Late night giggles from a vacant upstairs. A book that mysteriously appears in the same place, no matter how many times it is moved. A gray cat that appears and then disappears as if it was never there.
For some, these experiences would haunt the mind, but for the workers of The Book House, it’s just any old day. Whether ghosts or other supernatural beings haunt the bookstore, it comes down to a diehard customer that never leaves.
Michelle Barron opened The Book House, located at 9719 Manchester, in 1986. Attending medical school and in between jobs, Barron purchased the inventory of the bookstore that had been there since 1981. A lover of books, she thought it was only going to last a couple of years. Though as she states now, “it gets in your blood,” so much- that she expanded greatly, specializing in used, new and rare books.
It was during these first couple of years that Barron first encountered the being that makes its residence year-round at the store. Gates that were set up to keep her young daughter away from the stairs would start rattling violently. The same book would show time and time again in an upstairs closet. Something would brush up against her in the hall, even though nothing was there. It was this kind of stuff that made her wonder just what was going on. Barron describes it best: “It was an eerie feeling all over.”
It was not until the previous owner asked her if she had experienced anything unusual that Barron started researching the house itself. The house, one of the oldest in Rock Hill, was built sometime in 1860s. The name of the place was the Thomas Family home.
At some point in 1870s, twin girls drowned in the well outside, which is now buried. Barron believes that the house was either a brothel or a gambling establishment and the girls’ death might have had something to do with the business. The exact circumstances of the girls’ death are unknown, due to the poor record keeping at the time.
Branch’s daughter claims to have seen the ghost before when she was younger. A ghost has never appeared to Barron, but that won’t keep her from believing that at least one resides in the antique home.
For many years the month of October and the season of Halloween sent shivers down the backs of The Book House staff. But now an annual celebration of Halloween and the permanent resident marks the month of October. The festivities on Halloween include special hours till midnight, tarot readings, discounts on books and whatever else the night may bring.
Besides the casual encounter with the supernatural, The Book House offers literature lovers a chance to browse through a stock of more than 250,000 books. The stock includes everything from classics like Great Expectations, to newer novels, including the latest Grisham. Different rooms of the store are devoted to poetry, biography, history, art and a lot more.
For the true collector, rare and antique books also are available. A rare book constitutes one that carries a high demand but has low availability. An antique book simply put, is one that is more than 100 years old.
If that certain title is unavailable, just ask the person behind the desk to do a book search- something Barron started doing long before the Internet. A book search includes a personalized search through all available resources, including other dealer’s offerings, in an attempt to match a certain book with a desired condition and price. The store also received the Riverfront Times “Best in St. Louis Award” for best-used bookstore in 2000.
Some say the used bookstore is a dying business in St. Louis and many other places, due to the Internet. People like the convenience of going on line to Amazon.com and other sites and buying a newer book at the cheapest price.
“It’s hard to compete with convenience. People no longer like to browse and be surprised with what they might find,” remarked Barron.
It’s just this attitude that has closed many of St. Louis’ good bookstores like, A Collector’s Book Store on Delmar. So far The Book House has survived, but it is not an easy struggle.
Barron works hard every day to try and keep the intriguing store afloat. The Internet might offer the newest bestseller for half-price but never someone’s knowledge of the industry along with a recognizable and trustworthy face.
The Book House opens up a unique opportunity for the collector and novice to enjoy books. Books can take readers to another world or to a place beyond their ordinary lives. The Book House offers much for the avid reader. Something shelved among the gigantic bookcases will surely catch your eye, even if it’s not a ghost.
