B&J Book Binding Binds Past, Present

The blend of old and new coexist at B&J Book Bindery, tucked into a nondescript, glass-fronted, red-brick building at 108 S.W. Third St. Inside might be one of downtown Corvallis’ (Oregon) best-kept secrets, a place to take a break from the 21st century.

Nobody works the guillotine except Susan Stogsdill. She spins the big black enamel-painted wheel that raises the thick iron cutting bar. A few adjustments tamp a thick pad of paper into place. She pulls back a lever, and that lowers the cutting blade, which evenly cleaves the paper into two tidy stacks.