Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-14
rlnreT rnllc STORE
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Jones' drug store at As Main street
is without doubt the Oldest drug store
in this city and possibly in the State.
The proprietor. Willard r. Jones, n
native and resident of Watervilie. who
has been running this store for the last
90 years, has the record of putting up
over $4,000 prescriptions in that time.
Mr.. Jones is the only registered drug
gist in the establishment and has al
ways done all the prescription work.
The store itself has an Interesting
history. Close to n hundred years ego
DR.. Samuel Plaisted was operating a
drug store where the present phar-
macy is located. The building in
which this store was situated now
sits among the old buildings on
Charles street and is used as a paint
shop. After several years J. Hanlil-
ton Plaisted, son of the elder drug
gist, bought the business and carried
it for nearly 90 years, when q nephew
of his, Philip II. Plaisted, bought the
concern, Twelve years later. in 1902,
Willard r. Jones returned to the city
from several years stay in Boston and
several Maine towns, and took over the
establishment which has been conduct
cd by him ever since. When the old
building was moved over to Charles
street and the Plaisted block built, the
old store was moved into the newer
sits and sits in about the same place as
it did previously.
One of the outstanding features in
the stores long standing is the char
acter and reputation of each proprie-
tor The Plaistcd family and Mr..
Tones have always taken 4 strong stand
for prohibition and since the Nolstcad
law came into effect Mr.. Jones has
been even more careful that the sale
of tonics and medicines which might
be used as beverages il prevented.
He is a graduate of Waterville High
school in the year 1886. The following
fall he went to work for II. 3. Tucker.
who was formerly head clerk in the
drug store of George Ilorr. which was
conducted in the south side of the store
which is now occupied by Arnold d
Co. Mr.. Jones remained here for Il
year and then, deciding that he wanted
to learn the drug business from stert
to finish. he went 10 Boston where he
secured position With etcalf < Co.
at 40 fremont street. The firm is. ard
has nearly always been, The largest
prescription store in :hc eastern part
Of the Unitd Stats. For two years he
did nothing but put up prescriptions.
getting a lot of valuable experience
and laying 4 foundation in his life as
successful druggist. Later he went to
Cambridge, Mass, whore he spent
three years as a straight prescription
clerk. and then he moved to Ports
mouth, n. H. for Il two years stay.
The next six years Mr.. Jones spent in
Portland&nd Gardiner. Maine. and aft
or Managing store i'll the latter city
,L l,A
Mr.. Jones has an interesting record
Of some of the Prescriptions filed in an
old catalog dating back as far as 1861.
The name of Dr. +. c. Thayer, who is
still practicing in Waterville. is among
the list. The names of many promi-
nent men whose families are now we'll
known and respected citizens of Wa
terville are found in this old book. DR..
Boutelle, whose son, George X. Bou-
tclle. is resident of the Ticonic bank
in Waterville, is seen 70 be one of the
active physicians of the time. Another
name found in the lists again and
again is that of DR.. Campbell whose
son is prominent Doctor of Augusta.
DIR. Crosby and Dro. Porter are men
toned several times.
The records later show that two
other drug stores were conducted in
this city. The store now occupied
by John DeOrsay was then running
under the name of Ira l.. Low. Will
liam Dyer was another druggist at
that time. His adopted son. George
Dorr succeeded him in the business,
and that store stood where Aliens
durg store is now.
In the SO years of Mr.. Jones bust
ness career, he has seen many chan
ges. The pills which all druggists
used to manufacture themselves is
now mostly done in large wholesale
houses. However in the store Mr..
Jones still has an old fashioned pill
making machine. which he produces
occasionally to show his friends. The
process of pill making is very inter-