My wife Ruth and I moved our mail-order service from New York to Sherman Square in Hyannis in 1956. We were there for four years before moving into a 19th century three-story building in Yarmouth­port. We have been there ever since.

Known as Knowles General Store and built in the early 1800s, the building housed a general store for many years. In fact, during the early years of the book store, a number of customers and the curious would come in to inform us where the pickle barrel was located or where the candy counter was hidden; they did sell other things like food, soap (we still have a corner sign for their soap), and other important necessities of the day including what they called “wet goods” (liquor). For a decade or so the second floor was the home of the Yarmouth Swedenborgian Church while they constructed their permanent church across from the village green.

My family and I have run a general book store selling new and old (often rare) books as well as issuing specialty catalogs on a variety of subjects: Americana, Latin America, Maritime, Art, the Orient and a variety of other subjects. Over the years we have been ably assisted by our children and grandchildren, as well as Isobel Grassie, Lilian Dykstra and Paul Noonan among others. The store is known for its outdoor book stall (leave your money under the door) and shelves that hold books you never expected to find.

As a new world appears on the horizon requiring roads not previously taken, Parnassus is changing too. We will continue offering new and old books on interesting subjects, but in the future you will be able to browse and order books through our web page on the Internet.

We look forward to seeing you,

Ben Muse