A Drug Store History

There's a Cure for that!

This issue covers the history of local drug stores from the 1870s to the 1970s. A fascinating look at the early days of medicine when many products were only booze or other drugs concealed by flavorful syrups or coloring and fancy names. You'll see the earliest drug stores in Brooksville and the changes along the way. From the old wood frame buildings downtown to the shopping centers. Enjoy the ride.

Stories by Robert Martinez

---

Thanks to the following for their contributions

John White

George Allen Jr.

Thomas Hogan Sr.

Margaret "Weenie" Rogers Ghiotto

---

A Drug Store History

Inside Marshall Bros. Drug Store (1890) on North Main Street

The earliest local drug store ad discovered in an 1885 Brooksville newspaper for Marshall Bros' Drug Store

After the end of the Civil War in 1865, many men who came back suffered from one or more of the camp diseases, dysentery, malaria, typhoid, and many others had chronic pain from battle wounds that left them addicted to pain killers from no fault of their own. There was a big demand for medicines and cure-alls. In the period from 1870 to about 1920, every ailment known to man was marketed with a ready cure. Most of it was laced with alcohol or other drugs, yet claimed to cure chronic fatigue, achy muscles, indigestion, neuritis, neuralgia, cancer and guarantee an improved love life. Many of these "nostrums" were derived from American folklore traditions. You don't need no doctor, just take Granny's pills or elixir.

Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound (a Cure for ladies problems) was first marketed nationwide in 1876, and by 1883 amassed over $300,000 in sales. It was really 44% alcohol. By 1906, it was over when the ruse was exposed in a magazine.

Indian folklore was also highly respected. One fast seller was the buffalo salve hyped as Kickapoo Indian Salve, a 19th century "snake oil" patent medicine produced by the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company. Despite advertising Native American heritage, the company was actually founded by two white entrepreneurs, Charles Bigelow and John Healy.

It was about this time the rise in drug stores was everywhere. In Brooksville, the earliest drug store was around 1870. Prior to that, drugs were prescribed by a doctor or home remedies handed down. Many of the drug store products were advertised as cures but were mostly loaded with hard drugs, alcohol or both. Lydia Pinkham's Compound contained 44% alcohol. Dr. King's New Discovery for consumption contained opium.

A testimonial for Dr. King's New Discovery for Consumption, Coughs and Colds.

Many painkillers also included laudanum, cocaine, morphine and even heroin. It is amazing to realize that most of these drugs and tonics were not illegal until 1914 when the Harrison Act came into effect. Coca-Cola from 1886 to 1906 contained cocaine from coca leaves in its product. The cocaine was removed in 1906 but still marketed as a medicinal drink for a while after. Americans were hopelessly becoming addicted. By 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act cleaned up many of those panacea drugs. The trace of cocaine was removed from Coca-Cola and many other over-the-counter drugs faded away. In 1914, the Harrison Act imposed taxes on opium and coca products to control the sale and distribution. Some opiates did manage to continue. Although many folks considered them good for them, in most cases it created an addiction or early death. There was outrage from clergymen, women's temperance groups and with that came the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1920 with the prohibition of alcohol. The experiment failed, and by early 1933 prohibition was repealed.

Early 1875 downtown drug store. Earliest known photo of a Brooksville drug store.

Main Street just north of Broad Street (1886). This is a Grocer/Hardware/Drug store facing the old Court House where the Browning (King) Insurance building is today. The drug store was owned by A.N. Chelf Sr. His son would move the pharmacy to the Jennings Building in 1900.

Two drug products marketed in the old days

Cocaine Toothache Drops (1885). Cocaine was used as a remedy for pain and cough. It was banned by 1920.

Heroin was designed by English chemist C.R. Alder Wright in 1874 and marketed by Bayer in the U.S. as a cough suppressant from 1898 to 1914 when it was banned over the counter. By 1924, it was illegal for prescriptions, due to the rise in addiction and crime.

Vin Mariani Pope endorsement ad (1899). Vin Mariani was a very popular elixer advertised in Brooksville newspapers. It was made with coca leaves, so it included cocaine. It was commonly sold from 1868 until Mariani's death in 1906. Among its users included both Popes during that time, Thomas Edison, Oscar Wilde, U.S. Grant and actress/singer Lillian Russell.

Our Cover is Chelf's Drug Store (1910) inside the Jennings Building on Broad Street. It began here in 1900 and continued until around 1930 when it became Murphy's Drug Store.

A 1907 Coca Cola ad featuring Detroit Tiger star, "The Georgia Peach" Ty Cobb. As an 18 year old rookie in 1905, Cobb offered shares of Coca Cola stock to his mostly northern teammates, who ridiculed him calling him, among other names, a "rebel hillbilly." By 1920, he had won 12 batting titles and was a millionaire thanks in part to Coca Cola stock and endorsements.

Coogler's Drug Store (1917) was next door to Hernando State Bank (now Truist Bank) on Jefferson Street. Coogler's was one of Brooksville's most popular druggists since 1905.

Corner of N. Main Street and Ft. Dade Avenue (1922) Thompson's Drug Store is on the corner. Thompson's began here in 1911. Rogers' Department Store is next door. Thompson's would later be known as Hope's Drug Store and move to the right of Rogers.

Corner of North Main and Ft. Dade (1929). Bacon's Drug Store began here in 1926. This area is now occupied by the Morris Law Firm. Around 1936 Bacon's would switch corners and move to where the Main Street Eatery is today until the early 1970s.

Coogler's Drug Store (1934) was next door to what is now Truist Bank downtown on Jefferson Street. It was here since 1906 and faded away during the big war.

Bacon's Drug Store (1936) at their new location, relocating from the other end of the street. Bacon's would serve Brooksville until the early 1970s. It is now the location of Main Street Eatery.

Murphy's/Hogan's Rexall Drug Store (1953). Kids and teens who grew up in Brooksville during the 1950s and 1960s have fond memories of this place. The cherry cokes, comic books and magazines galore, the homemade chili, and Mae, the big woman who kept it under control.

Rare photo of Hope's Drug Store (1956), a very popular drug store/soda fountain on North Main. Offspring of the old Thompson's Drugs which started here around 1910. Known for their cherry cokes, magazines, baseball cards and Mrs. Hope's charm.

Hogan's Rexall Drugs (1968) moved to Hernando Plaza in 1966 and was here until the early 2000s. At one time it was Murphy's Drug Store downtown until 1930 and purchased by Tom Hogan in 1955.