IRVINGTON — The Annual Benton House Book Sale will be held Friday, July 16 from 5-8 p.m., Saturday, July 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, July 18 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday is the $5 per bag sale, with all the books you can squeeze into a bag for only $5 (excluding specially priced books). Paperbacks go for $1, and hardcovers go for $2, and rare books at special prices. The Benton House is located at 312 S. Downey Ave. The event is a rain or shine event.
On Wednesday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m., volunteers are needed to haul books from the basement to the tent in the parking lot, supplied by Montgomery Tent and Awning Co. Food and beverages will be provided after the books are moved to the tent (volunteers get dessert and drinks, plus) and then can come back to the sale for a free bag of books. Register by replying to the Benton House Book Brigade event on Sale Facebook page.
What can you expect to find at the book sale? A whole bunch of everything! Recent bestsellers, obscure classics, coffee table picture books, lots of young adult and children’s titles, reference materials, romances, science fiction and fantasy, biographies, histories, and much more can be found on the tables.
The book sale has been taking place for many years, and is an important fundraiser for the upkeep on the historic home. Early organizers included the late Rose Mary Clarke, who tirelessly promoted the sale and recruited many volunteers to the cause.
Generous donors have deposited thousands of books at the Benton House over the past few months (they don’t need more donations at this point). Volunteers have sorted and categorized books, making browsing easy for buyers.
Last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, many events had to be canceled, reducing income that keeps the Benton House in good shape. Organizers of the book sale hope to see a great turnout this year, with unvaccinated individuals wearing face masks, per City of Indianapolis health guidelines.
Built in 1873, the Benton House is a shining example of Second Empire architecture. It was the home of Allen R. Benton, twice president of Butler University when it was located in Irvington. The house is lovingly preserved, thanks to the efforts of the Benton House Association. It is listed as an Indiana Museum and is the only publicly-accessible house of the east side that is listed in the Historic Register. The Benton House is available for rental for small weddings, gatherings, and parties.
The annual Benton House Book Sale is made possible with generous support of volunteers before, during, and after the sale.
