Blackwell Smith


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  Blackwell Smith's Drug Store, 723 W Washington, Petersburg VA (1917-1933)
  Blackwell Smith's Drug Store, 801 W Washington, Petersburg VA (1935-1950)
  Blackwell-Smith Drug Co Inc, 801 W Washington, Petersburg VA (1952-ca.1991) 1,2

Notes:
Robert Blackwell Smith (1887-1963)3 was a drugstore clerk at the Lum Brothers drugstore circa 1905-1907, and at Robert N Partin's drugstore circa 1909-1913. By 1915, he was the manager of Partin's Uptown drug store. 1

By 1917 he had started his own drug store at 723 West Washington Street. His store moved to 801 West Washington Street about 1935. 1
I beleive both stores were on the corner of Washington and South Streets. A National Register of Historic Places document from 11/17/1999 said the building at 801 was built ca.1850-1860, and that a drugstore had stood on that street corner since 1886 when Joseph M. Burke opened his store there.

Smith had in interest in the Sixth Ward Pharmacy, because in 1937 he announced he was consolidating that store with his store at 801 Washington Street.4

Smith passed away in 19632, but his drugstore continued with the same name. The last newspaper reference I could find for the store at 801 W Washington was in 1991, but it may have lasted after that.2
I also have a note I wrote to myself in 2019 saying the store was still open at that time, and located at 26040 Cox Road in Petersburg, but I can't find any reference to where I found that information.


Bottles:
blackwell_01 This is a clear 3.3" bottle embossed:
vertical: BLACKWELL SMITH / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: C L G CO


Other Items:
blackwell_02 This is an odd-shaped (triangular) plastic measuring cup. The face is painted with:
in blue letters: BLACKWELL SMITH'S / DRUG STORE / FREE QUICK DELIVERY SERVICE / TO ALL SURROUNDING AREAS / PHONE RE 3-4242 / Cor. Washington & South Sts. / PETERSBURG, VA.


1 Petersburg VA city directories for years: 1866,70,72,76-77,79,82,86,88,91,93,95,97,99,1901,03,05,07,09,11,13,15,17-18,20-22,24,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,48,50,52,54-55,57,59
2 Richmond Times-Dispatch, 04-Ded-1991, p.98 (last ad I found for Blackwell Smith @ 801 W Washington)
3 find-a-grave entry for Robert Blackwell Smith
4 Southside Virginia News, 14-Jan-1937, p.13


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This page last updated on July 2, 2026.