The first bookstore to open in Hobart NY, they have a vast selection of uncommon books at reasonable prices.
My first shopping stop was at William H Adams Antiquarian Books (602 Main Street Hobart NY), the first bookstore to be established in Hobart and the inspiration behind the concept of The Book Village. William Adams and his wife Diana were vacationing near Hobart in 2001 when they decided to rent a building. They opened their store in 2002. A few years later, a local resident named Don Dales gained local support in a plan to emulate a market village in Wales called Hay-on-Wye, itself described as a ‘town of books’. Hobart, NY was officially designated a book village in 2005.
Many of the books in William H Adams Antiquarian Books were printed prior to 1850. They carry books in a wide range of categories including, Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Art, Architecture, Religion, Judaica, Biography, Poetry and Literature. They also carry books reflecting local interests, history, horticulture and wildlife. Their slogan is ‘Uncommon Books at Reasonable Prices’ and the selection is vast. Spanning three floors of shelves filled with ancient classics from the 17th thru 20th centuries and more.
On the Main Floor:
Greek, Latin, Classics, Collectible Fiction, Poetry, Theology, Leather-bound, Local History, New York City, New York State, American History, Signed Books, Natural History, Judaica, Travel & Exploration, Cooking & Etiquette.On The Second Floor:
Art, Music, Theatre, Dance, Architecture, Photography, Fashion, Women’s Studies, Foreign language, Maps, Law, Sets, Antiques, Science, Medicine.In The Basement:
Fiction, Mysteries & Thrillers, Mythology, Hunting, Fishing, Natural History, Gardening, Theology, Judaica, Classics, General History, European History, China, Russia and Eastern Europe Histories, Science, Medicine, Children’s Books, Biographies, Anthropology, Psychology, Military Presidential Histories, Politics, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Viet Nam
The book I gravitated to is something that appealed to the nerd in me called ‘The Logic of the Cultural Sciences’ by Ernst Cassirer. Originally published in 1942, this edition is from 2000. According to the publisher, “Cassirer considers the intellectual structure of the disciplines we commonly refer to as the humanities. He defines and justifies the basic philosophical perspective of the philosophy of symbolic forms, and he contributes a wealth of ideas to continuing debates about culture and what is unique in human nature.”
Like I said . . . Nerd! :0)
William and Diana Adams are considering retiring and I was told by neighbors that the store is available for the next owners to take over — or will be shortly. I’ll admit that, for a moment, I found myself considering it as a sort of working retirement. I like books. I like being a part of a community. So, why not? As I ponder that question, here are some photos I took of the store.
If you’re into antique books — or books in general — be sure to take a trip to Hobart: The Book Village of The Catskills and stop by William H Adams Antiquarian Books (602 Main Street Hobart NY).
Website -> whabooks.com
