American Herb Medicine Co.
1904—1913
American Herb Medicine Co. was formed between March and July of 1904. According to the 1909 Polk Charleston City Directory, its president was J. Ferree Bedell and it was located at 410 Capitol Street. It disappears from Dun & Bradstreet listings after September 1913.
A Frizzel's vanilla extract from the American Herb Medicine Co. The back is embossed with the Hinton New River Grocery Co.
Edwin L. Boggs
1875—1902
The earliest mentions of Ed. Boggs I can find are in the 1875 Dun & Bradstreet and the 1874-1875 Charleston City Directory (J.S. Sheppard & Co., 1875); the latter mentions his business was located on the north side of Kanawha Street between Capitol and Summers Streets. According to the 1899 Polk West Virginia Gazetteer, Boggs’ pharmacy was located at 40 Capitol Street.
In 1902, Boggs’ pharmacy was purchased by W.M. Puckett—also of Puckett’s Pharmacy in Hinton (Laidley, 1911). He operated the business for three years. Puckett was evidently a renaissance man, being at different times the cashier at the First National Bank of Hinton, an investor in the Kayford mines, the owner of Boggs pharmacy, his own pharmacy, and eventually the General Manager of the entire Kanawha Fuel Company, then finally becoming the Vice President of the Cabin Creek Consolidated Coal Company. It seems when you’re rich you can be put in charge of basically anything!
A paper label bottle from Boggs for cod liver oil. Address is currently Kanawha Boulevard.
Transcription:
Charleston, W.Va., Nov. 26, 1879
Pleasant Valley Wine Co.
Rheims, N.Y.
Gents,
Please forward me at once 2 cases Great Western quarts, 1 case Great Western pints.
Indelibly Yours,
E.L. Boggs
From New York for steamer
To Richmond cf agt (care of agent?) C&O RR.
Builtman-Nash Drug Co. / Builtman Drug Co.
1914—1915 / 1915—1937
The Builtman-Nash Drug Co. was founded sometime between January 1914 and September 1914, as it first appears in the September 1914 Dun & Bradstreet. The first mention of the Builtman-Nash Drug Company in newspapers is an ad for Roman Talcum Powder being sold at their store opposite the post office (Builtman-Nash Drug Co., 1914). They evidently also had a soda fountain in this store, as they put out an ad in search of a boy to operate it (“Boy Wanted”, 1914).
Evidently, Builtman’s partnership with Nash ended soon after 1914, as Dun & Bradstreet lists only the Builtman Drug Co. in 1915 and beyond (Mercantile Agency, 1915). However, newspapers from this period refer to the Builtman business as the Builtman-Walsh Drug Company. So perhaps he began operating with another druggist unofficially for some time. In 1917, Builtman Drug Co. was located at 120 Capitol, which is the same address listed as the Builtman-Nash Drug Company bottle (R.L. Polk, 1917).
Builtman last appears in newspapers around 1937, though there is no article announcing its closing, merely a small, nondescript advertisement for mortgages, then silence (Home Finance Company, 1937).
Both Builtman and Nash on this bottle. 3 ounces.
Builtman-Nash Drug Co. Paper label.
Only Builtman embossed on this bottle. 4 ounces.
James A. Carr
1908—1910
It appears that James A. Carr began his drug business between September 1907 and March 1908, as he first appears in the March 1908 Dun & Bradstreet (albeit, under his full name—not Carr’s Drug Store). Carr’s Drug Store appears in the 1909 Polk Charleston City Directory at 247 Capitol Street.
He last appears separately from Clarence Potterfield in the September 1910 listing, and only with Potterfield after (Mercantile Agency, 1910).
A 2-ounce bottle from Carr's Drug Store.
Charleston Drug & Manufacturing Co.
1899(?)—19??; 1926—1931
According to the 1899 Polk West Virginia Gazetteer, the Charleston Drug Co. was located at 68 Capitol Street (at least this given year). I am able to find them again in 1929 in a list of retailers to visit “for the thrifty shopper” (“Tomorrow’s Guide”, 1929). The final appearance of the Charleston Drug and Manufacturing Company is in a notice of commissioner accounts with them from 1932 (“Legal Notice”, 1932). The West Virginia Secretary of State, however, lists this company as beginning in 1926 and dissolving in 1931.
"Peerless nuxated beef iron and wine" for "nutritional reasons." I suspect the alcohol just made you feel better.
