Howard's Bookstore closing after five decades in Bloomington

There are three copies of “Prisoner of War Der Luftwaffe” by Frank Farnsley, a Bloomington author, teacherand principal who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. She finds a number for Farnsley and dials it, hoping he will come and pick up his books before Howard’s closes at the end of February. But the line is disconnected. Farnsley’s books have been at the store since 1998.

As she nears her 70th birthday, Canada is cleaning out her shop on the square, which has been in operation for five decades. If she were younger, maybe she would have the energy to work against the tide of electronic readers and cable TV. But, at this point, she’s more upset she missed fishing season last year. She is liquidating her supplies and closing shop.

“I’m too tired,” Canada said. “I love it, but nonetheless, I haven’t spent a vacation in 40 years.”