Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Catalog Number |
1990.0004.0024 |
Description |
Pliny Fishburne carved his name in an unfired brick and the brick was placed on N. Wayne Avenue wall of the Fishburne Drug Store. For 100 years, the Fishburne Drug Store was located on the corner of Main Street and Wayne Avenue in downtown Waynesboro. After changing hands several times and several moves, it is still filling prescriptions today. The business evolved over the years to adapt to a changing world and as it did it, reflected the needs of a community. Fishburne's was the location of one of the first gasoline pumps in town and it was one of the first businesses to have electric lights and air conditioning. Waynesboro's first telephone switchboard was on the second floor of the Fishburne Drug Store. The soda fountain at the store was a meeting place for many years. But while Fishburne Drug Store was a harbinger of entrepreneurial advances, it also retained a comforting sense of the familiar. "The Corner," or "Fishburne's Corner," as it became known, holds an important place on Waynesboro's collective memory. Around 1820, a young shopkeeper named Daniel Fishburn came to Waynesboro from Staunton to pursue business interests. According to memoirs written by Daniel's son Clement, Daniel opened a general store with a partner William Wyat King, approximately five years later. King & Fishburn became successful selling fabrics, medicines, groceries, and other household necessities. In 1838, Fishburn purchased a block of land at the northwest corner of Main Street & Wayne Avenue. He built a home and general store on the land and opened for business in 1840. Daniel died in 1863. In April 1874, his son Elliot Guthrie, together with local doctor John S. Myers, commenced business as druggists in Waynesboro. By 1879, Fishburne & Myers were filling prescriptions and operating a drugstore out of the building at the corner of Main Street and Wayne Avenue. In the late nineteenth century, physicians and pharmacists were distinguishing themselves as separate professions. Prior to this period, physicians would prepare their own medicines and pharmacists would distribute chemicals and mix medicines in bulk for general sale. The store became a successful business and expanded to offer sundry merchandise for sale in addition to filling prescriptions. In the early 1890's, the name was changed to Fishburne & Co., and on April 23, 1894, Elliott purchased Dr. Myers' share of the business. On the very same day, Elliot's son Pliny purchased the shares and the store opened as Fishburne & Son. Pliny studied at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy which was the first school of pharmacy in the United States, founded in 1821. In 1934, Pliny sold the business and the Fishburne Drug Store passed out of the family. It was purchased by three Staunton druggists who changed the name slightly, to Fishburne and Son, Limited. In 1936, 23-year-old pharmacist Walter Hickok joined the firm. In 1960, Hickok purchased the store and presided over the corner of Main Street and Wayne Avenue until 1979, when the building was razed. For several years Hickok worked out of Wise's Discount Store on Main Street. In 1981, Hickok sold the business to pharmacist David Garber who moved the pharmacy to 13th Street. Today, nearly 130 years later, prescriptions are still being filled at Fishburne & Son Drug Store. |
Date |
1979 |
Collection |
Fishburne Drug Collection |