THE STORY

How It Came About:

The "Marvelous" Marengo Mercantile came about somewhat like the story of the Phoenix, the mythological bird that burns, is reborn, and rises anew out of its own ashes.

My mother passed away November 2004, leaving behind the accumulation of her 95 years. Plus, she had been the caretaker of what was left by both my maternal and paternal grandparents. All of them were born in the last quarter of the 1800s and lived long lives, so they also had plenty of time to accumulate. I am the "designated family member" who had to deal with and decide what to do with "all the stuff."

After my sister, brother and sister-in-law, and I each chose what we wanted to keep, there were still boxes and boxes of "more stuff." I actually had a 12' x 24' storage shed built in my backyard specifically to house "the stuff." A huge amount of clothing was donated to two local charities for women. A lot of household things went into yard sales, but.... The last yard sale took three long days of exhausting work in 95-100 degree heat (I live in Tucson, Arizona) and netted almost exactly what had been spent (ads, a helper, etc). That was it! No more doing yard sales! Love to shop at them; hate to hold them. I packed up everything left over (saving out the really good stuff, of course) and took two crammed-full carloads to the thrift shop for a local children's charity.

And there was still "more stuff" left... boxes of it. There had to be another way. While dealing with Mom's "stuff," I found myself looking around my own house and came to the realization that I also needed to deal with my own "stuff." Otherwise, somebody someday was going to be doing what I had been doing. I put on my thinking cap and up popped "eBay." So... out of my mother's passing rises a new eBay eStore: The Marengo Mercantile! I think that she would like that.

Why The Strange Name:

What may seem like a rather strange name for an eStore is actually a token memorial to my memories of my paternal and maternal grandparents.

The paternal ancestral farm was located in Marengo (pronounced: Maa-ring-go). It's a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" town about 15 miles south of Lake Superior in far northern Wisconsin. Along with other wonderful memories of times spent "on the farm," I have a really fond one of Danny's General Store. At Danny's you could buy anything from penny candy to flour by the 50 lb. bag, from a frying pan to work overalls, from a cream separator (used on a dairy farm like ours) to a brand new John Deere tractor. Danny's had just about everything you'd need to live on a farm in the country. It was always a great adventure going there and exploring the tables and shelves, piled so high you couldn't see over them. Hence: Marengo.

Another favorite memory is going shopping with my mother and maternal grandmother in Madison, WI. There was a large department store called The "Something" Mercantile. It was another marvelous place for a child to wander wide-eyed. Furniture, clothing, fabric and patterns to make your own, white gloves and white dress shirts for Sunday church, way too much to remember. The Mercantile carried almost everything you'd need to live in the city. I looked up "mercantile" in Webster's; it means "trading" or "dealing in merchandise." Given the variety of what is and will be in my eStore, that sounded right to me. Hence: Mercantile.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE

You will find retro, vintage and antique items... the turn of the century through the 1970s... waiting to be added to your present collection or perfect for starting a new one. To begin I've listed Depression glass, silverware, cooking & kitchenware, glassware, pottery and china, boxes & crates, etc. You'll also find brand new one-of-a-kind designer pillows and Christmas stockings that I personally design and fabricate. And you'll find some really great Health Products.

Coming soon (they may already be here when you read this) will be old/antique tools, small equipment, and personal items (like antique straight razors in their original boxes). More old glassware and art glass. Old/vintage/antique books, special event newspapers & magazines, and an antique post card collection. I'll also be listing over 100 Threads Magazines I have in addition to my own collection.

Along the way will be old/retro/vintage/antique clothing patterns, including Vogue. Vintage and antique fabrics, table and other linens, and handkerchiefs. Hundreds of yards of fabrics... all kinds, all beautiful. Rolls of decorative ribbons, bundles of silk flowers. You may find old or unusual buttons, clasps and beads. You might come across porcelain Santa and angel heads for dollmaking. Whatever your imagination can conjure... clothing, quilting, dollmaking, pillows or purses, anything you create or fabricate... you will most likely find something to peak your interest at my eStore or in my auctions.

I have acquired over 130 vintage kimono plus obi, ties, vintage kimono panels and fabrics, along with brand new fabrics imported from Japan. A large part of this collection will most likely show up on eBay.

WHAT ELSE

What have I forgotten? I don't know. I will suggest that you click the "Add to my Favorite Sellers" link below. Be sure to check the e-mail box so you can be notified when new and different items are added. And no, you will not be inundated with e-mails or spams. First, your e-mail address will go no further than me, I promise. Second, I can't write a newsletter every week; I'm too busy writing listings. You'll be notified of additions and specials... that's it. Third, I hate spam!

Also, click on the "The Marengo Mercantile" link, and then bookmark (add to "Favorites" in the upper left corner of your screen) my eStore Home Page address. You'll be one click away from checking the "Newly Listeds."

Me? I've been in Sales most of my life -- import/export, home & office furnishings wholesale showrooms, commercial & residential real estate. I'm currently looking into new career possibilities. Right now, it looks like it may be full-time eBay. I've been an eBay member since October 5, 1999, always buying. Now I'm back into Sales again.

I moved from San Francisco, CA to Tucson, Arizona in 1982. It was time to live someplace new. I like the sun, heat, mountains, sunsets and space, though I still miss SF's museums and theaters. I'd like to do some traveling in the future -- Central/Southern Mexico, Costa Rico, maybe Belize or Guatemala, definitely Peru, hopefully Greece, Italy, Spain. Actually, if you sent me a plane ticket and the money to board Ping (see below), I'd probably go any place in the world (well, there are a few exceptions).

If I ever get the time and can get them all cleaned and groomed AND can make them hold still, I may add pictures of my three "kids": Sno Ping--a purebred, pure white Pekingese... a very inscrutable, but playful little fellow; Skipperdy--a bright orange Tabby... a very intelligent and loving puss; and Kyori--a white/brown/black Calico with an Attitude... definitely a female Cat. That's the current household.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read about me and The Marengo Mercantile. I hope you will drop into my store and auctions frequently. I look forward to meeting and doing business with you.

Happy Bidding and Have a Good Life!

Thank You For Visiting My Auctions and eStore

Be sure to add me to your favorites list!

Visit My eBay Store: The "Marvelous" Marengo Mercantile!