Gilbert in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Liberty Market

Heritage District

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2015

1. Liberty Market Marker

Inscription. Eddie and Edith Dong built Liberty Market in 1936. It was a very modern store at that time. Ben Ong, a native of China, came to the United States in 1929 and began working at Liberty Market in 1936. Ben married Mae in a typical Chinese family arranged marriage that lasted 64 years. Ben and Mae managed and subsequently purchased the market from the Dongs in 1943. When the Ongs enlarged the store in 1957, Mae Ong designed the neon sign with the star over the "I" in Liberty. The sign is still on display in front of the building. In the early 1980's the market was purchased by the Sam Brommert family. In 2006 the Johnston family purchased the building and it was reopened as a restaurant in 2008 by Joe and Cindy Johnston and David and Kiersten Traina.

The fire pictured below took place in October 1938. The REO Speedwagon fire truck in the photo is currently on display at the Gilbert Historical Museum at the southwest corner of Elliot and Gilbert roads.

Erected 2012 by Gilbert Leadership Class XX 2012. A program of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1938.

Location. 33° 21.288′ N, 111° 47.389′ W. Marker is in Gilbert, Arizona, in

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Maricopa County. It is at the intersection of North Gilbert Road and West Page Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Gilbert Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 230 North Gilbert Road, Gilbert AZ 85234, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert,

in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area,

and in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Gadsden Purchase,

and Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Creed Building (a few steps from this marker); The Bank of Gilbert (within shouting distance of this marker); Dance Pavilion (within shouting distance of this marker); Tone Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Pump House (within shouting distance of this marker); Clement's Garage (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gilbert Town Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gilbert Elementary School (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gilbert.

Photo on Liberty Market Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2015

2. Photo on Liberty Market Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2015

3. Liberty Market Marker

Liberty Market image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2015

4. Liberty Market

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,554 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 2, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.