Warren Drug Co


Company Names, addresses, dates:
  Warren Drug Co, Front Royal VA (ca.18991-19629)

Notes:
The earliest reference to the Warren Drug Company in Front Royal that I could find was in a newspaper from 1899, and it mentioned that Mr. Antram McKay had been with that company "for some time". 1 So it seems the drug company started on or before that year.

I see ads and articles from newspapers starting in 19002 that indicate the proprietor was George Robertson Bell (1877-1924)3.
Starting in 1901, I see mentions that James F. Blackwell was also a partner in the drug store.
And in 1902, there is an announcement that George Bell resigned from the company4.

In 1906, Blackwell passed away5, and month later there is an announcement that Willard Wood Sonner (1877-1956)6 was the new partner7.
In subsequent years, newspaper articles and ads indicate that Sonner was the sole proprietor.
Sonner passed away in 1956.

John Sparks purchased the Warren Drug Co in December of 19578. Sparks had previously worked at the Shiner's Drug Store.

The store closed in 1962, and transferred it's prescriptions to Shiner's Drug Store 9.


Bottles:

warren_03 This is a clear 5.5" BIM bottle with a label:
label (printed): WARREN DRUG CO. / PHARMACISTS / FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA /
label (handwritten): No 15889 Dr. Riley / Teaspoonful ... / Mrs Miller
warren_01 This is a clear 3.3" machine-made bottle from 1960, with a label:
label: John Sparks / REG NO 1515 / PHARMACIST / T/A WARREN DRUG CO / MELROSE 5-4146 FRONT ROYAL, VA. / ... 5.21.60 / ...
I'm guessing "T/A" means "Trading As", which is a term meaning "used to show the name used by a business when advertising".



Other Items:
warren_04 This postcard depicting Front Royal appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s, based on the cars. The arrow points to a sign that I beleive says "WARREN / DRUG CO".
warren_02 This is a 2.25" x 1" cardboard ticket that says:
ticket: GOOD FOR ONE GLASS / SODA WATER / WARREN DRUG CO / Front Royal, Va.


1 Page Courier, 30-Nov-1899, page 3 (earliest mention of Warren Drug Co that I could find)
2 Staunton Daily News, 01-Dec-1900, page 3 (mention of George R. Bell / Warren Drug Co at Front Royal)
3 Find-a-grave entry for George Robertson Bell
4 Warren Sentinel, 17-Jan-1902, page 3 (Geo. R. Bell resigns from Warren Drug Co.)
5 Alexandria Gazette, 24-Apr-1906, page 2 (James F. Blackwell passed away)
6 Find-a-grave entry for Willard Wood Sonner
7 Strasburg News, 11-May-1906, page 3 (W.W. Sonner becomes a partner)
8 Warren Sentinel, 12-Dec-1957, page 3 (SPARKS PURCHASES WARREN DRUG CO.)
9 Warren Sentinel, 15-Feb-1962, page 5 (NOTICE THIS IS TO ANNOUNCE...)


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This page last updated on February 26, 2023.