Marcus Hook ‘Plank House’ Opens a Gateway to History and Pirates

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Michael Manerchia outside the Plank House in Marcus Hook. Image via Yong Kim, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Michael and Patty Manerchia had no idea their Marcus Hook home was constructed from the planks of an early 18th century ship, writes Mari A. Schaefer for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

They were even more surprised to discover that their “plank house” in the 200 block of Market Street near the Delaware River held hidden artifacts from the past, some possibly even linked to local pirate lore.

Michael found pieces of broken plates between the beams of the house. He remembered the local legend that Blackbeard had buried treasure in a Marcus Hook basement.

“I thought I was going to get rich,” said Manerchia, who is also a borough councilman. “I thought the legends of Blackbeard’s treasures were all coming true, and we were just lucky enough to find them.”

Soon, archaeologists, historians and researchers were pouring through the house.

Found among 17,000 artifacts were pottery, coins, buttons and the roof of a Ford Model T.

The now-named “Plank House” has become a converted living museum that tells the history of the area.

The National Register of Historic Places home has fed the town’s pirate lore, fostering an annual fall pirate festival, drawing 9,000 visitors.

Read more about the Marcus Hook connection to pirates here.

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