In 1966, Ralph Titcomb, an engineer with General Electric, was
transferred to Connecticut. He and his wife, Nancy discovered that finding a
house for their 6 young children was difficult, but they settled on an old
house with 7 acres and several barns in the small town of Canterbury. As the
couple worked on the house, the children explored the property, and soon
discovered in one of the barns a large pile of rare papers and books dating
back to the 1600s. The Titcomb’s started a mail order catalog to sell some of
the books and their business, aptly named ‘The Paper Barn,” blossomed from
there.
When Ralph was transferred again in 1969, the family moved to
East Sandwich. In addition to caring for their 8 children, aged 9 months to 14
years, and Ralph Titcomb’s full time job as an engineer, the couple opened the
used and rare bookstore store a few weeks later. Anyone and everyone in the
family was drafted to help keep the bookstore open.
The business evolved over the next few years, changing its name
to Titcomb’s Bookshop.
The current barn-style building that houses Titcomb’s Bookshop
was built in 1986-1987.
The business that began with an abandoned barn has now grown to
a thriving 3 story retail store selling new and old books, games, puzzles and
cards.
During its 40 years, Titcomb’s has enjoyed a warm relationship
with customers and authors alike. We are proud to be able to offer the
community the chance to meet and listen to some truly wonderful authors.
Geraldine Brooks, Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman, Henry Winkler, Jeff Kinney and
Jan Brett are some of the many authors who have visited. Philip Craig, the
late author of Martha’s Vineyard mysteries, remarked “Titcomb's Bookshop...is a
charming little shop with equally charming managers and customers. It's been my
pleasure to sign books there several times…. Not only have I inscribed quite a
few books, I've enjoyed excellent conversations with wonderful people who love
to read. They are the most interesting people in the world, and Titcomb's draws
them like bees to honey."
In 2007, the bookstore was selected by the International
Booksellers Federation as one of 50 unique bookstores in the world and featured
in their calendar.
https://www.titcombsbookshop.com/
is the place to go to find more.
432 Route 6A, East Sandwich, MA is the physical address and here’s the phone
#508-888-2331.
Its open 7 days a week and looks like a great place to go
explore. Check out the website and see what I mean.
(all info downloaded
from https://www.titcombsbookshop.com/)
Sounds like a perfect excuse for another visit to the great state of Massachusetts.
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