Drug Stores Offered Wide Variety of Services

In the early to mid-1900s small towns often had two or three drug stores.  They offered medication prepared by a pharmacist and first aid supplies.  Sundry items including books, magazines, school or office supplies, stationary, toiletries, personal care items, and much more were also available.

In additional drug stores often had a soda fountain and lunch counter.  They served soda, ice cream, and light meals.  This was a wonderful place to gather, socialize, and share the news of the day.  By mid-century juke boxes near the soda fountain played popular music.  This offered a popular after school hangout spot.

A early photograph of the interior of either Duckworth's or Long's drug store.

In Brevard J.W. Nichols, T.B. Allison, J.B. Pickelsimer, and S. M. Macfie were among the earliest druggist who operated drug store between 1900-1910.  Allison and Nichols had soda fountains in their stores.  A 1905 Sylvan Valley News advertisement ran by Nichols states, “My fresh, pure, all fruit syrups, sparkling, cool soda water, superior ice creams and ices are fit to quench the thirst of a monarch.” 

Other early drug stores included Duckworth’s, Davis-Walker Drug Company, Davis-Long Drug Company, and a Rosman drug store operated by R.S. Morgan.  In 1926 the Davis-Long drug store announced that they were installing a new modern Bishop & Babcock soda fountain with Lippman refrigeration.

Brevard Drug, 1941.

By mid-century Brevard had three drug stores.  Macfie’s in the McMinn Building and Long’s directly across Main St.  Varner’s Walgreen store was one block south on Broad St.  In 1957 Morris Pharmacy opened in the former Long’s drug store which had closed a couple of years earlier.  Macfie’s operated until about 1969 when it became Brevard Pharmacy.  Varner’s remained open into the 1990s as a drug store.  The former soda fountain and lunch counter are still operating today as a reminder of bygone days.

Soda jerks at Varner's, 1951.

Over the next few weeks Picturing the Past will look inside some of Transylvania’s other past businesses.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.