Prints Charming

Inside the historic building at 146 Water Street in Warren sits a charming store that sells books, handmade jewelry, letterpress cards, pottery and more. Its name – the Wooden Midshipman – comes from the name of a shop in Dickens’ Dombey & Son. Since the store (owned by Kate Dickson and Brian O’Donnell) is in Warren’s Arts District, all art sold there is sales tax free.

We are particularly enamored by their limited edition vintage children’s book prints, which Kate made with help of a RISD student. The images come from two books written in the 19th century by famed painter and former Warren resident Henry Cady. The books, Down the Bay and Our Week Afloat – both now out of print – depict Cady’s childhood spent on the water. At $17 to $22 unframed, the prints have been selling like hotcakes; there are currently only a few left. The Wooden Midshipman will be taking special orders for the holidays due to popular demand, with price to be determined. “We like to keep them affordable, basically just to cover the costs of getting them made,” Kate says. “They really belong to the community at large.”