Grove & McKay
H.R. McKay & Son


Company Names, addresses, dates:
  Frank Grove, Corner Main & Broad Streets, Luray VA (1887-1893) 1
  Grove & McKay, Corner Main & Broad Streets, Luray VA (1893-1930)1
  H.R. McKay & Son, East Main Street, Luray VA (1930-1975) 1,2

Notes:
Dr. Frank Wilburn Grove (1855-1953)3 bought a drug store at the corner of Main & Broad Streets in Luray from G.W. Haines in 18871.
Grove graduated from the University of MD in 1880, and started practicing medicine in Page County, sometimes making house calls by horseback. In 1890, he stopped practicing medicine and devoted his full time to the pharmacy. Grove died on November 6, 1953 at the age of 97.4

Henry Relfe McKay (1868-1941)5 was a partner with Grove from 1893 to 1930. In 1930, he bought out Dr. Grove and made his son William Kenny McKay (1900-1980)6 a partner. William later became the sole proprietor1.

In 1964, William took on Charles A. Butler as a partner. In 1975, Butler bought him out and renamed the store "Butler's Pharmacy". In 1990, Butler sold the business to Rite-Aid.2

Grove & McKay Bottles:
mckay_04 Left bottle is 4.5", right bottle is 5.0". They are both clear, embossed:
vertical: GROVE & McKAY / LURAY, VA.



H.R. McKay & Son Bottles:
mckay_01 Clear 3.7" screw-top machine-made bottle with red lettered label:
label: CAMPHORATED OIL, U.S.P. / ... / H.R. McKAY & SON / PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS / EAST MAIN STREET LURAY, VA.
mckay_02 Clear 3" screw-top machine-made bottle with label:
label: H.R. McKAY & SON / PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS / EAST MAIN STREET LURAY, VA. / (the rest is hand-written & hard to read)
mckay_03 Green 2.5" screw-top (eye-dropper) machine-made bottle with label from 1946:
label: H.R. McKAY & SON / PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS / EAST MAIN STREET LURAY, VA. / 237-428 10-7-46 ... Dr. Brumbeck
mckay_05 Amber 3.2" screw-top machine-made bottle with label from 1949:
label: H.R. McKAY & SON / PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS / EAST MAIN STREET LURAY, VA. / 275-404 11-2-49 ... Dr. E.M.Cover


1 Book: Luray and Page County, by Dan Vaughn
2 Online obituary for Charlse A Butler
3 Find-a-grave entry for Frank Wilburn Grove
4 Obituary in Richmond Times Dispatch, Nov 7, 1953
5 Find-a-grave entry for Henry Relfe McKay
6 Find-a-grave entry for William Kenny McKay


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This page last updated on September 21, 2024.