By Christian Avard
Staff Writer
WILMINGTON — Ask those who know Lisa Sullivan and Phil Taylor the most and they will say they put community above themselves, even in the toughest of times.
Sullivan and Taylor of Wilmington co-own two book stores, the Book Cellar of Brattleboro and Bartleby’s Books in Wilmington. In April, a five-alarm fire gutted the Main Street building that housed the Book Cellar. The Book Cellar was not destroyed but Sullivan and Taylor lost their entire inventory to water damage. Then came Tropical Storm Irene.
“We got about four feet of water at Bartleby’s. We saved 10 percent of our books and lost all of our shelving,” Sullivan said.
According to Sullivan, it will cost $300,000 to restore both bookstores. Bartleby’s Books is covered by flood and contents insurance and they will seek additional funding through the Vermont Economic Development Authority. Sullivan and Taylor received a special surprise when a long-time Bartleby’s customer contacted Border’s Books and Music liquidation services and organized a major book donation. Sullivan was overwhelmed.
“This came out of nowhere. It all happened the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Relief Support Network Facebook page and I have yet to have a conversation with her,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan and Taylor do not have flood insurance for The Book Cellar but they do have property insurance. They do not plan to re-open the Book Cellar nor are they selling it. Both of their stores are selling books online.
“It seems like a little too much for me and with this flood. I have to make some decisions,” Sullivan said. “Wilmington is where I live and my husband and I feel strongly that we need to get Bartleby’s back open and the community as well. Virtually everyone downtown has been affected.”
Sullivan is holding up but said she has her ups and downs. As Mount Snow Chamber President, she is deeply concerned about Wilmington’s future.
“Getting Bartleby’s back up and running seems like the easy part,” Sullivan said. “We know what to do, We need to put in new drywalls, doors, shelving, and books. I can do that. My bigger concern is making Wilmington thrive again.”
The Deerfield River flooded Wilmington Center and left behind devastation. It damaged historic town buildings, restaurants, the Mount Snow Chamber of Commerce building, retail stores and swept a local art gallery into the Deerfield River. Sullivan said it may take years to rebuild Wilmington.
Mount Snow Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laura Sibilia has known Sullivan and Taylor for years. She has worked with Sullivan at the Chamber and with Taylor on local education issues. Taylor is the Wilmington School Board chair and they are tireless advocates for Wilmington according to Sibilia.
“For me personally, there are few people I respect more. Lisa and I have worked hand in hand on everything. She is incredibly wise and measured and it’s been an honor and privilege to draw on that,” Sibilia said. “(Phil) also refuses to be defeated. He is deeply committed to establishing a quality educational system for our students.”
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