A Rebirth in Tamaqua: 3 Schuylkill women bring life to Shepp House

The former Shepp House in Tamaqua is undergoing a second rebirth of sorts, this time housing three separate, but related businesses with women at the helms.

Linda Marchalk, Christine Holman and Lacey Gonzalez-Horan have been friends for a long time, each considering the others as part of their families. For two of them, the ties were strengthened through the bond shared by their respective husbands, Gary Marchalk and Champ Holman.

Gary’s unexpected death in 2017 left a huge void in all three women’s lives. It also left a void in the Tamaqua business community. The new business venture will hopefully help to fill those voids.

Linda, who lives in Barnesville, bought the former Shepp House, located at 204 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, in 2007 and opened Northeast PA Abstract LLC. Gary moved his law offices into the building the same year. The two businesses flourished and the couple quickly became invested in the community. Linda’s election as Schuylkill County treasurer in 2015 meant more work, but didn’t have any adverse effect on the business. Her community involvement also grew, earning her the presidency of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce in 2017.

Christine also lives in Barnesville and earned her law degree in 1991. After clerking for several Schuylkill County judges, she opened a private practice in Frackville in 2001. That year, she was also named as lead prosecutor for the Juvenile Division in the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. She entered politics in 2013, when she became the first woman elected to the position of Schuylkill County District Attorney.

Lacey hasn’t entered the political field, instead concentrating on teaching and her growing tax/accounting business. A 2000 graduate of Panther Valley High School, she earned bachelor’s degrees in management and accounting, with a minor in communications, from Alvernia College. She also earned an MBA in entrepreneurship. Her busy schedule includes a private business from her Summit Hill home in addition to teaching business and accounting at the Lehigh Carbon Community College.

One stop ‘shopping’

The Shepp House is way too large to house just the abstract business and the three friends began brainstorming ways to fill its many rooms.

Holman was considering her private practice, while Gonzalez-Horan was looking at expanding her business. Combining all three businesses into one location didn’t take much thought after all.

“We’ve been friends for so many years, it just seemed natural to bring our businesses together in one spot,” Marchalk said. “And, while Gary’s law practice clients are being assisted by the estate lawyer, Martin Cerullo, this is one way for us to show he may be gone, but not forgotten.”

Returning to private practice could have been an ordeal for Holman, but she says, “Linda has made the transition very easy for me. Opening my private practice in Tamaqua makes sense as I already have many roots and connections to the community.”

Her practice will focus on criminal defense, personal injury, family law, wills, trusts, estates and real estate. The office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She may also be reached by phone, 570-668-5321, or email cholmanlaw@yahoo.com.

Gonzalez-Horan specializes in tax returns and small business accounting, including doing payrolls. Most of her clients are from Carbon County and she’s looking forward to offering her services to the residents of Tamaqua and the surrounding areas of Schuylkill County. “I’ve been thinking of expanding for a while and the timing is just right,” she says.

Her Tamaqua office will be open Mondays and Wednesdays, from noon to 6 p.m. Additional hours are available by appointment.

She can also be reached at 570-668-5321, 570-805-4630 or email lghtaxandaccounting@yahoo.com.

For Marchalk, she’s excited to have three businesses, all owned by woman, in one location. It also helps that all of the women are friends and the businesses interrelate. “It’s like one stop shopping. My abstract company, which is now Northeast Edge Associates LLC, offers title searches, title insurance and real estate closings, for both residential and commercial clients. Lacey offers accounting and tax help, while Christine offers her expertise in real estate law.”

Northeast Edge also has offices in Frackville and Schuylkill Haven. Tamaqua hours are by appointment at this time and may be made by calling 570-668-5321.