O.P. Hare
Company Names, addresses, dates:
  O.P. Hare, 130 South Ave, Petersburg VA (ca.1869-ca.1886) 1,2
  O.P. Hare & Co., 130 South Ave, Petersburg VA (ca.1886-ca.1984) 2,3
Notes:
Otway Parker Hare (1803-1891)4 owned a drugstore in
Petersburg, VA.
The book "The Pill Rollers" says that the O.P. Hare Drug Company started in 1850
5.
But many newspaper articles in the 1850s and 1860s make no mention of Hare being
a druggist, but do indicate that Hare was the owner of the New Market racetrack,
and was involved in horse racing, with the last such article I could find being
in 1866.6
Also, his obituary indicated he started in the drug business after the civil
war.7
So I suspect he started his drug business (or took over someone elses business)
sometime between 1866 and 18691, the latter year being the earliest
newspaper mention I could find of Hare being a druggist.
The Petersburg city directory for 1886 listed Hare's drug store as
"Otway P. Hare & Thomas F. Knock", indicating Hare had a partner.
Most city directories after that time list the name of the business as
"O.P. Hare & Co.".
The June 7, 1870 edition of the Richmond Whig newspaper said that O.P. Hare was issued
a patent for a liniment.8
An ad for the liniment claimed that it cures permanently: Rheumatism,
Neuralgia, Cramp, Sore Throat, Colic, Cholera Morbus, Headache, Pains in the Limbs,
Chilblains, Sprains, Bruises, and Fresh Cuts. 9
Hare passed away in 1891, but his business kept the same name, and continued
until at least 19843, which is the last newspaper reference I could
find for the drugstore.
Bottles:
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Amber 3.2" bottle embossed:
vertical: O.P. HARE / DRUG CO / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: W.T.CO. / 2
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This bottle is embossed the same as the bottle above, but it's larger and a different
shade of amber. It's 4.0" tall, embossed:
vertical: O.P. HARE / DRUG CO / PETERSBURG, VA.
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These bottles are also embossed the same as above, but larger and different
shades of amber. They're both 5.25" tall, embossed:
vertical: O.P. HARE / DRUG CO / PETERSBURG, VA.
base (right bottle only): C L G CO / 5
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Another like the bottles above, but larger still and yet another shade of amber,
this is a 7.25" bottle embossed:
vertical: O.P. HARE / DRUG CO / PETERSBURG, VA.
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Amber 4.75" bottle embossed:
horizontal: 3ii / O.P. HARE / DRUG CO / (logo with "H") / PETERSBURG / VA.
base horizontal: W.T.CO. / USA
base vertical: PAT./ APD. FOR
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This is a clear 5.3" mouth-blown bottle embossed:
vertical: O.P. HARE'S / LINIMENT / PETERSBURG, VA.
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This is an aqua, 7" tall, BIM bottle, shaped like a typical "citrate of magnesia"
bottle. It is embossed:
horizontal in fancy slugplate: O.P. HARE & CO. / DRUGGISTS / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: W T & CO / 1
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This is a clear 4.7" bottle embossed:
horizontal on top: 3ii
vertical: O.P. HARE DRUG CO. / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: C L G CO / 2
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This is a clear 5.5" bottle embossed:
vertical: O.P. HARE & CO. / DRUGGISTS / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: USA (the rest is garbled and it's all crooked)
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This is a clear 6.8" bottle embossed:
horizontal on top: 3viii
vertical: O.P. HARE & CO. / DRUGGISTS / PETERSBURG, VA.
base: *** / WT&CO / USA
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This is a clear 5.5" (4 ounce) bottle with a white Applied Color Label (ACL) that says:
embossed on the shoulder: 3iv
ACL: O.P. HARE / DRUG CO. / PRESCRIPTION (picture of scales) SPECIALISTS /
130 SOUTH AVE / PHONE 145 / WE DELIVER
embossed on the base: 2 / KNOXALL
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This is an amber 8" unembossed bottle with a label:
label: (logo that says NVAL SERVICE DRUG STORE) / O.P. HARE DRUG CO. / C.L. GUTHRIE, PROP. /
130 South Avenue, PETERSBURG, VA.
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Other items:
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This is a receipt from 1916 that says:
T.F.KNOCK, PRES.     W.E. POOLE, VICE-PRES.     C.L.GUTHRIE, SEC. & TREAS. /
Petersburg, VA., June 10th 1916 / BOUGHT OF O.P. HARE DRUG CO., INC.
DEALERS IN / PURE DRUGS, PAINTS, WINDOW GLASS AND GARDEN SEEDS /
COMPLETE LINE OF DRUG SUNDRIES / PHONE 145. COR. HALIFAX AND SOUTH AVE.
Also printed in a box:
PROPRIETORS OF Hare's Sanine / Hare's Co. Syr. Hypophos / Hare's Fragrant Cream / Hare's Baking Powder /
TERMS CASH.
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This is a receipt from 1918 that says:
T.F.KNOCK, PRES.     W.E. POOLE, VICE-PRES.     C.L.GUTHRIE, SEC. & TREAS. /
Petersburg, VA., Sept 21st 1918 / BOUGHT OF O.P. HARE DRUG CO., INC.
DEALERS IN / PURE DRUGS, PAINTS, WINDOW GLASS AND GARDEN SEEDS /
COMPLETE LINE OF DRUG SUNDRIES / PHONE 145. COR. HALIFAX AND SOUTH AVE.
Also printed in a box:
PROPRIETORS OF Hare's Sanine / Hare's Co. Syr. Hypophos / Hare's Fragrant Cream / Hare's Baking Powder /
TERMS CASH.
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1 The Daily Express (Petersburg) 1869-Jan-03, p.3 (earliest mention I could find of Hare as a druggist)
2 Petersburg VA city directories for years: 1872,82,86,88,97,99,1901,03,05,07,09,11,13,15,17,18,20-22,24,29,35,37,39,43
3 Richmond Times Dispatch 1984-Jun-10, p.174 (last mention I could find of O.P.Hare drugstore)
4 Find-a-grave entry for Otway P. Hare
5 Book: "The Pill Rollers" by Lillian & Charles Richardson, p.133
6 The Daily Express (Petersburg) 1866-Feb-24, p.2 (last mention of Hare racing horses)
7 Richmond Dispatch 1891-Nov-21, p.2 (Obituary for O.P. Hare)
8 Richmond Whig, 1870-Jun-17, p.3
9 Richmond Times Dispatch 1904-Mar-01, p.10 (ad for Hare's Celebrated Liniment)
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This page last updated on October 31, 2024.