Mackimmies /
Virginia Pharmacy


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  Virginia Pharmacy, 276 Church, Norfolk VA (1899-1901) 1,2
  Mackimmies Virginia Pharmacy, 276 Church, Norfolk VA (1902)
  Mackimmies Virginia Pharmacy, 276 Church, Church Cor Ave A, Norfolk VA (1903)
  Mackimmies Drug Co, 276 Church, Church Cor Ave A, 472 Bute, 358 Cumberland, Norfolk VA (1904)
  Mackimmies Drug Co, 275 Church, Church Cor Ave A, 472 Bute, 937 W Highland Ave, Norfolk VA (1905)
  Mackimmies Drug Co, 275 Church, 472 Bute, 687 Church, Norfolk VA (1906-1907)
  Mackimmies Drug Co, 472 Bute, Norfolk VA (1908-1909)

Notes:
John Alexander Moffatt MacKimmie (1850-1902)3 was born in Scotland, near Ediinburgh. He came to Norfolk from Detroit Michigan about 1895. He was in the drug business in Detroit for nearly 30 years.4

But it was his son who started a drugstore business in Norfolk.
Charles R. Mackimmie (1867-1920)5, son of John MacKimmie, worked for Burrow & Martin for a few years, then in 1899 he teamed up with Andrew S. Taggett to form MacKimmie & Taggett, the proprietors of the Virginia Pharmacy1,2.

In 1901, MacKimmie bought out Taggett.6
About that time, the name of the store changed to "MacKimmies Virginia Pharmacy1.

The 1903 City directory listed a 2nd "MacKimmies Virginia Pharmacy" store.1
And later in 1903 there was a newspaper announcement that MacKimmie had organized to operate a chain of stores in Norfolk, and that he already had 4 stores currently operating.6

In 1905, MacKimmie was arrested for selling Morphine without a "certificate from a physician" to a woman who died after taking the drug. The case was later dismissed. 7

In subsequent years, the number of stores dwindled down to 1. Charles' brother, Walter H. Mackimmie (1866-1946)8, was listed as the druggist in the store that lasted the longest. That store was no longer listed in city directories after 1909. In the subsequent years, Charles was listed in city directories as a physician, and Walter was listed as a pharmacist, but neither was listed as a drugstore owner. 1

Bottles:
mackimmie_02 This is a clear 3.75" bottle embossed:
horizontal: ("MT" monogram inside wreath)/ VIRGINIA PHARMACY / 276 CHURCH ST. / NORFOLK, VA.
base: S B W / CO
The "MT" monogram presumably stood for "MacKimmie & Tagget".
mackimmie_01 This is a clear 6.5" bottle embossed:
vertical: MACKIMMIE'S / NORFOLK, VA.
base: C L G CO


1 Norfolk City directories, 1851,66,72,74,75,77,80,82,83,86,88,89,91,92,94,95,97-99,1900-10,12-14,16,19,20,22,25,30
2 Virginian-Pilot, 17-Sep-1899, p.3 (Description of Virginia Pharmacy)
3 Find-a-grave entry for John Alexander Moffatt MacKimmie
4 Virginian-Pilot, 9-Jan-1902, p.2 (obituary for John A MacKimmie)
5 Find-a-grave entry for Charles R. MacKimmie
6 Virginian-Pilot, 8-Sep-1903, p.3 (article: "To Buy Up Drug Stores Co. Is Formed")
7 Public Ledger, 6-Apr-1905, p.1 (article: "Case Dismissed Dr. MacKimmie ...")
8 Find-a-grave entry for Walter H. MacKimmie


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This page last updated on November 30, 2025.