There are some wonderful used bookshops on Cape Cod. Isaiah Thomas Books & Prints is located on Route 28 in Cotuit. It's impossible to miss the iconic Pepto-Bismol pink gingerbread house. The store is named after the revolutionary-era printer and philanthropist who founded the American Antiquarian Society in 1812. Jim Visbeck has been the proprietor since 1990. Prior to owning this location, he and his partner began the business in 1969 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
According to their website, "We are a general used and rare book shop, strong in many fields, including art, architecture and photography, first edition, and miniature books. We have about 70,000 books in all fields. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), and the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers (MARIAB)."
The property was originally built in 1861 as a private residence for Zenas Crocker. Over the years, the building has been a women's clothing store called Sail Loft, a real estate office, and the Nickerson Funeral Home. The area that houses Jim's desk is where the funeral home would display the bodies. A shed in the back came equipped with a rubber floor and drain, a further indication of the funeral parlor's presence.
There are claims that the property is haunted. For instance, a battery operated pendulum clock mounted to the wall has a mind of its own and objects have fallen off shelves seemingly on their own. Previous tenants have had strange encounters, such as being pushed down the maid's stairs, or sightings of a matronly ghost.
TO VISIT: Isaiah Thomas Books & Prints is located at 4632 Falmouth Road, Cotuit, MA 02635. Their hours are Tues-Sat 11-5 and Sun 12-5. They can be reached at (508) 428-2752.