Williamson's


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  Williamson Drug Co, Harrisonburg VA (1909-????)

Notes:
Jacob White Williamson (1878-1954)3 and Cornelius Burnley Williamson (1880-1958)4 bought the Lupton Drug Company from James R. Lupton and started the Williamson Drug Company in 19092.

According to the US Census, Jacob ran the drug store, and Cornelius worked elsewhere.
Jacob was also the president of the Virginia Pharmacists Association in 19305.

Most of the Virginia State directories of drugstores I used don't list addresses, but the ones that did list the address of the Williamson's drug company were as follows: 1
  Williamson Drug Co, S. Main Street (1912)
  Williamson Drug Co, 72 S. Main Stree (1917)
  Williamson Drug Co, 92 S. Main Street (1927)
  Williamson Drug Co, 108 S. Main Street (1935,1938)
I don't know if the different street addresses indicate that the store moved, or if the street was re-numbered.

Jacob passed away in 1954, and his death certificate listed his occupation as owner and operator of a drug store.
By 1956, the store was owned by Frank K. Collins, but still called the Williamson Drug Company.5

I don't know how long the drugstore lasted, the the last newspaper reference I could find to the store was from 1972, when there was a fire at the store.6
A google search has shown some modern-day pharmacies in Harrisonburg with "Williamson" in the name, that may or may-not be related to this drugstore. They include:
    Williamson Drug - 1776 S Main St, Harrisonburg VA
    Williamson's Pharmacy - 1585 Red Oak St., Harrisonburg VA
    Williamson Hughes Healthmart - 1375 Little Sorrell Dr, Harrisonburg VA



Bottles:

williamsons_01 These are two sun colored amythest (SCA) bottles. Left is 6.4" and right is 3.7". They're both embossed:
vertical: WILLIAMSON'S / HARRISONBURG, VA
williamsons_02 This is a sun colored amythest (SCA) 3.7" bottle embossed:
vertical: WILLIAMSON'S / HARRISONBURG, VA
williamsons_04 This is a clear 5.5" bottle marked:
vertical embossing on back: WILLIAMSON'S / HARRISONBURG, VA
label on front: WILLIAMSON DRUG CO., / PRESCRIPTION PHARMACISTS / HARRISONBURG, VA.
hand-written on label: ( Adrenaline )
williamsons_08 This is a clear 6.25" machine-made bottle with a label:
label in red ink: WOOD ALCOHOL / (skull & crossbones with 'POISON" below) / ... / WILLIAMSON DRUG CO., / PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS, / HARRISONBURG, VA.
williamsons_07 This is a clear 3.5" machine-made bottle with a plastic screw-top. It has a label that says:
label: WILLIAMSON DRUG CO., / PRESCRIPTION PHARMACISTS / HARRISONBURG, VA.
typed at the top of the label: Glycerine.



Other items:
williamsons_06 This is a 2.7" tall dose glass. It is marked:
WILLIAMSON'S / FOR DRUGS OF QUALITY / SCIENTIFICALLY COMPOUNDED / WE SAVE YOU MONEY
The gradations show up to 4 tablespoons or 1 "wine glass"
williamsons_03 This is a label from a drugstore bottle. It says:
SPIRIT OF PEPPERMINT / (ESS. OF PEPPERMINT) / Contains ALCOHOL 85% by volume. / DOSE - For an adult, 30 drops to a teaspoonful in / sweetened water. Children in proportion to age. / WILLIAMSON DRUG CO., / PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS, / HARRISONBURG, VA.
williamsons_05 This is a cardboard box with a label affixed. It says:
WILLIAMSON DRUG CO., / PRESCRIPTION PHARMACISTS, / HARRISONBURG, VA. / 28176 5/31/45 / Dr. A.W. Graves / One cc three times a day. / Miss Effie Shaver
williamsons_09 This is a 9.5" x 9" cardboard fan on a wooden stick. It says:
front: WILLIAMSON DRUG CO. / Prescription Pharmacists / Harrisonburg, Va. / A Complete Line of Drugs and Druggists' Sundries. / ...
back: (design meant to look like folds?)
williamsons_10 This is a 4.75" metal spoon for administering medicine. It's etched with:
bowl: (has marks for 1 and 1/2 teaspoon level)
top: WILLIAMSON DRUG CO.
side: HARRISONBURG, VA.
other side: PHONE 168
opposite bowl: NEXT DOSE (has a dial you can point to the time 1 thru 12)


1 Various Virginia State directories of drugstores, years: 1905,7,8,10,11,12,13,16,17,19,21,24,27,35
2 The News Leader (Richmond VA), 10-Mar-1909, page TEN
3 Find-a-grave for Jacob White Williamson
4 Find-a-grave for Cornelius Burnley Williamson
5 The Virginia Pharmacy Association's web site.
6 Warren Sentinal, 14-Jun-1956, page TWENTY-SIX
7 Richmond Times-Dispatch, 21-Sep-1972, page 67


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This page last updated on July 6, 2023.