Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester is a treasure trove of books with more than 300,000 rare and vintage books and perhaps even a ghost or two, writes Mike Newall for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The former dairy barn and milking house, run by 91-year-old Carol Rauch, may be the nation’s largest used bookstore.
Spanning 25,000 square feet across five floors, this antiquarian haven offers more than books. Visitors can also explore manuscripts, maps, prints, and estate antiques.
For Rauch, a cancer survivor, the Book Barn is more than a business. It’s a source of vitality.
“I learn something new every day,” she said.
The barn, built in 1822 by Quakers Brinton and Sarah Darlington, was converted into a bookshop in 1946 by William and Lilla Baldwin. Their son, Tom Baldwin, managed it until his passing aged 80 in 2019.
Rauch began volunteering at the shop in 2010 and quickly became the manager. It remains owned by Kathy Baldwin, Tom’s wife.
Legends tell of a few ghosts lingering among the old tomes, but Rauch insists they have never caused her any trouble.
“They’re good ghosts,” she said.
Read more about Baldwin’s Book Barn in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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