20 State Street, Shelburne Falls, MA
From the waterfalls and the Bridge of Flowers to the quint storefronts and meandering river views, it’s easy to see why Shelburne Falls was one of the filming locations for a cozy New England film like The Holdovers, but it’s also home to some wonderful small, indie bookshops. Nancy L Dole Books is one of them, and it’s a trove of rare and hard to find tomes mixed in with classics and nostalgic pieces of historical kitsch.
Located at the western end of the Bridge of Flowers (the “Buckland side”) beside a pub (that had a great fish and chips, by the way), this bookstore looks like the kind of spot that may lean too old and too expensive for some book hunters, but it’s quite the browsing experience and I found a lot of great deals. There are gorgeous views of the river behind the shop, and the windows light up shelves with curious and unique topics I loved searching through, including: printing/type, birds, railroad, Nancy Drew, watercolor art, radio and old technology, Beat/60s, etc. There are the notable categories most shops have as well, biographies and memoirs, cookbooks and gardening, classic lit and children’s lit.
There is also a load of historical material and books about small towns, schools, and regional pockets throughout New England like Deerfield, Cape Cod, Hadley, seacoast Maine, villages in Vermont, on and on. This included old family collections, maps and manuals, art and toys, pamphlets and advertisements, pins and photos, and a wide assortment of antiques like dishes, music books, records, glassware, vases. With so much to look through and plenty of stools and chairs throughout the winding little shop, it feels both welcoming and like you’re scouring a treasure trove for hidden gems.
The owner was so gracious and friendly, and she offered me a booklet listing many other New England bookshops (thank you!) and I really cannot recommend the shop enough. This is what a good indie bookstore is about: offering the community something unique, something literary, something nostalgic. You get all three in this shop.
Atmosphere — Bookstore and ephemera, this is as much a literary trove as an antique shop, with plenty of regional wonders and last-of-its-kind items that locals and strangers alike will love looking through.
Quality — The editions were older, the kind that are hard to find elsewhere or online. Even the well-used items were in good shape, and some were pristine and older than your parents!
Quantity — It’s quite the trove for basically one large room, with little nooks and pathways leading further back. There’s plenty to look through here. I definitely didn’t get to half of what they had.
Diversity — This shop has some classic fiction but focuses more on the historical and nonfiction side, old tech and railroads, old memoirs and political texts, etc.
Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced. I bought three books and some political pins and I believe it came out to being under $25.
Amenities — There are some stools and stuffed chairs scattered throughout, and plenty of knick-knacks and antiques to browse through.
Location — Right in downtown Shelburne Falls on the west wide of the bridge in the middle of town. It’s next to a pub, and very close to the waterfalls you see in the opening scenes of The Holdovers.
Customer Service — The owners was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the books and the area, and helped me locate a bunch of other great shops to visit.
Overall — The town itself is cute enough to go out of your way to visit, and to have some great bookstores in town makes it even better. Nancy L Dole Books and Ephemera is a treat to explore and you can walk away with some pristine antiques and vintage books for great value. Definitely worth a visit.
