The Strole Drug Co


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
Strole & Meadows
  Strole & Meadows, 21 Charlotte, Norfolk VA (1908-1909) 1,2
Strole Drug Co
  Strole Drug Co (inc), Granby cor Charlotte, Norfolk VA (1909-1910) 1,3
  Strole Drug Co (inc), 302 Granby, Norfolk VA (1911)
  Strole Drug Co Inc, 300 Granby, Norfolk VA (1912)
  Strole Drug Co Inc, 453 Granby, Norfolk VA (1913-1914)
  Strole Drug Co, 451-453 Granby, Norfolk VA (1915-1917)
  Strole Drug Co, 1136 Church, Norfolk VA (1918-1919)
  Strole Drug Co, 660 E Princess Anne Rd, Norfolk VA (1933) 1,4
Strole's Drug Store
  Strole's Drug Store, 638 Cumberland, Norfolk VA (1914-1919)
  Strole's Drug Store, 629 E Queen, Norfolk VA (1920-1923)
  Strole's Drug Store, 629 E Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk VA (1924-1925)
  Strole's Drug Store, 655 Church, Norfolk VA (1927-1928)
Other
  Morton & Strole Pharmacy, 655 Church, Norfolk VA (1930-1935)

Notes:
In 1905, the drug clerks of Norfolk organized, and Jacob Lorom Strole (1879-1967)5 was elected as their treasurer.6
About 1908, he teamed up with Joel A. Meadows to form the Stroles & Meadows drug store.2

In 1909, a new drugstore was announced with the name "Strole Drug Co", so Strole had dropped his partner. 3

Strole ran his drug store until about 1919, after which time he changed occupations, and became the proprietor of the "Mastic Paint & Oil Company". 1
Then about 1933 he changed back to the drug business, and re-opened his Strole Drug Company at a new location, 630 E Princess Anne Road. 1
1933 was when prohibition ended, which may have had something to do with his decision, as there were several newspaper ads for him selling beer. But his drugstore didn't last long.

Backing up a bit, about 1914 Strole opened another store, this one called "Strole's Drug Store". The original proprietor was his brother, Dr. William Arthur Strole (1881-1953)7. But his brother was only listed as the proprietor in city directories until 1916. In 1917, the city directory listed the proprietor as William Earl Strole (1891-1979)8. William E. was not a sibling to William A. and Jacob L. Strole, but he had the same last name, so he was likely related to them somehow. William E. Strole had been a pharmacist working at Jacob L. Strole's Strole Drug Company for a few years, according to the city directories.

William E. Strole was the listed as the proprietor of the "Strole's Drug Store" up to 1923, and in 1924 the proprietor was his son, John Walter Strole (1902-1948)9.
The last year the Strole's Drug Store is listed in city directories was 1928. From 1930-1935, a new store was listed at the same address, called the "Morton & Strole Pharmacy". John Strole was the junior partner of that store.1


Bottles:
strole_01 This is a clear 3" (1/2 ounce) bottle embossed:
horizontal: 1/2
vertical: The Strole Drug Co. / NORFOLK, VA.


1 Norfolk City directories, 1851,66,70,72,74-75,77,80,82-83,85-86,88-92,94-95,97-99,1900-20,22-25,27-28,30,33-35,38-40,42,44,46-47,49,51-52,56,48,60
2 Norfolk Landmark, 08-Jul-1908, p.4 (Announcement of new store Strole & Meadows)
3 Norfolk Landmark, 18-Apr-1909, p.10 (Announcement of new store Strole Drug Co Inc)
4 Virginian-Pilot, 6-May-1933, p.12 (J.L. Strole applies for license to handle spirits)
5 Find-a-grave entry for Jacob Lorom Strole
6 Virginian-Pilot, 23-Jun-1905, p.6 (Article: "Drug Clerks Organize")
7 Find-a-grave entry for William Arthur Strole
8 Find-a-grave entry for William Earl Strole
9 Find-a-grave entry for John Walter Strole


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This page last updated on March 22, 2026.