HCR 296

R-354  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-354. House concurrent resolution congratulating Inspirational Bible Book &
Gifts of Bennington, Vermont’s last remaining Christian bookstore, on its 50th
anniversary.
                                          (H.C.R.296)
  Offered by Representatives Greer of Bennington, Morrissey of Bennington, Cooper of
Pownal, Corcoran of Bennington, Durfee of Shaftsbury, and Nigro of Bennington
   Offered by Senators Bongartz and Plunkett
   Whereas, religion has always played a central role in the life of Jacob Esh, who was
born in 1941 and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a traditional Amish
farming family, and
   Whereas, in 1970, he married Lorraine, with whom he has happily shared his life for
the past 55 years, and they began selling Christian books from store racks located in bus
stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other locations, which eventually surpassed 40
points of sale, and
   Whereas, in December 1975, Jacob and Lorraine Esh decided to consolidate their
retail business to a single site and rented a small space inside a mall on North Street in
Bennington, and
   Whereas, after several moves, in 1982, Jacob and Lorraine Esh purchased a duplex at
110 County Street that would serve as their residence until 1995 and the store’s home
ever since, and
  Whereas, sales were steady during the 1980s, when roughly 30 Christian bookstores
operated in Vermont, and
   Whereas, in the store’s early years, approximately one-third of the revenue was
derived from musical-related sales, including sheet music and CDs, and
   Whereas, in the digital retail age, the market for religious-related merchandise, such as
greeting cards and music products, is no longer robust, and Inspirational Bible Book &
Gifts is today the last traditional Christian bookstore operating in Vermont, and
   Whereas, despite this economic challenge, Jacob Esh proudly opens the store each
business day, a mission based on his abiding religious faith, now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly congratulates Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts of
Bennington, Vermont’s last remaining Christian bookstore, on its 50th anniversary, and
be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts.
                                                                              VT LEG #389913 v.1