2010 Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair
Cowan, Tennessee – April 20, 2010 — In the United States there are about 10 major antiquarian book fairs held every year. They include St. Petersburg, Washington D. C., Akron, Albuquerque, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco. Now you can add Cowan, Tennessee to the calendar. The 2010 Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair will be held July 17 and 18 at Monterey Station in Cowan. Nearly 50 booksellers from over 12 different states are expected to participate in the fair. Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida are just some of the states from which booksellers will travel. Hundreds of book collectors and bookworms from all over the country will be in attendance. The fair will also include a program of lectures by authors and scholars on many different topics of interest to collectors and book lovers in general.
It is the unique venue that makes such a national event even possible. Built in the 1920’s the building now known as Monterey Station was once used as a shoe factory and a yarn mill. With nearly 30,000 sq ft it is one of the largest indoor event complexes in southern Middle Tennessee. Cowan not only boasts lower costs for event operations; it is also centrally located for the 10 million people living within a 3-hour drive. Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Huntsville, Knoxville, and Nashville are all less than 3 hours by car.
Cowan now has a population of about 1700, but at its peak there were more than 3,000 residents. Manufacturing jobs in the town once numbered in the hundreds, but like many small towns, Cowan has been forced to reinvent itself. It is gradually building a reputation as a tourist destination and as a haven for young retiree’s desiring a warmer climate, educational opportunities, and a lower cost of living. The University of the South is only 6 miles from Cowan, and it provides a wealth of educational and cultural activities.
The book fair promises to be an annual boost to the local economy not unlike the annual Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The small-town book fair is not without precedent. The small village of Hay-on-Wye in Wales hosts an annual ten-day book event that draws over 80,000 people. The Hay Festival is sponsored by The Guardian newspaper and has been an annual event since 1988. In fact it is now the largest annual literary event in Great Britain.
Media
For more information contact:
Tom McGee
TN Antiquarian Booksellers’ Assn.
Tel. 931/636-5752
Cell Phone: 615/330-3812
Email: [email protected]
www.tennaba.org
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