THE INDEPENDENT DRUG STORE

Long before we had CVS or Walgreen or any other chain drug store on every corner the Detroit area had many independently owned pharmacies. Many of these stores were owned by second generation Americans. Some of these owners were raised during the depression. Many served in the military during World War II. After they graduated high school or returned from the war they would go to college.

There was a college in Detroit called The Detroit Institue of Technolgy. The school was a four-year college better known as D.I.T. which opened in 1891 and closed in 1981. In 1907 D.I.T. opened a college of pharmacy. Many of the Detroit area Pharmacists of that generation attended D.I.T. opened drug stores in the 1940's,50's and 60's.

The stores they opened were much smaller than the large chain stores we see today. That being said they were busy places. Most were opened seven days a week until ten or eleven at night. People in the neighborhood depended on them. The owners were in the stores 50 ,60 maybe 70 hours a week. The owner or one of the clerks personally helped every customer. This was an era when a lot of people still did not own a car. Many still lived in homes and apartments that did not have a lot of storage space. Customers would often return to these stores two or three time a day. Many looked to the Pharmacists for advice on a number of issues. These guys were often minor celebrates in the neighborhood.

Two of my uncles were D.I.T. alumni. They each owned a drug store in the Detroit area. I worked for both of them while attending high school. I became an experienced drug store clerk. In those days an experienced drug store clerk was always in demand. I would look at the classified ads in the Sunday papers. There would be help wanted ads "wanted experienced drug store clerk." I felt important! I would say to myself I could get anyone of those jobs.

The week after I graduated high school I was looking through the classified ads in the Sunday paper looking for a full - time job for the summer. "This was how people found jobs before something called the internet." The ad read wanted full time experienced drug store clerk at a new pharmacy in the Northland Medical Building. The ad said apply in person Monday morning. This had my name all over it. Not only was I an experienced drug store clerk but this store was less than half mile from my house. I am there Monday morning 9:00 a.m. I am quickly hired. The owner's name was Jack. A classic example of a hard working guy from that generation. . Jack always smoked a big cigar while filling prescriptions. You don't see that much anymore.

One night it was raining Jack offered to give me a ride home. He asked what I was planning to take in college. I said I am going into accounting. He said you should become a pharmacist. You might own you own store someday. If you don't you will always get a job for $175.00 per week. [Pre inflation days] I stuck with accounting but I often think Jack may have been right and had given me good advice.

I worked in another store. The owner's name was Irv. I liked the job. I was earning ninety cents per hour. One day after working there for about two years I walked up to Irv and gave my notice. I told him I am getting a job at Federal's Department Store selling shoes. The job pays commission they said I can average $2.00 per hour. He responded I can't pay that kind of money but since you are one of my best clerks I will give you a raise to $1.10 per hour if you stay. I told him I appreciated the offer but I wanted to try selling shoes. He told me if it didn't work out I could always have my job back. I sometimes wonder if the offer is still open.

I always liked the men I worked for from that generation. They were hard working guys trying to make a decent living. I appreciated the experience, there advice and the jobs.

WRITTEN BY

RON TURETT