May 29, 2016

Montague Bookmill (Montague, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 28, 2016

Location: 440 Greenfield Rd, Montague, MA

Hours: Mon-Wed 10 a.m. -6 p.m., Thu-Sun 10 a.m. 8:00 p.m.

Parking:  there is lots of parking on the side and back of the book store.  There is also a lot across the street from the bookstore.

Montague Book Mill

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Do you like books?  How about mills?  Then I have just the place for you.  But, this is no ordinary book store.  A former gristmill now operating as a used book store, the Bookmill has gone through many changes throughout its history.  But, it still keeps true to its beginnings.  The structure is largely the very same one that operated as a mill so long ago and the brook that runs along the two floor book shop is the very same one they used to power the gristmill so long ago.

Upon arriving at the Bookmill, the first thing you notice is the brook fed by a waterfall adjacent to the shop.

A short easy to walk path takes you to the source of the stream of water.

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The short waterfall and stream can be pretty fast in some spots.  But, when I came to visit it slowed down after it plummeted down the waterfall.

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After the short walk back up the trail, you can access the bookstore by a wooden walkway with some more views of the waterfall and stream.

Or, you can just walk straight across (the easier route, less scenic route).

The great thing about the Bookmill is that it has kept much of the original charm and design of the past.  Narrow stairwells and cozy corners are the hallmark of the shop.  Memorabilia, such as old style typewriters, are scattered throughout the store.  The staff doesn’t rush you nor do you feel a sense that profit is their main driver.  Service and a respect for books seems to be the most important thing t the staff.  It’s a great place for any book lover and anyone who loves to lounge around historic places.

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They even have newspaper clippings and memorabilia along the walls in the more private areas.

The Bookmill is not the only shop in the area.  In the shopping area there is also a cafe, The Lady Killigrew Cafe, located next to the book store and The Alvah Stone, a restaurant. There are also two art studios and an entertainment/media store called Turn It Up.  Turn It Up specializes in selling cd’s, dvd’s, vinyl and even cassette tapes.  They also sell other memorabilia.  It’s a unique store in a very unique shopping area.

The owner of Turn It Up let me photograph his 10 year old  dog and part owner, Daisy.

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Below is a video of the waterfall and stream next to the Bookmill.

Please stop by and connect with me on my Facebook page: New England Nomad

 

About New England Nomad

Hi I'm Wayne. Welcome to my blog. I am a true New Englander through and through. I love everything about New England. I especially love discovering new places in New England and sharing my experiences with everyone. I tend to focus on the more unique and lesser known places and things in New England on my blog. Oh yeah, and I love dogs. I always try to include at least one dog in each of my blog posts. I discovered my love of photography a couple of years ago. I know, I got a late start. Now, I photograph anything that seems out of the ordinary, interesting, beautiful and/or unique. And I have noticed how every person, place or thing I photograph has a story behind it or him or her. I don't just photograph things or people or animals. I try to get their background, history or as much information as possible to give the subject more context and meaning. It's interesting how one simple photograph can evoke so much. I am currently using a Nikon D3200 "beginner's camera." Even though there are better cameras on the market, and I will upgrade some time, I love how it functions (usually) and it has served me well. The great thing about my blog is you don't have to be from New England, or even like New England to like my blog (although I've never met anyone who doesn't). All you have to like is to see and read about new or interesting places and things. Hopefully, you'll join me on my many adventures in New England! View all posts by New England Nomad
This entry was posted on Sunday, May 29th, 2016 at 10:05 pm and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and posted in historical, history, Massachusetts, store, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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