For years, a lingering question remained in the annals of Marble’s history: What happened to Sylvia Smith’s printing press after she was forced to leave town on March 27, 1912? While records noted the Marble City Times equipment had been impounded by the town for “safekeeping,” the actual location remained a mystery—until now.

Research into the archives of the Marble Historical Society has brought to light the remarkable story of Henry Mertens (1875–1917). A first-generation German-American from Illinois, Mertens arrived in Marble by 1909 as the driving force behind “Mertens and Graham,” a hardware and furniture store. More than just a merchant, Mertens was a civic powerhouse: a town trustee, a founding member of the volunteer fire department, and Secretary of the Marble City Bank.