Evening star., 1942-11-08
BY John Clagett Proctor.

but the street buses Of today and many
Of the larger vans, often remind the
writer Of the old-time drug stores of his
boyhood days as they appeared in the
distance at night, supplying, as they
did, practically all Of the light for the
vicinity in which they were located, by
their brilliant show globes, now rarely
ever seen.
OF course there were gas lamps on the
streets many years ago, dating back to
about 1852, and before this Congress
made an appropriation for oil lamps
from the Capitol to the White House.
And to 60 back to the beginning OF
things, we find it was early proposed to
place oil lamps "at New Jersey avenue
bridge and A street north," and second
one "on tree near the turn from the
Capitol into Pennsylvania avenue"
But for many years the streets Of
Washington were very poorly illumi-
mated, and at time when the gas lamps
did not extend north farther than G
street, 1t was the practice of the Levy
Court to have the Boundary and other
stones along the thoroughfare white
washed, to make them more conspicuous
~ night. And, OF course, the drug store
lights not only helped the weary traveller
on his way, but advertised the druggists
business as well.
First Drugstore
There are very few towns in this coun-
try OF elsewhere that do not have drug
store, or as they were called by the early
residents, "apothecary Shops" and even
when Washington was in embryo, it had
Its drugstore as early as 1895, four years
before the Federal Government moved
here. Frederick Miller was the apothe-
cary, or pharmacist, as we now call this
very useful and important person, and
his place Of business, designated by the
sign of the golden mortar, was located
between William Kings and Lear and
Cos. wharf, which would be at about
Twenty-eighth and G streets northwest.
Prior to 1920 DR.. William Gunton, who
arrived in this city with his father from
Norfolk, England, on october 18, 1907,
purchased the northwest corner of Penn
sylvanla avenue and Ninth street for
50 900, and in this building, which had
been erected about 1915, he opened a
drugstore, which he conducted for 18
years, or until 1888, at which time he is
said to have sold out the business to
Robert S. Patterson, who, according to
an old account, took Joseph w. Nairn
Into partnership. Later the firm became
known as Nairn & Palmer and about
1867 John w. Drew entered the business
rs clerk, succeeding to the business
about 1874. Drew was followed by Shell
Ter & Stevens, the Christiani Drug Co.,
and the corner is still likely occupied
as drugstore
DR.. Gunton was not only prominent as
a pharmacist, but also as a banker and
as an outstanding citizen. At the time
OF his death the trustees of Columbian
University (now George Washington
University met in special session and
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas the members of this board
have been called, in the death of the
late DR.. William Gunton, to mourn the
loss of colleague endeared to them as
well as to the virtues which adorned his
character as by his long and faithful
services in the interest of the university
services running through the space of
more than 30 years: Therefore, be it
Resolved, That in hereby testifying
our respect and admiration for the COM
prehensive intelligence, and rare sagacity,
the executive ability, and the spotless
integrity of our venerable and lamented
friend, We do but render a just and
proper tribute in the noble and sterling
qualities of which he gave full proof in
the laborious and useful career he led in
the presence of this community, and by
virtue of which he was not more aus
picious for the many public trusts he held
than for the fidelity he brought to their
performance and the wisdom he eXempli-
fed in their administration. In the
purity Of his life blameless, in the dis
charge of every duty punctual, in his
taste simple in his manners unassuming,
in his principles rigid, in the length of
his days favored far beyond the lot of
ordinary mortals, in the gifts of fortune
af1uent, and equally rich in the esteem
of honorable men, he was not less happy
in the painless tranquility with which he
laid down the burdens of life than in the
grace and strength with which he bore
them for such long period Of years.
Resolved, That in testimony of our
respect for his memory, we will attend
his funeral. and that these resolutions
be entered in our minutes and that as
token of our sympathy a copy be sent to
the family of the deceased
As before stated, when Dr. Gunton
rave up the business at Ninth and Penn
sylvania avenue, it went into the hands
of Dr. Patterson followed by DR.. Joseph
w. Nairn and Albert G. Palmer. Still
later Joseph w. Nairn and his nephew,
Thomas S. Nairn conducted business at
this site, the latter being the son OF
John w. Nairn who In 1865 was con-
ductinr a drugstore at the corner OF
Seventh and E streets.
Joseph w. Nairn
A few days ago. the writer received
n letter from w. Wallace Nairn, ST.. a
friend of many years standing, IN which
he gives the following information re-
rardine his father, Joseph w. Nairn. He
says:
".Joseph w. Nairn (my father kept the
drugstore at Ninth and Pennsylvania
avenue, having bought 1T from Or. Gun
ton On my fathers death my mother
sold the store to John w. Drew. John
W. Nairn was my fathers brother. pc
Ak