Erie's Market Houses

The Market Houses of the past were the near equivalent of a modern Farmer's Market. They served as a market place for local Farmers and Vendors to sell their goods to the general public, as well to local restaurants and businesses. Some were two story structures and their upper floor or floors would be used for public or civic functions — this style of a Market Building was developed in rural England and spread to the colonial territories of Great Britain, including Ireland and New England in America. Erie had several markets houses, all located downtown. The first one built in 1814. They were all easy to get to by the turn-of-the-century, in 1900, by riding the trolley. The trolley spanned throughout all of Erie County and was not only the most important transportation artery for the community but the life’s blood for the market house. The trolleys not only brought shoppers and commercial buyers from throughout the county, but some of the locally produced goods as well. The Fishmongers and local Fishermen found the trolley to be a vital connection between the docks and the market houses. As the automobile grew in popularity the trolley’s existence came to an end, and was replaced with local bus service in the city and personal-automobile travel throughout the county. Modern transportation shifted people’s shopping habits to the suburbs and the market houses begun a slow death, the last one lost during Erie’s Downtown Redevelopment in the 1960s.

Erie Market House (1814-1866)
 
In 1814 Erie’s first market house was erected on South Park Row, between State and Peach Streets. It was replaced by another at the same location in 1838. Both markets were next to the Erie County Court House, which faced State Street. The second market was torn down in 1866 and was not replaced. For the succeeding 29 years Erie had no market house. During this time a street market was held on the east side of State Street from the Park's southern end, sometimes extending as far as to the railroad bridge near 14th and State streets. An additional street market was held on Parade Street during the last few years of the street market. In 1895 a general protest went forth against the continuance of the street market, with its attendant hardships in bad weather, and the people clamored for a market house. They got four, they were erected in 1895, two of the four that were successful was Central Market House located at 16th and State, and Parade Street Market House at 10th and Parade Streets, the other two were at the corners of 4th and State, and 12th and Parade Streets. They were discontinued after a few years' experiment and the buildings devoted to other uses.

People's Market House (1895-1902)
 
The People's Market House, 4th and State streets, was housed in a large eclectic U-shaped brick building built in stages, between 1895 and 1928. The building measures 218 feet by 330 feet. The earliest section was built in 1895, as the People's Market House and was used as a public market for 7 years, until 1902, after which it was leased to the Modern Tool Company, a machine tool manufacturer. The structure is 3 1/2-stories and has a large central pavilion with flanking two-story wings and a gable roof. The Modern Tool Company built the State Street side in five sections, between 1916 and 1924. The northern block was added about 1928, after the tool company had vacated the building. It features Palladian windows and a corner turret. The building remains standing today and is still known as the Modern Tool Company.

Parade Street Market House (1895-1960s)
 
Mr. Weber was one of the founding members, and the vice-president and director, of the Parade Street Market House at 10th and Parade streets. He was a member of the Republican party, and a parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He owned property at 1023 State Street and his residence was at 355 East 9th Street, which had his brother’s photograph studio adjoining the residence. Mr. Weber directed the operation of the Parade Street Market House, which was a neighborhood community outlet of locally grown and produced food, where people would buy fresh produce, fruit, meat, bread, milk and other items. Local Farmers, Growers, Butchers, Bakers and so on would rent individual stalls, and sometimes a row of stalls, to sell their goods. The Scolio family begun their produce business in the 1920s opening their first location at the Parade Street Market before relocating to the Central Market House.

Central Market House (1895-1960s)
 
At 16th and State streets, Central Market House, Opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays, was a huge and the most popular community outlet of locally grown and produced food, as well as fresh trout from Lake Erie, before over fishing and pollution brought commercial fishing to nearly an end. The general public and local restaurant owners would buy fresh produce, fruit, meat, fish, dairy and bake goods, along with other offerings. Local Farmers, Growers, Fishmongers, Butchers, Bakers and so on would rent individual stalls, or a series of stalls, to sell their goods. The stalls at the State Street side had a door that faced out onto State, where goods would be unloaded from the trolley, or from a horse-drawn wagon. The Central Market was demolished by the Erie Redevelopment Authority.

East 12th Street Market (1927-1951)

This large indoor market had entrances on East 12th Street, French Street, East 13th Street and Commerce Street. Opened in 1927, The building had 350 stores or booths inside by 1928. Some of the vendors at that time included Charles Foht, Frank Lore & Son, B. P. Bean & Son, Eli Phillips & Son, Meiser's, Mrs. J. H. Murphy, Driscoll's Fish & Oyster, the Lincoln Coffee Co. and St. George's.

Familiar vendors also included Scolio and Del Porto (fruit); Urbaniak Brothers, Rudy Voss and Joyce Brothers (meat); Picardo (horse radish) and the Balkan Baking Company.

Many local grocers, butchers, fruit dealers and florists got their start in this block-long, enclosed market, which proved to be a good investment for many years. For 24 years market had a variety of merchants, smells, and occasional sounds from the second floor bowling alley and roller-skating rink.

The market had free parking for 500 cars. Customers could also take the bus to do their grocery shopping. Items for sale included fresh perch and pike, hamburg, pork, cabbage, asparagus and other fruits and vegetables in season. You could also purchase dairy products such as milk and butter.

During WWII, when a shipment of coffee would arrived late in the day coffee vendors would spend a few hours after closing pre-grinding the bags of beans in preparation for the lines of people coming in the morning for that scarce and rationed item. Customers could enter through doors on French Street, East 12th or East 13th Street. Vendors received shipments on the Commerce Street side and kept their stock farm-fresh. Cars were parked in a lot in the lower level. Some people would buy live chickens in the southwest corner of the market.

The market operated until it was destroyed by fire in 1951.

Erie Market House, South Park Row (1866)

Parade Street Market House (1900)

Central Market House (1800s)

B.P. Bean & Sons Meat Market at the Central Market House (1930)
The photo was provided by Dennis Bean.

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