IRVINGTON — One of Irvington’s great traditions is the Benton House Book Sale, where young and old alike find all sorts of goodies at cheap prices. Whether your reading interests lean toward history, biography, young adult/teen and children’s books, you will find something interesting at this year’s sale. There are also plenty of classic, fiction, Irvington and Indiana (about and by Hoosiers). This year we are also offering New Releases (published in 2022 or later) and Special (old, unusual) books. In addition, we have DVDs and some vinyl records.
The sale begins Friday evening, July 18 from 5-8 p.m., continues on Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and ends on Sunday, July 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Benton House is located at 312 South Downey St, in Historic Irvington.
Pricing is $1 for paperbacks and children’s; $2 for hardbacks; $3 for new releases; classic and special are individually priced. Sunday is bag day – fill a typical plastic grocery bag for $5. Furnish your own larger bag and it will be appropriately priced. Cards are the preferred method of payment but cash is accepted.
Started many years ago, the Annual Benton House Book Sale has become a beloved fixture on the event calendar in Irvington. Early organizers held the sale indoors, until it grew too large for the historic home. Dozens of volunteers spend time in the basement sorting through the thousands of donations. On the day before the sale, even more volunteers carry the books outside under the big tent in the parking lot, furnished by Montgomery Tent and Awning Company.
The Benton House is listed as an Indiana Museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places. All proceeds from the book sale go toward maintenance of this 150-year-old home. The Benton House is available for rental for small weddings, rehearsal dinners, receptions and other gatherings. See thebentonhouse.org/rentals/ for more information.
