W.J. Joyner


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  W.J. Joyner, 618 County Street, Portsmouth VA (1897-1901)
  Central Pharmacy, 618 County Street, Portsmouth VA (1903)
  W.J. Joyner, 618 County Street, Portsmouth VA (1905-1907)
  W.J. Joyner, 601 High Street, Portsmouth VA (1908-1910)
  W.J. Joyner & Co, 601 High Street, Portsmouth VA (1911-1912)
  William J. Joyner, 730 High Street, Portsmouth VA (1913-1914)

Notes:
 William James Joyner (1872-1915) 2 had a drugstore in Portsmouth, starting sometime between 1892 and 1897. 1

In 1899, Mr. W. Leon Hall advertised that he was preparing various types of ice cream and custard at Joyner's drug store.3

I couldn't find out why, but Joyner's store (dwelling & contents) were sold at auction in 1903, to Mr. Walter K. Hodges. 4
Later that year, Mr. Frank T. Warren advertised that he was opening the Central Pharmacy at that location, 618 County Street.5

Apparently Joyner bounced back, because in 1904 there was an ad that listed Joyner as the Manager of the Central Pharmacy.6
By 1905, the city directories listed the store under Joyner's name again,1 although it wasn't until 1907 that there was an announcement that Hodges sold the store back to Joyner. That announcement included a note saying that Joyner was relocating to the Corner of High and Washington Streets, which is presumably the same as "601 High Street".7

In 1912, Joiner announced he was moving to 730 High Street with "a complete new stock and plenty of efficient help".8

In 1914, there was a brief newspaper mention that Joiner's charges of "automobile speeding" were dismissed. I wonder how fast he could have been going in 1914? 9

Jones passed away later that year.2
In subsequent years, his store at 730 High street shows up as the "Hodges Drug Co.".1


Bottles:
joyner_01 These are clear 4.3" and 3.8" tall bottles, embossed:
vertical: W.J. JOYNER / PHARMACIST / PORTSMOUTH, VA.
joyner_03 This is a clear 4.6" tall, mouth-blown bottle embossed:
vertical: W.J. Joyner (in script) / REGISTERED PHARMACIST / 618 COUNTY STREET / PORTSMOUTH, VA.
joyner_02 This is a clear 3.3" tall bottle embossed:
vertical: JOYNER'S / MODERN / PHARMACY
It doesn't say Portsmouth, but I've seen a bottle that said "JOYNER'S MODERN PHARMACY / HIGH AND WASHINGTON STS", so I'm confident that this bottle is from Portsmouth.


1 Portsmouth VA city directories, years 1851,72,74-75,80,82-83,85-86,89-90,92,97,1900-05,07-08,10-15,17-20,22,24-5,27,30,36-42,44-47,49,51,53-54,56,58-60
2 Find-a-grave entry for William James Joyner
3 Norfolk Landmark, 24-Jun-1899, p.5
4 Virginian-Pilot, 30-Jan-1903, p.8
5 Virginian-Pilot, 1-Mar-1903, p.10 (ad for "Central Pharmacy")
6 Virginian-Pilot, 17-Jul-1904, p.14 (ad that starts "For a Weak Stomach")
7 Virginian-Pilot, 17-Mar-1907, p.24 ("Notice to the public")
8 Virginian-Pilot, 4-Mar-1912, p.8 ("Removal Notice")
9 Virginian-Pilot, 20-Jun-1914, p.7


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This page last updated on August 15, 2026.