History & Scenes
History.
The store was founded by Bill Kerr who had worked at an earlier Capitol Hill bookstore, Wayward Books. He would take his pay in books and when Wayward closed up and moved to Maine, Bill opened Capitol Hill Books in 1991. He lived upstairs and worked downstairs in the store, while also holding down a job at The Washington Post. He died at age 58 from a heart attack in November 1994 and his sister sold the bookstore to the present owner, Jim Toole in February 1995.
Bill Kerr was a beloved figure on Capitol Hill, not only for his knowledge of books but also for his efforts through AA as he focused many people onto the road to reason and productive living. The present store has expanded into the second floor and has incorporated Bill Kerr's high standards for quality used books.
Scenes.
From Left to Right: Eastern Market, East Capitol Street, The
MYSTERY ROOM, Bookstore Owner "Jim" Toole
* Click on each of the pictures for an enlarged view.