The Marblehead Mile (Article 15) - 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. [This is article #15]

There is a new parking lot next to the Village of Marblehead Town Hall.  For over 100 years, this spot, 505 West Main Street, was the location of the Mutach’s Market building.

The Leon Mutach family came from Switzerland in 1880. The family settled in Jamestown on James Street, in a house still owned by his descendants.  Leon was a stone cutter for the quarry until he was killed in a tragic accident. Quarry workers drilled holes by hand and packed them with black powder.  A stone from an explosion hit Leon in the head. Leon’s son, Leo also worked in the quarry as a young man. He was paid 50 cents for a 10-hour day carrying water to the workers.

Leo started Mutach’s store in 1905. He sold all the supplies people needed and spoke eleven languages to help the immigrant quarry workers and their families.  He served as a translator for the workers when they needed help, from understanding things on the label of a can to documents they were asked to sign.  During the Great Depression Leo sold his merchandise on credit, no matter how long it took a family to pay the money back. In 1930, Leo Mutach became a Marblehead Postmaster and the Post Office was housed at the store.  Leo also served as the first fire chief when they had the hand pumper on a wagon pulled by a horse.

Leo’s two sons, Ervin and his brother Bill worked in their father’s store for over 30 years. Ervin was also a Marblehead fire chief.  When Ervin Mutach retired from running the store,

he sold it to Bill and Becky Klaehn. They kept the name Mutach’s and they and their sons ran the store until 2015. Then Steve and Lisa Sapp bought the business and the name Mutach’s, but not the property.  Instead, they moved Mutach’s to the corner of Rt. 163 and Northshore Boulevard, outside the Village limits. Ironically the old store, which had two fire chiefs from the Mutach family, and was only one building away from the fire department, accidently caught fire and burned to the ground in 2015. 

The Marblehead Village purchased the land from Becky Klaehn in 2016 for their parking area.