Books & Art on Main, a new bookstore located at 692 Main Street, Plymouth, CT, is pleased to announce its opening in this new year!

The store offers used and new books (fiction, nonfiction, art, crafts, gardening, cooking, home, history, religion, Bibles, children’s books), plus journals, framed art, art supplies, and giftware.

“A new year is the perfect time to discover a new passion or hobby,” says proprietor Robert Schwalb. “Some people aspire to a reading challenge, such as reading 100 books during the year. A 2016 Yale study, recently cited in the news source Axios.com, suggests that developing a reading habit may actually help lengthen life, especially for those over 50.”

“Journaling, too, can benefit folks in so many ways, from boosting your mood on gray winter days to furthering self-discovery. We have a variety of journals in the store.” (https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-journaling#takeaway).

“Trying your hand at an art project can also help reduce stress and aid in self-expression. We have colored pencils, sketchbooks, paints, paper, brushes, most anything you might need to get creative,” says Schwalb. https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies

“And a new year is a fantastic time to start a new venture, such as a bookstore,” says Schwalb. “Books & Art on Main is located in a historic Colonial Revival building that once housed the Plymouth Library. We’re thrilled to be able to operate in this beautiful building, which was constructed in 1932, amazingly during the height of the Great Depression.

“The building is truly a gem, with a gorgeous Palladian window, intricately crafted woodwork, and a magnificent fireplace. The architect and contractor even carved their names on the fireplace overmantel.

“Thanks to folks from the Plymouth Historical Society and local history buffs, we keep learning more and more about the library’s history. For example, we learned that the original library—housed in a different building that was destroyed by fire—was founded in 1871 by Congregational clergyman Reverend Elias Brewster Hillard (1825–1895), apparently known, back in the day, as a ‘man of fire’ for his efforts to improve life in Plymouth and Litchfield County. Reverend Hillard was also the grandfather of Pulitzer Prize-, Tony Award-, and National Book Award-winning poet, dramatist, and Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish, who died in 1982. Reverend Hillard himself compiled an important book, The Last Men of the Revolution, a photographic album of the last living survivors of the American Revolution, which was published in Hartford in 1864, during the Civil War,” says Schwalb.

“We opened unofficially during the holiday season and have been warmly welcomed by members of the community, who are happy that their former library building has a new lease on life, and that its legacy of providing a home for books in Plymouth is continued.”

Schwalb and his wife Sue have worked in book publishing and art and design for many years and previously operated a bookstore in Bantam, CT.

Books & Art on Main is located at 692 Main Street, Plymouth, CT, in the Plymouth Historic District. Winter hours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Parking is available behind the shop and along the nearby Plymouth Green. Website: booksandartonmain.com. For more information, email [email protected], or call 347-813-0777.

Books & Art on Main
692 Main St., Plymouth, CT 06782
booksandartonmain.com
347-813-0777