The Marblehead Mile (Article 14) - Lorrie Halbalub

Town Hall & New Fire Station

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. [This is article #14 in the series.]

Across Main Street from the Kelleys Island Ferry Boat line is the Village of Marblehead Town Hall.  Built of limestone in 1912, today it houses on the lower level the police station, and streets and parks maintenance. Upstairs is the Mayor’s office, zoning, water billing and other fiscal activity.  The Village currently has a Mayor, a Village Administrator, a Council and various committees.   During the Great Depression, a Young Men’s Social Club met upstairs where they played cards, listened to the radio and read newspapers and magazines.

Town Hall

The Marblehead Volunteer Fire Department had its humble beginning in this building where the garage door is in 1895 when Mayor Hubbard Clemons appointed a committee to purchase three fire extinguishers to place around the village. Then in 1902, they bought a two-wheel chemical fire engine that was pulled by hand or by horse and wagon. A building was built behind the Town Hall to house it.  The first of many motorized engines was purchased in 1920. Always in need of money for buildings equipment, in 1923 they held a circus to raise funds. By 1931, they built a building to house the fire engine next to the Town Hall where the second garage door is.

Bowling Alley

Next to that garage was the town’s bowling alley that was torn down to build a new fire station. In 1967 they began to build in that spot next to the town hall and they held their first meeting in 1968.   This building housed all the fire trucks and equipment.  In the past they moved all the trucks outside and this was where Santa and Mrs. Clause greeted children at Christmas time. It was also the place where feather parties, fish fries and other events were held to raise funds for the fire department.

In 1959, Marblehead Volunteer Fire Department became the first fire department in Ottawa County to operate and ambulance service. In 1995 the Marblehead Fire Department celebrated their 100^th year and in their celebratory booklet, proudly announced that four women were part of the fire department. 

Over the years, they fought fires in houses, businesses, and boats and saved thousands of lives. Today, the Lakeside and Marblehead Fire stations, are combined and housed in a new building near the traffic circle at the junction of Englebeck Road, Northshore Blvd. and Rt. 163.  The old fire station next to the Town Hall is used for meetings and storage.