Marie’s Candies, West Liberty, Ohio

The U.S. state of Ohio has many major cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Akron, Dayton, and Toledo just to name a few.? It is the home of Bob Evans, the man who founded the company of the same name.? It was where the Wright Brothers, the brothers who made the first successful air flight on the beaches of North Carolina, spent most of their childhood.? The state has small towns like West Liberty in the western region of the state.? What is special about West Liberty?? It is the home of Ohio Caverns, Piatt Castle, and Marie’s Candies.

Some of you are saying, “Wait a minute.? Marie’s Candies?? What is so special about Marie’s Candies?”

You are asking what is special about Marie’s Candies.? As you already figured out, it is a place that sells candy.

Some of you are saying, “Well, we already knew that, but there are places across the country and around the world that sell candy.”

That is true, but there is something special about Marie’s Candies.? What is special about Marie’s Candies?? Let us say that many people drive great distances, past other candy shops, to buy candy here.

Some of you are saying, “That is definitely special, but who is Marie?”

That is a good question.? The answer, sadly, has a tragic beginning.

It begins with a man named Winfred King, a farmer, and he worked very hard on a farm in Ohio, but then he got polio, and the disease confined him to a wheelchair, and he was no longer able to work the farm.? Friends and neighbors stepped up to help his family.? Of course, when people help you, you want to show gratitude to those who helped you.? He and his wife, Marie, gave boxes of homemade candy.? The candy was made in their kitchen of their home.? A business began, and people traveled great distances to by their candy.? The business moved from their home to a home in the town of West Liberty, and their business continued to thrive.? Today, a trip to Marie’s Candies in West Liberty, Ohio will be rewarded with a very sweet and delicious ending.

Some of you are saying, “Well that is so sweet.? It is really sad what happened to her husband, but at least the business has been successful.? There is one problem.? As you can see.? This is a candy shop.? This candy shop has nothing to do with the railroad.? Therefore, I find nothing sweet about this place.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this story is not over.? There is more to this story.? What is special about Marie’s Candies?

The answer goes back to the Golden Age of Railroading.? What does the Golden Age of Railroading have to do with Marie’s Candies?? As passenger train service declined, many places were no longer served by passenger trains.? The small town of West Liberty, Ohio was one of those places.? When a town lost train service, the train station was no longer used by the railroad.? While some train stations were demolished or converted into museums or visitor centers, some were just abandoned like the one in West Liberty.

What is special about Marie’s Candies?

When Marie’s Candies needed a new space, they looked at the old train station that was deteriorating.? The train station was relocated from its original location to its current location on the north side of the town, and it was fully restored, and Marie’s Candies moved in, and the business continues out of there today.

Now you see what is special about Marie’s Candies.? Even though the business runs in an old train station, most people really visit for the candy.? Once you taste it, you will develop a sweet tooth and will want more.? Even though they sell candy that they make, they do sell candy from other candy makers as well.? A business that began with gratitude from Wilfred and Marie King still remains in the family today along with thirty other employees.

Marie’s Candies is located at 311 Zanesfield Road (U.S. Route 68) in West Liberty, Ohio.? Parking is on site.? You can get more information on store hours and read more into the family history at https://mariescandies.com/.

Marie’s Candies is a great place to visit, not for candy lovers and railroad lovers alike.? Who ever thought that railroad history could be so sweet?