By Christine Lorraine Morgan ~ Nov. 5, 2023

Before supermarkets and serve-yourself retailers cropped up around the city, Erie’s Central Market was an outlet for fresh fruit, produce, bread, meat and milk, among other goods. Located at the eastern end of Little Italy, many ancestors worked there and operated various merchandise stalls.

The way it worked was that vendors rented a stall or multiple stalls to peddle their merchandise. It was situated between State Street and Peach Street. Its north border was the 14th Street railroad tracks, and it extended south about one city block.

Initially, merchants utilized horses-drawn wagons and trolleys to transport their goods to the market place. In later years they brought their merchandise to market in motorized vehicles.

In his Central Market stall is John Batista DiSalvo, Nonno of Ev Phillips Smith.

Although no concrete dates of when it was open have been found, based on old images, it appears to have been operational from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century, when the Erie Redevelopment Authority had it demolished. The postcard that is included with this feature was postmarked 1913, so that offers an indication of when this special selling center was in its heyday.

As of 2020 Perseus House Educational and Residential Services operated at this site, but closer to Peach Street where its entrance is located.

If any of your ancestors worked at this bustling marketplace, please feel free to share your story in the comments. My great-grandfather Frank Sunseri sold citrus fruit here, and his 12 children often helped him out. He bought a house in the 400 block of W. 17th where some of my distant relatives still reside.

Now it’s your turn.

This 1913 postcard depicts a bustling marketplace, where a multitude of merchants gather to serve the public by selling bread, milk, fresh produce, meats, fish and many other items. Pretty sure the sign in the lower center next to the trolley reads: L. Loesch, wholesale Fish & Cheese.