W.H. Frey


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  William H. Frey, 438 W Washington Street, Petersburg VA, (1907-1909)
  William H. Frey, 501 Washington corner Dunlop, Petersburg VA, (1911-1913)
  William H. Frey, 901 W Washington Street, Petersburg VA, (1915-1933)

Notes:
William Henry Frey (1869-1920)2 took out a newspaper want ad in 1903, seeking a position as a registered pharmacist in Richmond or Petersburg.3

In the 1905 Petersburg city directory, he's listed as the proprietor of the Robert N. Partin pharmacy. And in the 1907 directory, he's listed as the owner of a drugstore at the same address that Partin's Pharmacy was at. 1

In 1908, Frey purchased a lot at the corner of Washington & Dunlop Streets. 4
By 1911 he had moved his drug store to that location.1

The 1915 "The Journal of the National Association of Retail Druggists, Volume 19" on page 1188 says that W.H. Frey sold his Petersburg drugstore to Russell & Rowe .
Apparently he moved his store again, as it showed up at a new address in that years city directory.1

Willim passed away in 1920. In subsequent years, his widow, Laura Polk Knowles Frey (1874-1938)5 was listed as the president of the company. His son, William H. Frey Jr. was listed as the secretary-treasurer, although he was living in Pittsrburg PA.1

Starting in the 1921 city directory, the store was listed as a Rexall store.1

The last year his store shows up in city directories was 1933. After that, the drugstore address shows up as W. Garland Anderson's drugstore. Anderson had been a manager of the store for several years. 1


Bottles:
frey_01 This is a clear 4.7" bottle embossed:
label: W. H. FREY / THE Rexall STORE


1 Petersburg VA city directories for years: 1866,70,72,76-77,79,82,86,88,91,93,95,97,99,1901,03,05,07,09,11,13,15,17-18,20-22,24,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,48,50,52,54-55,57,59
2 Find-a-grave entry for William Henry Frey
3 Times Dispatch, 3-Feb-1903, p.5 (Want ad for a position as a pharmacist by W.H. Frey)
4 News Leader, 19-Oct-1908, p.9 (Transfer of property list entry for William H. Frey)
X Find-a-grave entry for Laura Polk (Knowles) Frey


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This page last updated on June 10, 2026.