Kirn Korner Pharmacy


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  Kirn Korner Pharmacy Inc, 341 High (High corner Court), Portsmouth VA (1914-1915)
  Kirn Korner Drug Co, 341 High (High corner Court), Portsmouth VA (1917-1927)
      Second Store
  Kirn Korner Drug Co, 840 High, Portsmouth VA (1922-1924)

Notes:
 Starting December of 1911, the Hanrahan & Williams drug store started advertising their new store at the corner of High and Court Streets as being located "at the kirn korner".2
One of their ads in July of 1912 played up the K's by describing their drug store as "KLEAN-KOOL-KOMFORTBLE KUARTERS".3
Apparently the name "Kirn Korner" came from the "Kirn Building", located on the corner of High & Court Streets, constructed by Mr Henry Kirn. 4
The Portsmouth directories list the store at "High corner Court" and "341 High" over the years, which I belieive was referring to the same place, probably the Kirn Building.

In May of 1913, the Kirn Korner Pharmacy Incorporated was chartered, with C. E. Wise as president, and F. C. Hanrahan as vice-president.5

In September of 1926, the Peoples' Drug store of Washington D.C. purchased the Kirn Korner Drug Store, which was sold at auction in "bankruptcy proceedings of B. and L. Goodman", who had been operating the store. 6
The store continued under the name "Kirn Korner" until at least 1927, and there was no drug store listed at 341 High Street in the 1930 Portsmouth directory.1


Bottles:
kirn_01 This is an amber 3.75" bottle with a label that says:
label: AROM. SYR. RHUBARB / ALCOHOL 7 PER CENT / DOSE: Child 1 month old, 15 drops; 1 year old, 30 drops; / 5 years old, 1 teaspoonful; Adults 2 to 4 teaspoonfuls. / PRESCRIPTION / KIRN KORNER PHARMACY / DRUGGISTS / HIGH & CHESTNUT STS, PORTSMOUTH, VA.


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 Virginian-Pilot, 21-Dec-1911, p.1 (ad for Hanrahan & Williams Modern Druggists at the Kirn Korner)
3 Virginian-Pilot, 12-Jul-1912, p.16 (ad for Frank C. Hanrahan's drug store)
4 Norfolk Landmark, 26-Mar-1887, p.4 ("The Kirn Building")
5 Times Dispatch (Richmond), 23-May-1913, p.3 ("Charter Issued.")
6 Virginian-Pilot, 11-Sep-1926, p.6 ("Washington Drug Firm Bids in Local Store")


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This page last updated on August 17, 2026.