is for sale," she said, from the curtains and the light fixtures to the switch plates.  "If you like [the vase] but don't like the flowers (that are in it), you can buy just the vase or put other flowers in there."  She also said that she will custom-arrange something for a customer, something that will work better with someone's particular room, than what she has on display.

    Briden said one of her goals in opening the store is to showcase how people can decorate their houses in a country style at an affordable price.  "There's something here for everyone at all prices," she said.  She will also be providing incentives for local residents to shop at her store, with a punch card that ends up being $10 off after 10 purchases.  There will also be a 10 percent discount on every retail item in the store during her grand opening weekend.

    Briden said she is invested in her community.  She is an active volunteer in the Ossipee Main Street Program and a member of the Ossipee Historical Society and the Greater Ossipee Area Chamber of Commerce, donating items for raffles and working to build a stronger business community.

    The family eventually moved from Roxbury, Mass. to Ossipee in 1825, got some help from a few men from Ossipee Pocket to build the house.  Eventually, Robinson Bertwell stayed, and the rest of the family moved to Parsonsfield, Maine.  The house got sold to Ada and Gerard Powers, who at one point owned Sunny Villa Restaurant across the street.
   
    While the outside of the house has changed little since it was first built, Figuerado has been working to restore the interior to a tasteful and historically accurate state.

    The floors and windows are still intact, and the barn is now attached to the house providing retail space for the many products now available in that space.

    Figuerado, a woodworker and mason by trade, has done most of the renovations himself.  His specialty is the renovation of old houses, having done nine to this point.

    At some point in the future, Briden said she would like to offer flower arrangement or simple and affordable interior design classes, so that there will be something going on year round at the house.  Briden has four years of experience in floral arrangement.

    During the summer months, there will also be a Victorian herb and flower cutting garden in front of the house.  People will be able to pick their own flower combinations to meet their own needs and styles.

    The grand opening will also be celebrated with daily raffles, special sales, and food throughout the weekend.  The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 25 to Monday, May 28.  Visit their website (www.stonehousecountry.com), email them at stonehousecountry@roadrunner.com, or call them at 539-6400 for more information.