Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Charles F. Gilman, pharmacist, Railroad Street, circa 1894

Description

"Charles F. Gilman operated a retail pharmacy at 92 Railroad Street (now North Avenue) opposite the Upper Depot. According to Wakefield, Its Representative Business Men and Points of Interest, Gilman, a native of Maine, started the business in 1891 as successor to H.M. and L.W. Cross. His store was on one floor and measured 35' x 20'. He carried a complete stock of drugs, medicines and chemicals, 'besides toilet articles, cigars and choice confectionery.' The 1894 pubhlication also noted that prescriptions were compounded 'at short notice in a most skillful and painstaking manner' at a price that was uniformly moderate. In addition to pharmaceuticals and other items, Charles F. Gilman also sold bicycles. IN 1896, he also had one of four pay telephone stations in Wakefield where nonsubscribers could use the telephone at a cost of 15 cents per five minute conversation with any other subscriber on the Boston or Suburban Exchanges. The three other pay stations were located at E.A. Wheeler, Car Station in Greenwood; S.E. Ryder, Druggist on Main Street; and at the Town Hall. In 1918, records indicate that Gilman sold photo supplies."

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2014

Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Railroad Street (Wakefield, Mass.)

Date

ca. 1894

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

Wakefield, Mass. : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Stores, retail

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture: b & w

Extent

31 x 19 cm.