Bill, Billy, Will Jones, our premier memoirist, searched his memory bank and was able to withdraw another new/old Maplewood tale just in time for Christmas. I hope you enjoy his:
1939 Christmas at Harper’s Drugs
In November, Alice Harper taught me to gift wrap our large display of “Evening in Paris” perfume and cologne products. She insisted perfection in the results and we first did about a half-dozen “dummy displays” using empty boxes from the pharmacy but really beautiful gift “samples” for display. The “For My One and Only” combination looked beautiful.
Our doctor from upstairs came down and carefully examined each Evening in Paris” selection. He picked out the most expensive set marked to “My One and Only”. He said, “Wrap four of them in blue paper and bows.” Alice stopped me when he said “Make all four alike.” Alice held her hand over my mouth. She whispered, “He knows they are all the same.”
The doctor said, “Put them on my account and have Billy put the big box in my med supplies closet behind my desk upstairs.” I understood because all his patients were very attractive ladies. Alice called the warehouse the next day–the doctor might need more!
Billy Jones
That one leaves me smiling, Bill. We should always remember that these are typed by his wife, Barbara. And she can spell, too. Thanks to both of you. Merry Christmas to everyone. DH
looking at the pictures again I can understand your anger/disgust/dismay (you can tell us how you really feel) at the tearing out of the interior of that place. What a great looking place. I hope some of it will survive and be used somewhere else.
Well some of the cabinets have been used elsewhere, Mark but that is another part of the issue. The cabinets could have been sold. I talked to folks in and out of Maplewood that wanted to use them in their business. Salvaging the cabinets misses the point. My position was and still is that they should have been retained in their original location. This could have happened, I’m convinced, if not for the incredibly stupid decision of the management of the Sierra Club chapter that now occupies that spot.
Those cabinets were/are one of the treasures of our historic fabric. They were part of our ONLY historic commercial interior worthy of protection. We as a community had no way to protect them. Developers come and go. If we don’t regulate them, we’ll have nothing worth saving. Think anyone is going to want to save the CVS building or the Quiktrip? Horton’s? Shop’N’Save? They’re all disposable pieces of architecture. If the only clues you had were those buildings you couldn’t even tell what state you were in.
We have some wonderful buildings that are worth protecting. I made a list 10 or 12 years ago. I haven’t updated it in awhile which can be depressing because of what we’ve lost since then. I can send it as a pdf to anyone interested.
If you look around town there are folks that are turning some difficult buildings around. Rob Birenbaum is a commercial property owner you can trust. So is Patrick Jugo. I can’t remember having any problem with any of the buildings these guys have been involved with. Penzey’s, Foundation Grounds, the Greenwood Historic District and others are all great assets to our commercial district.
David Schlafly who owns the Cape-Harper building, where the magnificent cabinetry was once located, has done some amazing and difficult restorations not the least of which is the Cape-Harper building itself. I regret that his fine record has to bear this stain.
I think it’s important to keep attention on this incident of historical vandalism. Hopefully it will influence others to realize what they collectively “own” in their communities that are irreplaceable.
https://40southnews.com/maplewood-history-the-magnificent-cabinetry-of-the-harpers-pharmacy-saved/?trashed=1&ids=59813
Dear Doug, What a wonderful set of photos of Harper Drug store in Maplewood. It was an elegant shop! Great photos from Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Thanks to you all. Happy New Year! Nora
Happy New Year to you as well, Nora. Harper’s Pharmacy was an elegant store. The historic photographs were actually courtesy of tw0 descendants in the Harper family, Alice Harper and Mary Harper Hall. Much thanks for your comment.
This was received by email from one of St. Louis’ most notable historians, Ron Elz. Ron is maybe better known by his “on air” nom de plume, Johnny Rabbitt. His radio show on KXOK was number one to those of us who came of age in the 1960’s. He writes:
Very enjoyable, memorable…but none the less sad to see. Harper’s was one of the finest drug stores around, and it was once a favorite haunt of Harry Babbitt who in 1934 became a radio announcer on KWK, then went on to singing fame with the Kay Kyser Orchestra.
Rabbitt