Ernest L. Robey


Company Names, addresses, dates:
Herndon
  William I. Robey & Son, Pine Street, Herndon VA (c.1888-1900) 1
  Ernest L. Robey, Pine Street, Herndon VA (c.1900-1917) 1,2
Fairfax
  Ernest L. Robey, Main Street, Fairfax VA (c.1904-1927) 1,3
Washington DC
  Ernest/Frank Robey, N. Capitol & H Streets NW, Washington D.C. (1911-1922) 4,5
  Robey's Drugstore, 200 Upshur St. NW, Washington D.C. (1922-c.1927 5
  Frank Robey, 5017 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington D.C. (c.1927-1930) 5
  Frank Robey, Shoreham Hotel, Washington D.C. (1931) 5

Notes:
Ernest Lee Robey (1869-1938)6 had drugstores in Herndon, Fairfax City, and (with his brother Frank) Washington DC.
When he was in his teens, he worked in the Falls Church drug store of M.E. Church. He later worked for a pharmacy in Washington D.C. before coming back to Herndon where he started a drugstore. Besides his drugstore business, he was the president of the National Bank of Herndon, served as the town mayor, and became an Insurance agent.7

        Herndon Drug Store
Ernest started a drugstore in Herndon with his father, William Isaac Robey (1832-1906)8, about 1888. His father left the store in Ernest's hands in November 1900.1 In 1917, there was a large fire in Herndon that burned down (or at least damaged) the store. 2 The new store was housed in the building that is now the Zeffireli restaurant. 9

        Fairfax Drug Store
Ernest opened a second drugstore, this one in Fairfax, about 1902. Dr. Harry L. Burrows managed the Fairfax store. Harry died on June 10, 1927. In September of that year, Robey sold the Fairfax store to T. Ramsay Taylor of Norfolk VA although it appears that the building remained in the ownership of one of Ernest's brothers, attorney George B. Robey. 10

        Washington DC Drug Store(s)
Ernest opened a third store, this one in Washington DC, in March of 1911. At some point, this third store was taken over by Frank Robey, Ernest's brother. In 1922, the store became a People's drug store, and Frank opened up a new drugstore at 200 Upshur Street, NW. 5

        Other related info
Ernest's brother, Dr. William I Robey Jr, had a drugstore in Cape Charles VA, and eventually came back to Fairfax County, so he may have helped out Ernest at some point.

Bottles:

robey_01 Clear 5.5" (4 oz) bottle embossed:
horizontal at the top: 3 iv
vertical: Ernest L. Robey / DRUGGIST / HERNDON, VA. - FAIRFAX, VA.
base: W.T. CO. / U / U.S.A.
robey_02 This bottle comes in at least 3 sizes (5.5" 4oz, 4.5" 2oz, and 3.7" 1oz) as pictured here. The tallest one is the same bottle that is pictured above. They are all embossed the same, other than the size (3iv, 3ii and 3i) and the middle letter on the base ("U", "R" & "I").
horizontal at the top: 3 iv
vertical: Ernest L. Robey / DRUGGIST / HERNDON, VA. - FAIRFAX, VA.
base: W.T. CO. / U / U.S.A.
robey_08 This is a 5.25" tall, unembased clear mouth-blown bottle with a label that says:
label: ESS. PEPPERMINT / ALCOHOL 85 PER CENT / DOSE: Adults, one half to one teaspoonful. Children in proportion to their age. / ERNEST L. ROBEY'S DRUG STORE / HERNDON, VA. FAIRFAX, VA.



Herndon Postcards/Photos:
robey_03 This photo (taken May 2010) is of the Zeffireli restaurant on the corner of Station & Pine Streets. It is the building that housed Robey's Herndon drugstore (after the original building burned down).2
robey_05 This postcard shows the Chamblin's drug store on Station Street in Herndon. Ralph Von Sickler Chamblin bought Robey's Herndon drug store just after the US entered WW I5. So this might have also been a building that housed Robey's drug store.


Fairfax Postcards/Photos:
robey_07 This postcard (postmarked 1908) depicts Robey's drug store in Fairfax VA. On the bottom edge is printed: "DRUG STORE AND HALL, FAIRFAX VA". Based on the position of the sign above the left door in the picture, it appears the drug store occupied the left side of the building, so the "hall" probably occupied the right side. The drugstore has minor differences from the photo in the postcard below, which was postmarked 5 years later.
robey_06 This postcard (postmarked 1913) also depicts Robey's drug store in Fairfax VA. Compare it to the photo below, which seems to be same building, but without the chimneys.
robey_04 This photo (taken May 2010) is of the Bellissimo restaurant. It appears to be the building that housed Robey's Fairfax drugstore, based on comparing it to a photo in the postcard above.



Drugstore items listed for sale in Robey's newspaper ads:
Drugs & Patent Medicines
    Robeys Syrup White Pine Compound
    Robey’s Emulsion Cod Liver Oil
    Robey’s Little Liver Pills
    Eumenthynol Toilet Cream
    Chest Protectors
Hardware
    White Lead
    Window glass
Food & Drink
    Lowneys Chocolate Bonbons
    Sanitary Ice Cold Water
Paints
    Ready mixed paints, all colors
    Paint brushes
    Carriage paints
    Varnishes
    Putty
    Turpentine
Oils
    Linseed Oil
    Castor Oil
    Floor Oil
Toilet articles
    Toilet soaps
    Perfumes
    Hair Brushes
    Combs
    Tooth Brushes
    Nail Brushes
    Infant Brushes
    Flesh Brushes
Tobacco & Cigars
Stationary, School Supplies


1 Online Herndon Historical Society article about Ernest Robey by Barbara Glakas
2 Fairfax Herald, 30-Mar-1917 (article: Dr. E.L. Robey Herndon Store burned)
3 Fairfax Herald, 8-Aug-1927 (article: Robey's Drug Store Purchased by Dr. T.R. Taylor)
4 Fairfax Herald, 3-Feb-1911
5 Boyd's Directory for the District of Columbia (various years)
6 Find-a-grave entry for Ernest Lee Robey
7 Herndon Observer, 1938-Sep-22, page 1 (obituary for Ernest Lee Robey)
8 Find-a-grave entry for William Isaac Robey
9 Book: "Herndon in Images" by Charles V. Mauro
10 Fairfax Herald, 28-Oct-1927 page 5 (article: Taylor Application for Alcohol license)


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This page last updated on April 20, 2022.