A smaller bottle of croup remedy. A good reminder as to why we have the FDA.
Eucapine bottle for coughs and colds. Screw cap. Notice it contains chloroform.
Elk Pharmacy
1904—1936
Elk Pharmacy likely began sometime between March and July of 1904, as it appears in the latter Dun & Bradstreet but not the former (Mercantile Agency, 1904). Its proprietor was a man named John H. Willis (“Go No Further”, 1915). As embossed on their bottles, they were initially located at 615 Capitol Street until at least 1909 (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909), though later also at 1113 Piedmont Road (“Go No Further”, 1915), directly below what is now an interstate exit. Then at some point they relocate again by 1933, this time to 527 Broad Street (Red Star Grocers Inc., 1933). Broad Street is now Leon Sullivan Way.
Elk Pharmacy gained some notoriety, both good and unfortunately bad, for employing a black pharmacist—a Mr. Edward Turner—who was said to be the best of all other applicants to the company (“Lead Them All”, 1912). I suspect the revile was not only because the new hire was black, but because all other applicants were white, and that he was placed as the lead pharmacist of Elk Pharmacy—a white establishment (“Examples Worth Emulating”, 1912).
I presume that Elk Pharmacy closed its doors around 1936, as it advertised their property for sale on Broad Street (Elk Pharmacy, 1936), but it still appears in the 1938-1939 Charleston telephone directory (C&P Tel. Co. of WV, 1939).
Elk Pharmacy. 6 ounces.
Elk Pharmacy. 3 ounces.
Field’s Pharmacy, Hall & Kenney
1899(?)—19??
Thomas W. Field of Middleport, Ohio was the founder and owner of Field’s Pharmacy into at least 1909 (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). At this time, the drug store was located at 612 Capitol Street—not yet at the Elk Hotel, which was at the corner of Broad and Smith Streets (now Leon Sullivan Way).
Field's Pharmacy. 2 ounces. Original cork still intact.
Field's Pharmacy. 1 ounce.
A citrate from Fields Pharmacy. The only currently known.
Gardner’s Drug Store
1911—1919
M.V. Gardner began his business sometime in 1911 (Mercantile Agency, 1911). At some point, it seems his wife, Mrs. Minnie J. Gardner, took over, as his name disappears and hers begins appearing in 1917. This continues until the September of 1919, wherein past this point both Gardners disappear as druggists in Dun & Bradstreet.
Gardner's "Family" Drug Store. 3 ounces. Graduated.
Roy C. Goff
1921(?)—19??
Roy C. Goff began in the drug business under his father, John J.L. Goff, around 1909; they worked at 116 Charleston Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). The first advertisement I have found of him practicing alone is from 1921 with the business address being 1327 Charleston Street (Roy C. Goff, 1921). His practice still existed in 1938, then located at 1540 Washington Street West (C&P Tel. Co., 1939).
Gordon’s Drug Store
1930s(?)—1967
Gordon’s Drug Store first appears in materials I own in 1939 at 1505 Washington Street (C&P Tel. Co. of WV, 1939). In 1967, it is announced that the prescriptions once at Gordon’s Drug Store were now being filled by Cohen Drug, implying a buy-out at this time (Cohen Drug, 1967).
Paper label bottle from Gordon's Drug Store. Likely 1930s or 40s.
Johnson Medicine Company
1926(?)—19??
The company put out an ad for salesmen in 1926 with their location as 112 Lovell Street (Johnson Medicine Co., 1926). A 1932 advertisement for an out-of-town work salesman places the company at 112 Washington Street (Johnson Medicine Co., 1932). In 1936, they were again in search of two more salesmen for the company which advertised them at 516 Pennsylvania Avenue (Johnson Medicine Co., 1936).
A "Kanawha Golden Remedy" for cough and croup. Paper label only.
The Kanawha Drug Company
1901—1995
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State, the Kanawha Drug Company incorporated in 1901 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). In 1909, the company was located at 909 Virginia Street with W.E. Connell as president, W.G. Hubbard as secretary, and J.C. Jefferds as treasurer (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). From the advertising book below—dated 1930 inside—the company later relocated to 925 Virginia Street.
In 1951, it was granted a right of perpetual existence and did not dissolve until 1995 (WV Sec. State, n.d.).
A small, rectangular Kanawha Drug Co. bottle. Front is recessed.
