L.H. Ott


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  L.H. Ott, Harrisonburg VA
  Ott & Shue, Harrisonburg VA (ca.1870s)
  Ott & Stabler, Harrisonburg VA (1873-1874) 2,3
  L.H. Ott, Harrisonburg VA
  L.H. Ott & Sons, Harrisonburg VA (ca.1904-ca.1906)
  L.H. Ott Drug Co, Harrisonburg VA (ca.1908-ca.1935)

Notes:
Luther Hartman Ott (1834-1916)4 was a druggist in Harrisonburg.
One of the artifacts below says "ESTABLISHED 1856", so I presume that's when he started. The earliest reference I could find to him as a druggist was from 1870, when the firm was called "Ott & Shue".1

In 1873, he purchased a store from Dr. Eichelberger, and opened it under the name Ott & Stabler, with F. Stabler Jr.. The announcement said that he was continuing to operate his original store under (Ott & Shue).2
That new endeavor didn't last long, as Ott & Stabler broke up in 1874.3

The 1904-1906 directories list his drug store as "L.H. Ott & Son", so he was partnered with his son "G. Huston Ott".

In 1916, Luther Ott passed away. Shortly after, his store was purchased by John J. Reiley, but it seems the name of the store was not changed.5
I found references to the name "L.H. Ott Drug Co." as late as 1935.1

Page 117 of the book: "Images of America Harrisonburg" by Scott Hamilton Suter & Cheryl Lyon has a photo that shows L.H. Ott's drug store in the 1920s on Main Street. The sign outside the drugstore says "The Rexall Store" at the bottom6.
One of the artifacts below also indicates that Ott's drugstore was a member of the the Rexall chain of drug stores.


Bottles:

ott_01 This is a clear (sun colored amythest) 3.5" bottle embossed:
horizontal: L.H.OTT / DRUGGIST / (mortar & pestle) / HARRISONBURG / VA
ott_02 This is a clear 6.5" bottle (similar to the bottle above except for the size and the location of the mortar & pestle), embossed::
horizontal: L.H.OTT / (mortar & pestle) / DRUGGIST / HARRISONBURG / VA
base: B B & CO / PAT'D
ott_03 These are clear 4.3" and 3.7" bottles embossed:
vertical in script: L.H. Ott & Son
vertical: HARRISONBURG, VA.
base (left bottle): PAT JUN 17 88 / A / S B
base (right bottle): PAT JUN 17 88 / S B
ott_05 This is a clear, 3.7" bottle, embossed like the bottles above, but it also has a label. Here's a description:
label: L.H. Ott & Son / ESTABLISHED 1856 / Dispensing Pharmacists / HARRISONBRUG, VA.
vertical embossing in script: L.H. Ott & Son
vertical embossing: HARRISONBURG, VA.
base embossing: PAT JUN 17 88 / S B



Other Items:
ott_04 This is a 3" x 1.75" x 1" cardboard box. It says:
label on box: THE L.H. Ott Drug Co. / Pharmacists / ESTABLISHED 1856 / HARRISONBURG, VA. (logo with LHOCO)
Hand written: No. 61762a Date 1.6.04 / Take as directed / Mrs. Morris Dr. J.C.T.
ott_06 This is a 7.5" x 7.25" " cardboard fan on a wooden stick. It says:
front: (picture of a woman in a window with flowers around the outside of the window)
rear: The Best in Drug Store Goods / The Best in Drug Store Service / From / OTT DRUG CO. / The Rexall Store / HARRISONBURG, VA. / ...


1 Various Virginia State directories of drugstores, years: 1870,71,1905,7,8,10,11,12,13,16,17,19,21,24,27,35
2 Valley Virginian Staunton VA newspaper, 27-Feb-1873, p.3
3 Valley Virginian Staunton VA newspaper, 16-Apr-1874, p.3
4 Find-a-grave entry for Luther Hartman Ott
5 Shenandoah Herald, Woodstock VA newspaper, 5-May-1916, p.4
6 Book: "Images of America Harrisonburg" by Scott Hamilton Suter & Cheryl Lyon


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This page last updated on July 2, 2023.