Ann Niessen, who from about 1977-1981 also did substantial research and documentation of the more than 200 historic buildings of New Hope (resulting in the designation of the district on the National Register of Historic Places) wrote an architectural description of the Parry Store building in 1979: “large sand plaster over fieldstone double store structure [that] was built to be a store and built in two sections….The north section has undergone severe alteration to the first level of the west (street) elevation. A wood and glass lite double entrance door is flanked by two newer multi-lite glass bow windows……Utilitarian and practical from the outset, subject structure has undergone many structural changes in its 220 odd years.”

The original thousand-acre Heath tract encompassing much of the region was eventually split into the ferry tract to the north and the mill tract to the south. It was divided by what is now called Ferry Street. Early resident Benjamin Canby inherited the mill tract from his father, Thomas, and likely constructed a store that later became the Parry Store. In 1745 Canby also acquired a portion of the ferry tract, including the ferry and tavern, from John Wells. Also owning a sawmill and forge along Ingham (Aquetong) Creek, Canby’s store was just one of his commercial enterprises. Canby’s store, along with the Parry Barn, the adjacent Parry Salt Store (now the Salt House restaurant), the Parry Mill (now the Bucks County Playhouse), the Ferry Tavern (now the Logan Inn), the Ferry Landing, and the nearby Parry Mansion and Vansant House comprise some of the most historic structures in New Hope, all nearly within sight of each other.

By 1789 ownership of the provisions store building had passed to Benjamin Parry’s brother, Thomas. In 1791 title records show Benjamin, eventual Parry Mansion owner and “father of New Hope,” became the store owner for 1380 pounds. Richie notes an 1817 letter from an indentured servant of Cintra Mansion (now recently torn down) builder William Maris in which the young French woman states her son is working in the biggest store in town, run by Daniel Parry (brother of Benjamin). The woman notes the store included a meat department.

By 1789 ownership of the provisions store building had passed to Benjamin Parry’s brother, Thomas. In 1791 title records show Benjamin, eventual Parry Mansion owner and “father of New Hope,” became the store owner for 1380 pounds. Richie notes an 1817 letter from an indentured servant of Cintra Mansion (now recently torn down) builder William Maris in which the young French woman states her son is working in the biggest store in town, run by Daniel Parry (brother of Benjamin). The woman notes the store included a meat department.

Long-term New Hope residents and NHHS members Wendy Appleton and David Newhart both recall that co-op as being the grocery store in town, with the main competition being the Acme and an A&P in Lambertville. The larger grocery stores on Rtes 179 and 202 did not come along until years later. During the co-op era, there were several apartments and an office upstairs. Well-known artist Joseph Crilley lived in one of the apartments with his family from 1949 to 1955, leaving just prior to the 1955 flood that inundated Main Street. In an interview for this article, Crilley’s daughter, Geraldine Raymond, recalled walking over to see the shocking flood around her prior home. She also reminisced that her mother seemed to prefer the grocery stores in Lambertville, finding the co-op prices a bit steep. Arthur Ricker, founder of the New Hope Historical Society, lived just two doors north on the east side of Main Street in a home that still stands as a commercial business now. 

Letters in the files of the NHHS archives from 1959-1960 show that the NHHS had at one time expressed an interest in owning the Parry Store building. However, when it became available for sale from the co-op there was a pending sale of the Parry Mansion to the society resulting in a need to shift resources to that purpose instead.

Following the closing of the co-op, the building was owned and occupied by Joe Welter’s and Lenny Shewell’s Washington Square Antiques. Then in 1971 James and Nancy Farley obtained ownership and moved their bookstore to 44 South Main Street from its prior location now occupied by Amelia’s restaurant on Ferry Street. The Farleys had been at that Ferry Street location since 1967 when they had bought the prior Delaware Bookshop. 

NHHS “Beyond the Door” volunteers recently visited and interviewed one of the current Farley’s Bookshop owners, Charley Balfour, as well as long-term employee Julian Karhumaa. Charley Balfour, Buffy, and Katie Hastings were also long-term Farleys employees and purchased the store from the daughters of James and Nancy Farley. Charley Balfour reported that both author James Michener, and TV personality Fred Rogers, helped the Farleys financially get on their feet with their new business. Julian Karhumaa stated that the book-selling business has changed significantly over the years since he began there in 1985, with much reduced foot traffic due to online booksellers and chain stores. Both Balfour and the Farley daughters lived in upstairs apartments at different times. A major renovation in 2023 resulted in a reconfigured Farley’s retail area with reduced storage space. It also resulted in a new separate retail space on the north end of the building, now occupied by Steam Soapery. During the early Farleys era, another retail space in the south end (the portion built in the 1830’s) of the building was occupied by retailer, Strawberry Jam. That area is now New Hope Spa by Voupre.

Many thanks to the folks from Farley’s, and Geraldine Raymond, as well as the NHHS members Wendy Appleton and David Newhart, for their participation in this article.



The members of the Archives Team involved in this project are Nicole Hudson, Archivist and the following volunteers:

Michele Gunnells

Tom Lyon

Sandie Mines

David Newhart

Tom Williams