Our Past Is Present December 1, 2017

December 1, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is about a store in Junction City that closed after being in business for 60  years.  December 1978 marked the end of an era in Junction City.  For 60 years, Roy Clewell had been the owner and operator of a drugstore on North Washington Street.  The store was first opened by Mr. Clewell’s uncle, C.H. Baskin in the building next door.  Baskin bought the business in 1890 and the store flourished.  So, he expanded and built the new building.  Roy Clewell’s father operated the Baskin Drug Store from 1904 to 1917, when Roy took possession of it.  In the early days the business served as a gathering place of the community and the soda fountain jerks and comic books kept the school lunch hour crowds entertained for many years.   The soda fountain, with its mirror encased in a heavy oak frame was a focal point for people to gather and exchange their tales about daily activities.  The store was said to be the first drugstore in town to get a refrigerated fountain, where it offered a wide selection of flavors in its ice cream gallery.

            When it closed in 1978, the Clewell Drug Store could boast of having hosted some well-known people such as Harry Truman, Mickey Rooney and Hollywood star Gene Tierney along with lots of satisfied Junction City customers.

            Tomorrow’s story will be about another long time business in Junction City that closed its doors after many years of doing business.