The Marblehead Mile (Article 5) - Lorrie Halblaub

In this series we are taking an historical look at an area that covers approximately a mile of Main Street in downtown Marblehead. Heading east from the Village limits, we will discover the facts and the stories of how Marblehead became what it is today.

Last month we met the Biro Manufacturing family and talked about one of their two brick buildings that are on Main Street. The other brick building to the east at 1020 W. Main Street is now used for storage, but it started out as Biro Hall. It was a rental hall with a stage. Every year the “Stag Party” was held there for local men. They served ham hocks and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and had fun drinking, gambling, and enjoying each other’s company.  The women of the Child Conservation League (CCL) held Valentines dances there.   One New Year’s Eve a band called the Danger Brothers had the peninsula rocking in the new year.  That hall also  saw many wedding receptions. On a wall in the building, there was always a picture of Carl Biro smiling down on brides and grooms in many local couples’ photographs. 

 Civic-minded Biro Manufacturing also donated the land for Biro Field at the school where Danbury school students still play football and hold track meets. Several of the Biro boys were excellent track runners.  The company also sponsored local baseball teams. 

Front row L-R: Franny Skrinak; Top row L-R:  John Bird 3^rd   Louie Benya 2^nd from right

7 In between the two brick buildings is Gilbert Street.  It was named for Gilbert “Gibby” Krohe (pronounced “Croy”) who was killed in WWII.  He and his friend, John Stayancho, were inducted into the Army and the local boys were assigned to the same regiment.  During the invasion of New Georgia in the South Pacific, a sniper’s bullet found Gilbert.  He cried out to his friend John, who ignored the order to withdraw and stayed with Gilbert, praying and pressing a rosary into his hands until the end. For his dedication, John Stayancho received a citation for the Silver Star. The citation read, “He remained to aid and evacuate a wounded comrade during a withdrawal while under exposure to heavy enemy fire.” Gilbert is buried in the Manilla American Cemetery in the Philippines.