“Salem really has such a rich history of locally owned businesses in our downtown that have stayed here and given a lot back to the community,” said Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alicia Johnston.

Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dave Russell said the Heart and Soul Award are presented to businesses who have exemplified service to their community and are consistently involved with and support community events. Russell said that as the oldest independently owned and operated small business downtown, Troll’s Jewelry has been a fixture of Salem’s downtown programming, consistently participating and sponsoring annual events including the Downtown Dining Experience which supports the United Way, and the Chamber Easter Egg Hunt.

“They’re the businesses that are the heartbeat, the heart and soul of our wonderful downtown businesses,” said Russell.

Troll’s has been locally owned and operated since its inception in 1934 when original owner Foster “Heck” Troll opened his watch stand in a space which is now part of Mike’s Penn Grille. In the 1940s the business moved into the building it still calls home more than 90 years later at 581 East State St. Later as the business expanded Foster would be joined by his wife Erma, and daughter Jackie after completing her courses at Maryland College for Women.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce presented its coveted Heart and Soul Award to Troll’s Jewelry Tuesday. Troll’s Jewelry has been locally owned and operated and a fixture of Salem’s downtown for more than 90 years, directly supporting programming downtown throughout the business’ history. Shown from left are Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dave Russell, Troll’s Jewelry Manager Mindy Schwingle and Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alicia Johnston. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Following Foster’s passing in 1967 Jackie took over the business full-time, eventually hiring current manager Mindy Schwingle for the first time in 1982. While Schwingle moved temporarily to Columbus with her husband, she return to Salem and Troll’s in 1989, where she has remained to this day. Schwingle said that while she has overseen the business’s managerial duties for the last 25 years, Jackie continued working at Troll’s six days a week until her passing in 2015.

Schwingle described receiving the Heart and Soul Award as an honor, and that she was happy to be able to continue supporting the community like Jackie before her.

“I’m very honored and touched. As a small business you can feel like nobody really notices that work you do. Jackie loved working with the United Way and it’s lovely to continue that legacy,” she said.