In the 10 years my husband Francis and I have been together, I’ve made several trips with him to the family homestead in Millers Falls, part of Montague, Massachusetts. Somehow, in the flurry of activities—lunches at Friendly’s, visits with the dear and now departed Uncle 
Al J. Zera (yep, that was his name) and trips to the Yankee Candle factory—we kept missing one of the best places in town, The Montague Bookmill. We finally went last week, and now that I’ve crossed that bridge (they actually have a little bridge from the road to the front door), it will be a standing itinerary item on all future in-law pilgrimages.
Less than four miles from the home of the elder Zeras, The Bookmill is a used bookstore housed in an 1842 gristmill, so already there’s plenty of charm to be found in the sloping ceilings and creaky wood floors.
What really makes this bookstore stand out as a place to sit, sip coffee, read, dream and create is its idyllic setting on the banks of the
Sawmill River. We visited on a sunny day, and next to every open window with a river view was a chair of some sort, most of them comfy. A good book and the sound of the water rushing by, well, it just takes you away.
There’s no shortage of literary treasures to be found in the stacks of The Bookmill’s quirky rooms, especially academic non-fiction and classic fiction. It’s Massachusetts, after all, and you can’t drive far without running into an esteemed institution of higher learning or the grave of a former literary great. In fact, I initially chose Thoreau’s Walden as my book purchase—it just seemed fitting—until Francis said, “Got it. Maybe even two copies.” Of course he does! I’m guessing you can’t get through college in this state without having it assigned as required reading. In the end, we bought Philip Connor’s Fire Season, called ‘The Walden of Wildfires’ by the New York Times Sunday Book Review. It kind of balanced out the book choice of our 16-year-old niece, which was the memoir of a methamphetamine addict.
The sign over the front door of The Bookmill reads “Books You Don’t Need in a Place You Can’t Find.” Well, I’m extraordinarily glad I happened to marry a guy from Montague and had insider knowledge. Next time I visit, I’m going to plan it as a 1/2-day trip, and if you’re in the Amherst/Northampton area, I recommend that you do, too.
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The Montague Bookmill may be one of the last great historic landmarks for those of us who still love the printed book. The world is going digital. Bookstores are vanishing. I hope the Bookmill lives on forever. We deserve to have our mecca to visit.
It is a mecca! And I hope it lives on forever, too. It’s currently owned by the woman who wrote the screenplay for Legends of the Fall, actually (just an info tidbit for a fellow screenwriter!)
It sounds wonderful! I want to go there! And I love the sign in the store! Much more clever than we prosecute shoplifters.
Wonderful post! I’m a true old bookstore junkie, for sure. Thanks, Laura, for taking me along!!
The Montague Bookmill looks like the perfect bookstore! I’ll just have add Millers Falls to my bucket list of places to visit now.
I love the atmosphere of places like this; its really something special. Glad you found this gem. I second what the others said: hope it stays around. Thanks for sharing this place with us.
Looks like my kind of place, Montague. Trees? Used bookstore complete with funny signs? A no-Internet vacation? Paradise. Ah, but I bet you missed Uncle Al J. Zera. (I hope Uncle Al got the irony while he was alive!) Love this post, as always.
I want to go there! Thanks for sharing the character and quirkiness of this treasure to literature. Bought a Kindle but still prefer my real books.
“Bought a Kindle but still prefer my real books” — have you ever thought of using that for your epitaph? Hee hee.
LOL! That’s not a bad idea.
When I was growing up in Chester County, Pennsylvania, we had a similar store called the Book Barn because a barn housed it. My father and I would go to browse and spend memorable hours in just such an environment like Montague. Digital is grand but it won’t ever conjure up such memories.
Thank you for reading and for your wonderful comments, Mary, Jo, Kern, Sarah, Molly, and Christina! xo
I don’t exactly have a bucket list but if I did the Bookmill would definitely be on it. What a delightful sounding place for lovers of books! I have a Kindle which I enjoy…got it because books were overtaking my house…but I agree there is just something about holding a book in my hand that will always be my preference.
I’m with you on that one! Thanks for stopping by, Jane!