Our Past Is Present July 18, 2018

July 18, 2018

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

            We have been recently sharing some stories about early businesses in Junction City.  Today we want to briefly tell you about The B. Rockwell Merchandise and Grain Company and Sargent’s Drug Store. 

            Bertrand Rockwell decided to locate his business here in October of 1865.  It would be the B. Rockwell Merchandise and Grain Company and the building was located on the east side of Washington Street. For 20 years, Rockwell’s father lived in the store and worked with him.  Typical business hours were from 5:30 A.M. until 1:00 PM daily.  The Rockwell’s stocked everything needed in a home or on a farm and they were willing to trade homegrown products for goods. .

            The business made history when they shipped the first railroad cars of wheat and corn from Kansas City overseas by way of the Gulf of Mexico.  For over 25 years the firm made Junction City the best market for grain in the State of Kansas.

            Although the store suffered three disastrous fires, the last one occurred in 1888.  Today, the brick and stone structure that replaced the fire-ravaged building has been restored to its original appearance and stands at the southeast corner of Eighth and Washington Streets. 

            Another early business in town was the Sargent’s Drug Store, which became the home of Junction City’s famous “Coca-Cola Senate.”  In 1865, Major O.J. Hopkins, who was stationed at Fort Riley, wrote to his father-in-law in Indiana about the opportunities for business in the new town near the fort.  James Sargent and his son William arrived in Junction City a few months later and by August of 1866, they had opened a drug store in a building owned by Ruben Emick on the east side of Washington Street between Seventh and Eighth Streets. The Sargent Drug Store was at 706 North Washington, where it remained for 76 years and was run by four generations of the Sargent family.

            In the 1890’s an Army officer who came from Atlanta, Georgia told the Sargent’s about a new and refreshing drink he had tasted there.  It was called “Coca-Cola”.  Lindon Sargent was persuaded to order some of the syrup and Sargent’s became the first business west of the Mississippi to serve Coca-Cola.  It was served cold, but without ice and led to the drug store’s designation as the “Coca Cola Senate.”  Businessmen, farmers and locals all gathered at Sargent’s daily to drink this unique beverage and discuss the news of the day and happenings around town.  The Drug Store was sold in 1941 and thus came an end of a 75 year history. 

            The Eyeware Junction is located at what is now numbered 710 N. Washington Street in the former Sargent’s Drug Store.