Watt Rettew & Clay


Company Names, addresses, dates:
  Watt Rettew & Clay, Norfolk VA (ca.1887-1930) 1
  Watt Rettew & Clay, Roanoke, VA (ca.1894-1909) 2

Notes:
Watt Rettew & Clay was a department store. 1,2

Maybe it had a drugstore department, and that is where the bottle below came from?
For what it's worth, the store is listed in Roanoke and Norfolk city directories under "drugstores" as follows:
Norfolk:
  Watt Rettew & Clay, 184-188 Main Street, Norfolk, VA (1898) 3
Roanoke:
  Watt Rettew & Clay, 36-38 Campbell Ave SW, Roanoke, VA (1908) 4

An 1889 Norfolk city directory indicates the partners were David F. Watt, William M. Rettew, and Alfred Clay.

Bottles:
watt_01 This is a clear 3.5" bottle embossed:
vertical: WATT RETTEW & CLAY / NORFOLK & ROANOKE, VA.
base: C L G CO / 2


1 Virginian-Pilot, 26-Mar-1930, p.16 "Watt's Department Store to Liquidate"
2 Roanok Times, 19-Aug-1909, p.5 "Liberal Policy Will Be Pursued"
3 Roanoke City Directories, 1888-89,1902,04,06,08-10,12-15,17-18,20,22-24,26-28,30-33,35-39,41-43,45-46,48,51-53,56-58,60
4 Norfolk City directories, 1851,66,70,72,74,75,77,80,82,83,86,88-92,94-95,97-99,1900-10,12-20,22-25,27-28,30



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This page last updated on April 8, 2026.