Let’s go into the Drugstore. On our left as
we go in, is a counter for buying drinks and ice cream.
Marjorie Montgomery and Betty Ruth Toney
At the far end of the room is the Pharmacy area. Dr. Campbell
was the pharmacist. Stopping by the Drugstore was almost automatic after
leaving Dr. Hill’s office so that Dr. Campbell could fill your prescriptions.
(In some ways, Pacolet Mills was a huge network of relatives and cousins.
In keeping with this was the fact that Dr. Campbell was the father of my
Uncle Jesse (Toby) Campbell.)
Dr. Campbell
(Courtesy of Lindie Wells)
B.J. Littlefield and Dr. T. M. Jarrett
The Drugstore also sold over the counter drugs and medical
items. Between the food counter and the Pharmacy, was my favorite part
of the store, the magazine and comic book racks. When I was very young,
I spent many dimes on Captain Marvel, Superman and Donald Duck comic books.
As I got older, my interest changed and I bought magazines like Field
and Stream, Outdoor Life and Popular Science. Sometimes,
the magazine section even had a few hard back books. I still have one of
the very first hardbound books that I bought at the Drugstore. It was “Bomba
the Jungle Boy” and cost a quarter.
The Drugstore also was a place to buy camera film and to
send your exposed film off to be developed. They sent the film to the
Jack Rabbit Company in Spartanburg and you got your photos back in about
a week.
I believe when I was real young, the Drugstore had glass
topped tables with swing out seats in the food area. If so, these were
removed by the 1950’s.
Just before leaving the Drugstore through the door we came
in, there was an opening going into the Company
Store.