Kanawha Drug Co. with a square mold and long neck.
A large, gallon-sized jug from Kanawha Drug Co.
A paper label Citrate of Magnesia from Kanawha Drug Co. Back is embossed with a generic citrate label.
Short and stout quinine sulfur bottle. Paper label.
Short, thin vial with a paper label for their toothache remedy.
A “want book” from the Kanawha Drug Company. Interior pages used as a ledger by the company. 1930s dates written inside. The back advertises their many products.
F.G. Klostermeyer & Co. / Klostermeyer & Copeland
19??—19?? /
F.G. Klostermeyer & Co. was a partnership between Frederick G. Klostermeyer and John C. Malone, located on the southwest corner of Tennessee Avenue (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
A bottle from the partnership of Klostermeyer and Copeland.
Krieg, Wallace, & McQuaid
19??—19??
Arch Krieg had partnerships with Wallace and McQuaid, as well as Walter C. Price, at different times during his career. During his time working with Price, he had a first store at 10 Capitol Street and a second one at 108 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
As stated on the octagonal bottle below, there was at least more than one Krieg, Wallace, & McQuaid store with No. 1 being at 919 Quarrier Street.
Opera Pharmacy
1909—1918
The Opera Pharmacy was so aptly named due to it being within the Opera House in Charleston, located at 233-237 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). 1909 was its first year of operation. The company was still around in 1917, being headed by William E. Frank (R.L. Polk & Co., 1917). By 1919, it became The Opera Pharmacy Clothing & Shoe Store, so I am unsure as to whether they continued selling drugs past this point or not (Mercantile Agency, 1919).
A 2 ounce Opera Pharmacy.
George Ort Drug Co.
19??—19??
George Ort is mentioned in the Polk West Virginia Gazetteer at being at 144 Charleston Street with Jennings Beckwith as his business partner in 1899.
A worn paper label bottle from George Ort & Co.
Clarence A. Potterfield / Potterfield & Carr / Thomas & Potterfield
1903—1939 / 1911—1919 / 189?—1902
I will say that, while most druggists have several variants aside from sizes, Potterfield is truly exceptional for how many different bottles were used over such a wide time frame. Even in Wheeling, such a diversity of variants is hard to come by. And we are undoubtedly missing some from this druggist.
The [Frederick S.] Thomas & Potterfield joint operation existed for some undetermined time prior to 1899 until 1902 (Mercantile Agency, 1903), located at 32 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1899). Thomas himself had a store at 30-1/2 Capitol Street that year. By 1903, Clarence A. Potterfield appears independently in Dun & Bradstreet while Thomas & Potterfield no longer appears. In 1907 and 1909, Clarence A. Potterfield appears to have remained at 32 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1907; R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
It seems that, by 1911, Potterfield & Carr had been established as a joint venture alongside Potterfield’s independent establishment (Mercantile Agency, 1911). Though the 1917 West Virginia State Gazetteer notes that Potterfield’s Drug Store and Potterfield & Carr were located in the same building at 247 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1917), so I am presuming the two just worked together as the lead pharmacists with the business being under his name. The two, as a team, no longer appear after 1919 Dun & Bradstreet books.
This whole time, Potterfield maintained his own business, appearing alongside Potterfield & Carr. The final mention I can locate of his drug store occurs in a 1939 advertisement for Wrigley’s Gum placing it at 32 Capitol Street.
An earlier variant of the square mold with script name. No capacity. Likely ~1 ounce.
An earlier C.A. Potterfield with a 3-ounce capacity. Square mold with Potterfield in script.
A graduated, 4-ounce bottle. C.A. Potterfield in script.
An earlier, oval bottle with no capacity or graduation lines. C.A. Potterfield in block letters.
A 1-ounce, block letter Potterfield. Oval mold.
A small, ~1-ounce paper label bottle embossed on back.
A rectangular mold bottle with rounded corners. Potterfield, The Rexall Store. No capacity.
Potterfield & Carr. 1-ounce bottle with graduation lines.
A large, 8-ounce Potterfield & Carr. Same mold as the bottle to the left.
A Thomas & Potterfield bottle. Quite an early mold. No capacity.
James A. & H. Rogers
1875—19??; 19??—19??
