Ahnapee & Algoma: Drug Stores & Patent Medicines



Lydia E. Pinkham Co. was a patent medicine business at the turn of 1900. Advertised as medicines sure to take care of “women’s complaints,” Pinkham's kindly face appeared on labels and advertising indicated she would answer any letter to offer advice to the suffering. Those who wrote to her after May 1883 had no way of knowing she was dead and buried in Lynn, Massachusetts.

 

By 1900 patent advertising provided the largest sources of revenue for newspapers across the country. Clauses in lucrative advertising contracts cancelled those contracts if one negative word about the patent industry appeared. Then Colliers began running articles reporting fraudulent practices. Some medicines were harmless, some were harmful. Some contained alcohol, some contained narcotics. Some were addicting. In 1900 there was no regulation or oversight. Mrs. Pinkham was touting help for women and Isham’s Spring Water was said to cure rheumatism. Pink pills were there for paralysis, and ointments took care of cancer. Or, so the advertising said.

Since drug stores sold liquor for medicinal purposes, Temperance leaders could always drink for their health while they shook their fingers at those who had a non-medicinal glass of whiskey. Boedecker’s Drug Store, on the southeast corner of 4^th and Steele, announced on June 29, 1917 that it would no longer sell “intoxicating liquors of any kind.” Bulk liquor sales in drug stores was legal at the time and druggists considered such sales as a necessary part of pharmacy. The Boedecker brothers apparently had a change of thought and went on to advertise that their Rexall Drug Store “shall be Algoma’s Greatest Drug Store in fact as well as name.” On February 27, 1920 Algoma Record Herald pointed out whiskey consumption while reporting that none of the city druggists had made application for a whiskey seller’s permit. Physicians prescribing medicinal whiskey also needed permits. By then Prohibition was in force. Sales of more than a pint of liquor to any one person within a ten day period was prohibited, and the National Association of Retail Druggists advised its members against taking out the special license due to liability.

Drug stores were a big part of Ahnapee’s business community. The druggists prepared tinctures, ointments and other medications. Shelves were full of patent medicines advertised in the Ahnapee Record and, after 1897, the Algoma Record. Boedecker’s was convenient. Dr. Minahan’s* medical office was upstairs. Maybe more important was Boedecker’s “clock.” It was a type of slot machine into which one inserted a coin to get a trinket. The lucky rang the clock more than once to get an additional jackpot.

Across Steele to the north was a hot spot for drugstores beginning with James Dudley’s in 1864 and John McDonald a year later. Dudley even made fresh baking soda in his store. The building that is now Crow’s Nest was the site – though a different structure - of Dudley’s Standard Drug Store. Then came Vojta Kwapil and Jim Fluck. William Perry’s drug store was on the other side of the alley. Christian Roberts operated City Drug Store and Joseph Knipfer constructed his store on the northeast corner of 4^th and Steele in 1878. Mike Shiner was advertising in 1879, also on the corner of 4^th and Steele. Bates Drug Store opened in 1881 on the east side of what is now Clay on Steele, and by 1890 Silas Doyen had moved into the Baumann building, now the site of Algoma Sew 'n Vac. Doyen sold to Wilbur and Spiegelberg, however Spiegelberg soon went to 4^th and Steele, working in the space that also included jeweler Edward Koenig. Doyen took Merton McDonald as a partner and kept practicing. Johnson purchased Boedecker’s. Pharmacists and drug stores kept coming and going. 

 

During President Teddy Roosevelt’s administration, the 59^th Congress passed legislation that can only be called monumental. When significant steps were taken toward the labeling, inspection and regulation that became the Pure Food and Drug Act, patent medicines and their promises began going by the wayside, although not entirely. Over 100 years later, misleading statements continue to dot commercials, however legislation changed things in Algoma as it did all over the country.

Today's Fletcher's Castoria, Bayer Aspirin, Phillips Milk of Magnesia and Anacin - products that can be found all over -  had their beginnings in the patent medicines. Angostura bitters started out as something for stomach aches but nobody thinks of that when they are enjoying a cocktail. Neither do those who enjoy gin and tonic. Tonic was also once regarded as medicinal. As for those who look forward to an icy cold 7-Up, Cocoa Cola, Dr. Pepper or Pepsi Cola, they too were once marketed for their medicinal qualities.

And, Lydia Pinkham? She is still around.

Note: The Four Clips, a long-time barbershop quartet favorite of Wisconsin audiences, included a song about Lydia Pinkham in their vast repertoire. Years ago, lyrics of that catchy number prompted this blogger to learn about Pinkham and what "she" had to offer. Having done significant research on Ahnapee/Algoma drug stores and their owners, and Prohibition, all kinds of patent medicines surfaced. It was Bully Pulpit, (a must read) about Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft that compelled me to put patent medicines, advertising, commerce and legislation into another perspective.

*Dr. John Minahan was the brother of Dr.  William  Minahan who went down on the Titanic. Their brother Hugh operated a store in Casco and the three brothers together owned a maple syrup camp near Scarboro.

Sources:  Ahnapee Record, Algoma Record, An-An-api-sebe: Where is the River? c.2001; Commercial History of Algoma, WI, Vols. 1 & 2, c. 2006 & 2012; Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin, c. 2013; and Wikipedia. Find further information on patent medicines simply by Googling.