We will be CLOSED Wednesday, August 19 through Saturday, August 29, 2026 for restocking and maintenance. NO DONATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! We reopen Wednesday, September 2nd! See you then!
Long before the Book Barn and Bargain Barn became beloved destinations for readers, collectors, and treasure hunters, this historic building had a very different purpose. It was a working dairy barn.
Built in 1937 on the grounds of the Saint Francis Health Resort in Denville, New Jersey, the barn housed cows that supplied fresh dairy products to the resort and, later, nearby Saint Clare’s Hospital. Today, those same wooden beams shelter a vibrant volunteer community where donated books, clothing, home goods, media, and countless other treasures begin a second life.
Together, the Book Barn and Bargain Barn form the Thrift Barns of Morris County, a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local charities through the sale of donated goods.
The story of today’s Thrift Barns of Morris County began in 1895, when the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother purchased more than 200 acres along Diamond Spring and Pocono Roads to establish the Saint Francis Health Resort.
As the property expanded, the dairy barn became an important part of daily life. In 1953, following the opening of nearby Saint Clare’s Hospital, members of the Saint Clare’s Hospital Auxiliary transformed part of the barn into a small volunteer run thrift and book shop known as The Corral.
For more than two decades, the shop operated alongside the dairy cows that still occupied the barn. When the cows were relocated in 1974, the volunteer operation expanded into the newly available space. Over time, The Corral evolved into two distinct stores, the Book Barn and the Bargain Barn, each specializing in different donated treasures while sharing the same mission of serving the community.
When changes in ownership at Saint Clare’s Hospital threatened the future of the Book Barn and Bargain Barn in 2015, Saint Clare’s Hospital Auxiliary ceased to exist, leaving the future of both stores uncertain. Margaret “Peggy” Kirschhoff, Director of Volunteers at Saint Clare’s Hospital, brought the former Auxiliary volunteers together and led the effort to establish a new independent nonprofit organization. After a brief reorganization, Leonard “Lennie” DiMenna, one of the hospital volunteers, agreed to serve as President, while Peggy became Vice President. Together, they founded the Thrift Barns of Morris County as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2016, ensuring that the Book Barn and Bargain Barn would continue serving the community and supporting local charities for generations to come.
Today, the Book Barn has become one of New Jersey’s largest volunteer run used bookstores, while the neighboring Bargain Barn offers clothing, jewelry, home décor, housewares, collectibles, toys, and countless unexpected finds. Together, they welcome thousands of visitors each year who come to shop, donate, volunteer, and support a worthy cause.
When you step inside the Book Barn and you’ll find more than 200,000 donated books, along with vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, comics, games, and countless unexpected treasures. Because every item has been donated, no two visits are ever the same.
One day you might discover a bestselling novel. The next, a signed first edition, a vintage cookbook, a childhood favorite, or a record you’ve been searching for for years. The joy isn’t simply finding what you came for. It’s discovering something you never expected.
Every donation has a story. A novel that was read cover to cover. A cookbook that inspired family dinners. A child’s favorite bedtime story. A cherished record collection. A vintage lamp that once brightened someone’s home. Rather than sitting forgotten on a shelf, these items begin a new chapter in someone else’s hands.
Together, the Book Barn and Bargain Barn give thousands of donated items a second life each year. By encouraging reuse instead of waste, we’re making reading affordable, promoting sustainability, supporting local charities, and creating opportunities for generosity that benefit donors, shoppers, volunteers, and the environment alike.
The Thrift Barns of Morris County is proudly 100% volunteer-run. Every shelf stocked in the Book Barn, every rack organized in the Bargain Barn, every donation sorted, and every customer welcomed is made possible by volunteers who generously share their time, talents, and passion. Their dedication keeps this historic barn thriving and allows every dollar raised to support organizations that strengthen our local community.
The Book Barn is part of the Thrift Barns of Morris County, whose mission is simple: turn generosity into community impact. Since becoming an independent nonprofit in 2016, the organization has donated more than $1.8 million to local charities and nonprofit organizations serving Morris County and surrounding communities. Every donation received, every volunteer hour given, and every purchase made, whether it’s a book from the Book Barn or a treasure from the Bargain Barn, helps continue that mission. When you shop with us, you’re doing far more than finding something special. You’re helping your neighbors.
More than a century after this property first began serving the community, the historic barn continues that tradition in a new way. Its aisles are still filled with stories. Some are printed on the pages lining the shelves of the Book Barn. Others are found among the unique treasures waiting in the Bargain Barn. The most important stories, however, are created every day by the volunteers, donors, and customers whose generosity makes our mission possible.
Whether you’re visiting the Book Barn, exploring the Bargain Barn, or discovering both for the very first time, you’re becoming part of a story that began more than 130 years ago and we’re grateful to have you with us.
