We are very proud of our history here at Whitlock’s. From becoming a household name, to being featured in the New York Times, the barn has not fell short in gaining the attention of book lovers from all over.
A Video History of Whitlock’s Book Barn
History
5 thoughts on “History”
Hi Norm & Staff,
I came across your website recently. I grew in East Lyme and in the 1970s and 1980s my Dad (who was an avid reader) took me there when I was a young boy on many Sundays through my teen years. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I ever had. To me, your shop was magical as I saw it filled with, as a I told my Dad then, “a gazillion stories!” I also loved the maps. We probably visited 20-30 times during my youth and we always came back with at least 10 books each time. While I live far away now, I hope some day I’ll be able to visit again. While I’m in a fast-paced executive position now in a big city, I sometimes wonder if I should give it all up and run a bookstore like yours. Perhaps I will one day!
My Dad took me & my 8 brother’s & sister’s to the Book Barn often during my 1960’s child hood. I recall each of us receiving .05cents to spend. We always came back with @ least 2 books each which we shared with each other as we were all avid readers! Great memories❤
I visited the Book Barn several times a year from my home in Bethel, CT starting in the 1980s. In April 2002, I found a shoebox full of individually wrapped ‘cardboard charts’ or ‘paper calculators’ (it was some time before I learned that they are called Slide Charts). I looked thru the box and found an interesting one selling for 25 cents. It dawned on me that I could buy the whole box-full for under $5, which I did. That started my new collection which nearly 21 years later has grown to over 3000 Slide Charts and Wheel Charts. I think one of the parents of the owners had taken the time to wrap and price each chart individually in cellophane. I spent several years anxiously bidding and buying 100’s of charts on eBay (where I am known as “SlideCharts”). Many friends have given me charts that they came across. I occasionally find them at flea markets and antiques shops. It takes a lot of work to collect and organize 3000 of anything. What a wonderful find at Whitlock’s that got me started, and what a wonderful adventure it has been! Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memory!
You’re welcome. Great to hear from you.