Charlie Kerns was famous in his time for operating what was called "Kerns Fur Farm." He sold fur coats and stoles, along with jewelry from a room in his home near Roanoke, WV. In 1959, he won the Silver Mink Award for selling more than $1 million worth of furs in a year, the most of anyone in West Virginia.

Mr. Kerns was born in 1884 and died in 1959. Worked for the telephone company and was a farmer and fur coat seller. Buried in the Peterson Cemetery, Lewis County, WV.

One of the fur coats he sold is currently on display in the library. It will be featured alongside an article during our History Open House, once the weather allows us to host the event.