- Penn's store has a life of its own, and we are stewards only.

We almost have no control over it.

(Calm Music) I grew up on a farm in northern Casey County, Kentucky.

But I guess the most important thing in my life was Penn's store.

The Penn family took Penn's Store over in 1850.

It's been in my family, and we've been running it 169 years.

My twin sister and I were the sixth generation.

She was actually going to take over Penn's Store and operate it.

She had a passion for the store, and she was wonderful in the store.

In the year 2000, my twin sister passed away unexpectedly.

We were very close.

And then my mother had a heart attack.

I was living away from here in Nashville, and at that point, I knew I had to come home.

I knew I had to come back.

So hard for me to believe that I'm the last person in the line.

Typically, the store is open on Sundays from 1 to 5 until the last person leaves.

We didn't have running water here, so we didn't have indoor restroom here.

It's your classic one-holer.

We have had a snake that has been visiting.

You know, it has all the, the basic necessities.

The purpose of the lime is essentially to break down what has been deposited in the hole.

We did have some folks who did not know what the lime was, and they actually used it as talcum powder.

We used to laugh and say that we solve all the problems of the world here at Penn's Store.

(Laughing) (Honky Tonk music) (Lyrics) To me... I don't like talking to myself Oh no don't talk to me Don't like talking to myself, oh (easy guitar picking) - (Dawn) I honestly believe it has a lot to do a lot with the people that are here.

In Kentucky, it's almost like they don't like to give it up.

I think that's one of the reasons why you have people that have been able to hang on for so long in areas that it doesn't make sense to hang on in.

Maybe that's why we've hung on as long as we have in a way.

I like to think that it is an obligation, but there's also the fact that you just don't want to give in.

It's like my sister said.

She said, “I sure would hate to be the last Penn to close Penn's Store.” Hey, buddy.

I think Kentucky has made me feel like I can't give it up.

You know, my mother and I used to talk about how death, dying, and illness always brought people back or held people here in this family to hold on to the farm or to hold on to the store and to keep it going.

(Singing) Hold on to your dreams whatever they may be.

Hold on to your dreams and you'll surely see.

And nothing's as bad as it may seem just as long as you hold on to your dreams.

hold on to your dreams whatever they may be.