We are thrilled to announce that the Elberta Labor Heritage Center & WUWU Community Radio will be purchasing the property currently occupied by the Elberta Mercantile. (Note: The Mercantile ceased operations on September 6th). Our vision- to transform this beloved structure into a vibrant community hub—dedicated to telling the stories of Elberta and her people.

In a remarkable act of generosity, Mark and Carol Carlin have agreed to sell the Mercantile building to the nonprofit Elberta Labor Heritage Center (ELHC) at well below market value—ensuring the building remains a space for community, history, and creativity.

If you know the history of this building, you know it was acquired by the Village of Elberta in 1951 after the Buckner garage burned down. On January 18, 1954 the Elberta Village Council approved a motion to build a library on the property. At the groundbreaking ceremony in the spring of 1955, more than 300 people came to watch Aunt Maggie McManus dig up the first shovelful of dirt. Working with community volunteers and donations, the doors of the library did not open until April 1960. When the library closed in 2001, the building was utilized as the Gilmore Township Hall through 2015. The Carlins bought and renovated the building in 2016. This location has stood witness to generations of rail workers, seaman, farmers, and tradespeople. Now, we have a rare opportunity to preserve that history while creating space for storytelling, exhibits, oral history workshops, and educational events that connect past and present.

We are purchasing the building for $80,000 and would like to raise an additional $24,000 to complete some upgrades to the building, including making the bathroom and entrances handicapped accessible - ready for opening to the public in the summer of 2026. The good news? We already have $30,000 committed to the campaign. Now we are reaching out to the community for support.

By making a tax-deductible gift today, you’ll help us:

Secure and preserve an iconic historic building in downtown Elberta
Establish a home for community historical preservation efforts (and for WUWU Community Radio)
Launch programming that amplifies local voices and intergenerational learning

We invite you to join our Founders Circle with a gift of $1,000 or more. Your contribution—large or small—will bring us closer to opening our doors.

NOTE: If you prefer to mail a check, you can send it to the Elberta Heritage Center, P.O. Box 574, Elberta, MI 49628; put "Building Campaign" in the memo line. Checks can be made out to the Elberta Labor Heritage Center or WUWU-LPFM. Thanks!

Elberta Heritage Center Building Campaign

Preserving Elberta's Past and Building Our Future