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Books & Art on Main Celebrates First Anniversary in Plymouth

Suzanne and Robert Schwalb’s lifelong love for books and art led them to settle in Litchfield County, Connecticut. “Sue and Bob” have spent most of their professional lives in publishing and the arts. Today, the couple enjoys sharing that love with kindred spirits within the cozy corners of their Plymouth-based bookstore and gallery, Books & Art on Main. Books, Art, and More Books & Art on Main is located at 692 Main Street in Plymouth’s Historic District. Its shelves are filled with 10,000 used and new books, spanning nearly every subject imaginable: local history, cookbooks, gardening, home repair, antiques, movies, fiction writing, health, parenting, fantasy, classic books, art, architecture, and more. Sue shares, “Visitors will find everything from finger puppet books for little ones, to Dogman stories for older kids, to vintage Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond paperbacks for adults, music CDs, “buck-a-book” bargains, gift-edition Bibles, loads of journals, sticker books for crafting and scrapbooking, and author-signed books.” For the artist, Books & Art carries watercolor and acrylic sets, pastel sets, sketching sets, alcohol markers, colored pencils, brushes, sketchbooks, field journals, and travel sketch kits, as well as art papers from Bristol board to watercolor. “We carry supplies for young artists, too,” adds Sue. “Finger paints, face paints, beeswax crayons, dot markers, and colored pencils.” Art with Global and Local Flair During renovations, Bob installed a museum-quality hanging system which showcases artwork from around the world, alongside pieces by American artists and photographers. The art includes original paintings, limited edition prints, and vintage posters. This November, Books & Art will also feature local artists, beginning with Virginia Briatico, a Plymouth-based artist known for her pastel depictions of regional wildlife and wild plants. Virginia has had numerous exhibitions through the state, and is pleased to have the opportunity to show her work locally. Her work will be on display through January 2. Quirky Finds and Holiday Cheer Beyond books and art, the shop displays an eclectic mix of gifts and quirky finds: antique mechanical pencils, tea cup and saucer sets, pottery, butterflies in Lucite cases, vintage model aircraft magazines, Hummel figurines and plates, WWII magazines, puzzles, games, even journals bound with vinyl records. For the holiday season, Books & Art offers Advent calendars, holiday cards, Victorian-inspired decorations, craft books, favorite Christmas stories, Christmas village pieces, and festive music on CDs. Steeped in History Books & Art on Main resides in a historic Colonial Revival building that housed the former Plymouth Library. “The building was constructed in 1932, and is truly a gem,” says Bob, “with its Palladian window, barrel ceiling, intricate woodwork, and wonderful fireplace. The architect and contractor even carved their names on the fireplace overmantel.” Thanks to the Plymouth Historical Society and local history enthusiasts, the Schwalbs continue to uncover the building’s past. They’ve learned that the original library was founded in 1871 by Plymouth Congregational clergyman Reverend Elias Brewster Hillard, said to be a “man of fire” for his efforts to improve life in Litchfield County. Reverend Hillard was also the grandfather of Archibald MacLeish, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Tony Award-winning dramatist, and Librarian of Congress. Reverend Hillard himself compiled the notable book, The Last Men of the Revolution, featuring accounts and actual photographs of the last living veterans of the American Revolution. It was published in Hartford in 1864, during the Civil War. “Books & Art opened unofficially during the holiday season in 2024,” says Sue, “and we’ve been warmly welcomed by the community, who are happy that their former library building is continuing its legacy as a home for books in Plymouth.” Professional Journey The Schwalbs previously operated Dickens Books & Art in Bantam, Connecticut. The couple’s prior career experience includes working with a wide range of authors and creators, including Tipper Gore, wife of former Vice President Al Gore; country singer Marty Stuart; and William Hanna and Joseph Barbera of “Scooby-Doo” and “Flintstones” fame. Sue started out as a copywriter at an upstate New York radio station. Bob’s publishing work includes book design and illustration, but his artistic reach extends further. As a young commercial artist, he contributed work to an early undersea farming system for New York Ocean Science Laboratory, and designed instrument panels for the Grumman aerospace Lunar Module. He jokes, “My art has been to the bottom of the sea and to the surface of the moon.” Together, with a co-author, Gustavo Sánchez Romero, the Schwalbs worked on a 2016 book for Skyhorse Publishing entitled Werewolves, Serial Killers, and Man-Eaters: The Mystery of the Monsters of the Gévaudan. The book explores the legend of a creature said to have killed more than 100 people in a remote region of France in the 1700s. Publishers Weekly said of the book, “This gripping and suspenseful account, which conjures up the intense fear of the period, is fascinating.” Sue still writes and edits as a freelancer, and is currently working on new editions of Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Visit Books & Art on Main Books & Art on Main is located at 692 Main Street, Plymouth, Connecticut, in the Plymouth Historic District. Current hours: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Parking is available directly behind the shop and along the nearby Plymouth Green. Website:  www.booksandartonmain.com. For more information, email info@booksandartonmain.com, or call 347-813-0777.