The Marblehead Mile (Article 20) - 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 #20 in the series.]

The next two buildings are across the street from each other, but share a history. And this history involves a few local people who were known by their nicknames.  The antique and gift shop Marblehead Mercantile at 215 W. Main St. is on the south side of the street. It started out as Merckens Brothers Coal, Ice and Trucking, and later became the Merckens Brothers Hardware Store. The small building on the north side of the street at 210 W. Main, which is now Hanging with the Buoys gift shop, was a storage building for the hardware store.

The father of the Merckens brothers, August Frederick Merckens, whose parents emigrated from Germany, started the business, and his sons, Ruel (Zeke) and Reynold (Stubb) Merckens started the Hardware store around 1943 and ran it for many years.  The east end of the hardware store was a dedicated spot for the office of Dr. Jack Witker until he retired.  The hardware store sold all kinds of things including the first television ever sold in the village that was purchased by Clarence Kukay and placed in the CBK Bar.  It was very popular and men enjoyed their libations as they watched boxing matches on the tiny round screen. 

In 1962, Frederick (Fritz) Porter purchased both buildings.  At first, he kept the name Merckens Brothers and then later changed it to Porter Hardware. He was born and raised in Sandusky and came to the peninsula in the 1930’s.  He married Phyllis Mae Reaser, whose grandfather George Eberwine was once the Mayor of Marblehead.  When Fritz retired, the hardware store was run by a man named Skoliak (not sure of spelling) according to Fritz’s daughter, Maxine, and then Tom Christ.

In 1995, both buildings were purchased by Ben and Wendy Richmond, who turned the hardware store into a picture framing shop.  Most of the hardware store furnishings and display shelves from the old store were sold to John Starcher and are still in use at Village Pro Hardware at the corner of Main and James Streets. 

When Ben and Wendy moved away, the building was rented out and became a yarn shop for a while. It was then sold in 2012 to Willy Steinbrick, who rents it out as an antique and collectibles gift shop run by several people who rent space in the building. 

The smaller building was sold in 2020 and rented out to the Marblehead Soap Company, and now to a couple who make interesting decorative buoys.