The evolution of 40-42 Main Street (where the current pharmacy is located) over the course of a century. It is called the Martin block, since a merchant named H.C. Martin had a general merchandise store there in the 1880-90s (upper left). In the same building was Alfred Caple (1846-1897), Oakfield tailor. The Martin building, a wood frame structure, along with most of the business section of the village, burned in the great Oakfield fire of 1895. It was rebuilt in brick, as decreed by a new village ordinance ordering all business structures north of Water Street to be brick. Tenants of the new building included C. A. Spear Merchandise and J. A. Cooper Bakery (upper right). In 1927, Glenn Peterson (lower left) moved his pharmacy into the building (the same year Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs for the Yankees). He had started his business across the street at 61 Main in 1926. Peterson Drug operated at 40-42 Main for many decades thereafter. There was a soda fountain at the pharmacy. Today, 40-42 Main remains a pharmacy (lower right). Photo credits respectively from the 2009 Oakfield Historical Society Calendar, a postcard circa 1910, the 1976 Oakfield Bicentennial History book, and Genesee County tax records.
|
|
| |
|
Log in
Register
Support This Site
Contact Us
Help
Album: