A small store quietly opened on the Lower East Side last Friday. The quaint Old Village Hall is owned by neighborhood residents Scott and Erica Hill. Stepping in the store may be familiar for some — The Old Village Hall was originally in the town of Andes, New York and will still be a summer fixture upstate.

The brand new store features Scott’s hand screen printed material. We first heard about Scott a couple of years ago when he and his textiles were featured in a New York Times article. He has since created more of these prints which he calls “material artifacts” and also does custom work.

His newest print features an iconic Walt Whitman with flowing white beard. Scott’s inspiration and references come from the "look" of history, old writing, literary and historical artifacts, and images of artists, writers and others of note. The resulting material is used to reupholster various old armchairs, pillows and even a set of perfectly aged dining chairs. Overall, the store feels like a welcoming and curious village historical society. They also carry small pillow sachets filled with the wonderful scent of balsam and the smell permeates the store adding to the coziness. Portraits of Washington and Lincoln appear ghostly in the store as they are surrounded by old books, Edison bulbs, some taxidermy, and other objects and antiques from a simpler time.

Images: 1&2 Gentl & Hyers, all others Sparrow King

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