Our History

Cornelia Cotton Gallery and Old Book Room

Cornelia Cotton Gallery began in what was called the Silo Building on Route 129, where Grace Price (wife of Croton Mayor Robert Price) had a business with several partners called Wondrous Things, carrying arts and crafts supplies. She offered me the entire upstairs as a gallery space. I said, “I can’t afford it,” and she said, “Yes, you can—just share your profits with us 50/50.” So I opened the Silo Gallery, showing contemporary and older art, and shows of local historic material. From the beginning, photography was included in the exhibit schedule. In addition, the gallery featured 19th century American art, African and Japanese art, and maintained a regular schedule of work by local artists. The gallery represented the estates of several important artists, among them the serigraphs and paintings of Harry Shokler, sculpture of Helene Sardeau, photos by W. Eugene Smith, Doran Moll, and Sophie Delar; works from the thirties by Selma Cohen Bluestein, and paintings and drawings by Charles Augustus Smith.

When Croton’s Village Historian, Jane Northshield, stopped by—and realized that there was an extra room available—she decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and opened the Old Book Room. When the building was sold in 1981 Wondrous Things moved to the Upper Village (where the Black Cow is today) and Jane and I rented an empty space at 111 Grand Street as Cornelia Cotton Gallery and Old Book Room.

We remained there for 25 years, sharing the space, expenses, and many happy years as partners and friends, until Jane’s death in 2005. In recent years my daughter Amy Cotton has joined me, with her separate business selling old books, antiques, and collectibles.

To email me click here.

Croton Antiques & Art

Amy Cotton began Old Record Room in Ossining in the early 80’s. She later continued at 111 Grand Street as Old Book Room & Antiques, continuing the legacy of Jane Northshield’s book store, and adding antiques, collectibles, knickknacks, costume jewelry, garden relics, and records. She started out as a child digging up old bottles and learned about art and antiques from her mother.

To email Amy click here.