Benjamin H. Gorrell
Company Names, addresses, dates:
  B.H. Gorrell, "next to Bookstore", Lexington VA (1868-1879) 1,2
  B.H. Gorrell, Main St. "Opposite National Hotel", Lexington VA (1879-ca.1910 2,3
  Gorrell's Drug Store, 17 West Nelson St., Lexington VA (ca.1910-1926) 3,4
  Wayland-Gorrell Drug Co, Lexington VA (1920-ca.1935) 5,6
Notes:
Benjamin Harvey Gorrell Sr. (1841-1889)7
was born in Jefferson County WVa, and moved to Culpeper VA where he went into
the drugstore business with his brother
Joseph B. Gorrell .
Then the civil war started, and he entered the Confederate Army.
He was wounded in Petersburg in 1864. He came to Lexington VA in 1867. 8
He opened a drugstore in Lexington in 1868. The newspaper announcement
said it was located "Next to the Bookstore". 1
The location changed in 1879, where the new location was described as
"the old store-room of Antrim & Lafferty, on Main Street, opposite
National Hotel". 2
Gorrell was at one time president of the Virginia Pharmaceutical
Association. He passed away in 1898.8
His son,
Benjamin Harvey Gorrell Jr. (1869-1950)9,
took over the drug store.
In 1920, there was a split.
Benjamin Jr. joined up with E.L. Wayland
to form the Wayland-Gorrell Drug Co. 5
Also around 1920, Benjamin Jr. and the other heirs of Benjamin Sr. sold
the Gorrell Drug store, but it continued to be called Gorrell's Drug Store
until 1926, when it was renamed Rice's Drug Store, with Tom J. Rice as the
proprietor. 4
In 1922, Benjamin Jr. moved to Philadelphia, but the Wayland-Gorrell
drugstore name did not change, with Mr. Wayland being the sole
proprietor. The Wayland-Gorrell drug company continued until on or
about 1935, which was the last year I could find any ads for said store. 6
This is a 1.8" x 1.8" cardboard box with a label from 1919 that says: label: GORRELL's / DRUG STORE / PHONE No 41. / 17 WEST NELSON ST. / LEXINGTON, VA. No. 144480 Dr McClurg ... 4/12/1919 |