Support the Steve Milton Memorial Community Room

Did you know that Bennett’s Books hosts the Steve Milton Memorial Community Room? Located in the building directly in front of our bookstore, the community room offers a space for activists and artists, community members and concerned citizens to come together in a welcoming atmosphere. The small but cozy community room opened in December and the space can squeeze in 20 people. During our first two months we’ve already hosted myriad events serving dozens of people. It has also become the temporary home of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center, an organization dedicated to social and environmental justice. Additionally, the community room will soon be hosting author events, book clubs, movie nights, and many other fun and educational events.

Unfortunately, like most things, operating the community room costs money and that’s one of the main reasons we started our Community Supported Bookstore program (CSB). Modeled after the Community Supported Agriculture movement, people can become annual bookstore members at several different levels and receive benefits throughout the year in return. Additionally, the support we get from the CSB will allow us to continue to offer the community room as a service to the community of the Lower Connecticut River Valley.

Please help us continue to offer the Steve Milton Memorial Community Room as a service - become a member of Bennett’s Books. Or, if you want to help but are not interested in becoming a member, you can donate directly to help support the cause https://www.gofundme.com/booksaregreat/donate - just make a note that you are supporting the community room. Members and donors will receive prioritized access to the room for any community-type events. With your help we can be a beacon of light and a catalyst for progressive action.

More about the Steve Milton Memorial Community Room

Steven Milton was a long time Deep River resident and a fixture of this community. In addition to being a veteran of the U.S. Army he served as a member of the Deep River Rotary Club, United Way, and many other organizations throughout the years. Steve loved camping and boating and spending time outdoors with the people close to him.

Probably best known as a local realtor, Steve founded the Milton Realty Company in 1973 with his father. He was also the owner and landlord of the building the Community Room is in, as well as the building that our bookstore calls home. More than anything, Steve loved people. Beloved by family and friends, the relationships he shared were the heart of his life and the legacy he leaves.

Without Steve's help Bennett's Books would likely have never become a reality and as such, we are forever grateful to him. Steve passed away in 2016 but he will be remembered for a long, long time to come. We are proud that this community room is named in Steve's honor.