James H. Rogers was the first druggist in Charleston, beginning his practice at least by 1875. In 1875, he was located on the North side of Kanawha Street between Alderson (now Laidley) and Summers Streets (J.S. Sheppard & Co., 1875). From the advertising [ink blotter?] below, James H. Rogers was at some point located at 248 Front Street (now Leon Sullivan Way).
His son, James A. Rogers also went into the druggist business. It appears he began his practice by 1899, as the Polk West Virginia Gazetteer puts him at 248 Kanawha Street that year. By 1909, he had relocated to 612 Kanawha Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
Despite such a long run from both of the Rogers men, very few examples of their bottles are known.
A beautiful, early J.H. Rogers bottle with an embossed rose. No capacity.
Another J.H. Rogers bottle, this one embossed with "Old Reliable." No capacity.
The only J.A. Rogers bottle to my knowledge. Milk glass with a rectangular mold and a perfect paper label.
Some form of advertising from James H. Rogers in the shape of a mortar and pestle. I am unsure as to what this was used for. It is made of cardstock, and approximately 3” tall.
Rohr’s Drug Store
1930s(?)
Rohr’s Drug Store appears in the 1939 Charleston telephone directory at 207 Duffy Street (C&P Tel. Co., 1939). Other than that, I cannot find mentions of this company.
A large, paper labeled bottle. Likely dates to the 1920s-30s.
Scott Bros.
188?—19??
The Scott Brothers were Winfield D. and George W. Scott, located at 58 Capitol Street in 1899. By 1909, their store relocated to 124 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
Scott Bros. Druggist. Lightly paneled. No capacity. Many sizes known.
Scott Bros. Druggist. Oval. 2 ounce capacity.
Scott's Velvet Cream. Rectangular. Rib on neck.
A Scott Bros. with their monogram. No capacity.
Shelton Drug Co.
19??—19??
The Shelton Drug Company was likely owned by William C. Shelton, a druggist that in 1909 was working at the second Krieg & Price store (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
Shelton Drug Co. with an oval bottle. No capacity.
State Hygienic Laboratory
1913—Present
The State Hygienic Laboratory was founded as a branch of the Bureau of Public Health in 1913 to manage infectious diseases and prevent their development in West Virginia (Office of Laboratory Services, n.d.). Among their concerns was the maintenance of clean, safe drinking water and dairy products. It was completed in 1914, located at West Virginia University’s medical school, to be overseen by Dr. John W. Simpson. In 1918 it moved to Charleston. It moved three times in the 1920s: to 408 State [Lee] Street in 1923, to 1902 Washington Street East in 1924, and 1812 McClung Street in 1928. It relocated a fifth and final time to 167 11th Avenue in South Charleston in 1954, as the state had allocated funds to build a large laboratory at the site.
The State Hygienic Laboratory now goes by the name, the Office of Laboratory Services and shifted its focus away from entirely infectious diseases to more generally health-related public concerns, such as other diseases, lead contamination in drinking water, and monitoring chemical pollution in water.
A steel jar from the State Hygienic Laboratory. Original contents unknown.
Cora L. Terry
1914—19--
Mrs. Cora L. Terry appears in Dun & Bradstreet as a druggist by January of 1914. I have a creeping doubt that she had just began practice this year, as the medicine bottle pictured below is quite crude and early. By this time, most druggist bottles had graduation lines and capacity markings. This doesn’t; this appears closer to an 1890s bottle. Nevertheless, 1914 is the first confirmed year that C.L. Terry operated. The final Dun & Bradstreet in which she appears is the final available to me—1924. It is likely she remained in practice past this time, however.
Cora L. Terry bottle with an early, thin oval mold.
Todd Timberlake
1919—1935
The Timberlake Drug Company first appears in an advertisement for Dr. Parker’s Treatment in the newspapers available to me (“Berry The Harness Man”, 1919). It would be bought out by its neighbor, Acme Drugs—owner G. Blaine Nicholson—in 1935 (Acme Drugs No. 2, 1935). Timberlake Drug Co. was located at 607 Virginia St. East for its span. My source for his full name is an advertisement for Dr. Parker’s Liver Tablets being sold at his store ("Dr. Parker’s Liver Tablets”, 1919).
A paper label Timberlake Drug Co. bottle for oil citron.
Virginia Medicine Company of Charleston
1910—1912
The Virginia Medical Co. of Charleston first appears in a 1910 advertisement of their prune syrup (VA Medical Co., 1910), and in the September 1910 Dun & Bradstreet (Mercantile Agency, 1910). Their final year appearing in Dun & Bradstreet is 1912.
