OUR STORY

FOR RENT said the sign spread across the large front window. This is what started the dream and story of The Dolphin Song. It was a turn of the century bank building located on old highway 56 at the corner of Main and Elm streets in Gardner, Kansas. The idea to open a store, an environmentally conscious general store, was born in a town that was a major part in history as the crossroads for pioneers deciding whether to go the homesteaders way on the Oregon Trail or the business trade of the Santa Fe Trail.

The building was purchased by the Meisinger Family in February 1990 with the idea of opening it after making a few minor changes such as taking up the old carpeting, painting over the robin egg blue walls, and stocking it. It was not realized that upon removing the carpet we would find the original maple floor, this led to the treasure hunt of what else we could find that had been hidden by years of alterations. The tearing out of the old took nine months, which we did ourselves wheelbarrow load after wheelbarrow load; borrowing also from a friend his dump truck to collect the debris thrown from the second story window. Then off to the dump we would go. The minor changes turned into major changes that took three years to accomplish with a small crew lead by a true craftsman and friend, Bob McGrath.

With the renovation completed on all three floors The Dolphin Song was opened on Earth Day 1993 as an environmentally conscious general store. Even though the remodeling is completed the store has not finished growing and changing. This spring The Dolphin Song will have been in business for nine years, during that time it has been our intent to have hand made and low environmental impact merchandise in the store, including Spinning Earth Pottery, recycled hand blown glass, unique wooden toys, and items made from paper, wool, silk and other natural mediums. We are continually looking to expand the items we offer especially featuring local artists. Our goal, the same today as it was on that first day, is for the store to provide a venue that will promote an environment for us as human beings striving to live in harmony within ourselves and all creation.

Each new year brings continued growth and change, which we still find exciting, we hope you will as well. Thank you for visiting.

Sincerely,
The Meisinger Family