Robert N. Partin


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  Robert N. Partin, 435 w Washington, Petersburg VA (1886-1901)
  Robert N. Partin, 437 w Washington, Petersburg VA (1903)
  Partin Pharmacy, 437 w Washington, Petersburg VA (1905)
  Robert N. Partin, 21 Bollingbrook, Petersburg VA (1907-1911)
  Partin Up-Town Drug Store, 263 High, Petersburg VA (1913)
  Robert N. Partin, 27 Bollingbrook, Petersburg VA (1915)
  Partin's Bollingbrook Drug Store, 27 Bollingbrook, Petersburg VA (1917-1924)
  Partin Drug Store, 27 Bollingbrook, Petersburg VA (1925-1943)
  Kirkpatrick's Partin Drug Store, 27 Bollingbrook, Petersburg VA (1948-1950)
  Partin's Cut Rate Store, 27 Bollingbrook, Petersburg VA (1955)

Notes:
 Robert Nelson Partin (1857-1925)2 shows up in the 1879 and 1882 Petersburg city directories as a drug clerk, working at the William F. Spotswood drug store. Starting in the 1886 directory, he was listed as owning his own drug store at 435 w Washington Street. That address had previously been the site of J. S. Bingley's drug store. By 1905 Partin had moved next door to 437 w Washington Street. 1

Then between 1905 and 1907 he had moved his store to 27 Bollingbrook Street. He breifly opened a 2nd store called "Partin's Up-Town Drug Store" at 263 High Street, which is listed in the 1911, 1913 and 1915 directories, but the store at 27 Bollingbrook Street was the one that lasted, although the name of the store varied.1

Partin passed away in 19252, but his store continued. The 1927, 1929 and 1931 directories listed Albert A. Branch as the proprietor, and the 1935 directory listed Benj. H. May as the manager. Starting in the 1937 directory, the owner was listed as John C. Kirkpatrick, and sometimes the store was referred to as "Kirkpatrick's Partin Drug Store". 1

The last year the store was listed was in the 1955 directory, and in subsequent years there was no drugstore listed at 27 Bollingbrook. 1

A labeled bottle below from 1937 says "SERVING THE SOUTHSIDE SIXTY YEARS". I think this is because the store at 27 Bollingbrook Street started about 1877 (60 years earlier) by Charles L. Wright, and Partin took over that store about 1905-1907.1


Bottles:
partin_01 These are clear bottles, embossed the same except on the base. Left is 5.2", middle is 4.2", and right is 3.5" tall. They are all embossed:
vertical: (mortar & pestle) / FROM / ROBERT N PARTIN / FIFTH WARD PHARMACY / PETERSBURG VA
base (left bottle): W T & CO / Z U.S.A.
base (middle bottle): W T & CO
base (right bottle): *** / Z / U S A
partin_05 This is a clear, 3.7" BIM bottle embossed:
vertical: P ARTIN'S / HARMACY / ETERSBURG, VA
partin_02 This is a 3" amber screw-top bottle with a label:
label: PARTIN DRUG STORE / SERVING THE SOUTHSIDE SIXTY YEARS / 27 BOLLINGBROOK ST., PETERSBURG, VA. / PHONE 148 / ... DATE 12-21-37 / ... Dr. Nixen



Other items:
partin_03 This is a 1.5" x 1.5" x .6" cardboard pill box with a label:
label: 234793 6-19-37 / ... Dr Nixon. / PARTIN DRUG STORE / SERVING THE SOUTHSIDE SIXTY YEARS / 27 BOLLINGBROOK ST., PETERSBURG, VA. / PHONE 148
partin_04 This is a 1-tablespoon dose cup. It doesn't have a city embossed on it, but I'm assuming it's the same "Partin" as the rest of the items on this page. It is embossed:
In script, in an oval slug plate: Partin
back: (gradation marks) / TABLE / DESSERT / TEA
base: M&CO / N.Y. (inside keystone shape)
partin_06 This is another dose cup, embossed:
oval slug plate: ROBERT N. PARTIN / DRUGGIST / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: W.T. & CO / A K / U.S.A.


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 Robert Nelson Partin


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This page last updated on June 25, 2026.