Fields' Prune Syrup and Senna.
The same bottle as the left, except labeled. Embossed on back.
Abbott's Pectoral Cough Syrup.
References
Acme Drugs No. 2. (1935, January 25). Opening sale [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 15.
Berry the harness man backs up Dr. Parker’s generous guarantee. (1919, June 24). The Charleston Daily Mail, 10.
Boy wanted. (1914, September 14). The Charleston Daily Mail, 17.
Builtman-Nash Drug Company. (1914, August 17). The Charleston Daily Mail, 2.
The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia. (1939). Charleston and vicinity telephone directory.
Cohen Drug (1967, February 2). Gordon Drug prescription files now at Cohen Drug. The Charleston Daily Mail, 2.
Dr. Parker’s Liver Tablets. (1919, December 19). The Charleston Daily Mail, 16.
Elk Pharmacy. (1936, November 29). The Charleston Daily Mail, 29.
Examples worth emulating. (1912, November 14). The Advocate, 4.
Goff, R.C. (1921, November 25). West Charleston shoppers [advertisement]. Charleston Daily Mail, 14.
Go no further. (1915, November 5). The Charleston Daily Mail, 8.
Home Finance Company. (1937, September 1). The Charleston Daily Mail, 16.
Johnson Medicine Co. (1926, January 20). Two salesmen [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 14.
Johnson Medicine Co. (1932, April 15). Experienced house-to-house salesman wanted [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 23.
Johnson Medicine Co. (1936, August 18). Salesmen wanted [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 14.
Laidley, W.S. (1911). History of Charleston and Kanawha County and representative citizens. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company.
Lead them all. (1912, November 14). The Advocate, 2.
Legal notice. (1932, May 3). The Charleston Daily Mail, 13.
Mercantile Agency, R.G. Dun & Company & Dun And Bradstreet. (1908) Dun and Bradstreet Reference Book: March, ; Vol. 160, part 2. New York, March 1. [Periodical] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mar1908v160p2/.
Mercantile Agency, R.G. Dun & Company & Dun And Bradstreet. (1910) Dun and Bradstreet Reference Book: September, ; Vol. 170, part 2. New York, September 1. [Periodical] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/sep1910v170p2/.
Mercantile Agency, R.G. Dun & Company & Dun And Bradstreet. (1914) Dun and Bradstreet Reference Book: September, ; Vol. 186, part 2. New York, September 1. [Periodical] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/sep1914v186p2/
Office of Laboratory Services (OLS) (n.d.). History of OLS. Office of Laboratory Services. https://dhhr.wv.gov/ols/about/Pages/History.aspx#:~:text=1914%20%2D%20The%20State%20Hygienic%20Laboratory,and%20toxicological%3B%20chemical%20water%20examination.
R.L. Polk & Co. (1907). R.L. Polk & Co’s Charleston Directory 1907, Volume V.
R.L. Polk & Co. (1909). R.L. Polk & Co’s Charleston Directory 1909.
R.L Polk (1899). West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1898-1899. Wheeling, W. Va. : R.L. Polk & Co. 1899.
R.L Polk (1917). West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1916-1917. Wheeling, W. Va. : R.L. Polk & Co. 1917.
Red Star Grocers, Incorporated. (1933, August 4). Bring me King’s Beer [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 24.
J.S. Sheppard & Co. (1875). Sheppard’s Charleston, W.VA. City Directory 1874-5. Volume I.
Symptoms of distress arising from stomach ulcers. (1951, February 1). The Charleston Daily Mail, 17.
Tomorrow’s guide for the thrifty shopper. (1929, July 16). Charleston Daily Mail, 1.
VA. Medical Company of Charleston. (1910, May 17). The Calhoun Chronicle, 3.
West Virginia Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business entity details: Charleston Drug and Manufacturing Company. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=mmsMfP3wX1tRseUrFGne8Q==&Search=NEpLzi2zRFcgkkn8uyO8kQ%3d%3d&Page=0
West Virginia Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business entity details: Kanawha Drug Company. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=LMD4uV0iHCOGwH8o2kAIew==&Search=mPrphCWl9mmMq8g2tV6+nw%3d%3d&Page=0
Wrigley’s Gum. (1939, May 3). Enjoy Wrigley’s Gum [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 9.