Our Past Is Present September 21, 2017

September 21, 2017

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

            This Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 in the afternoon, we will be hosting another in our series of “Memories at the Museum.”  Come and share your memories of Ninth Street in Junction City.  We would love to hear your stories. 

            Now for today’s story….

            One of the most attractive and best equipped drug stores in the West opened in October in 1909 and it was located in Junction City.  Louis B. Loeb was the owner.  The store was located at the corner of 7^th and Washington Streets.  It was furnished in mission style mahogany and the fixtures were manufactured especially for Mr. Loeb by Whitcomb Cabinet Company of Kansas City, Missouri.

            There was a 14 foot soda fountain that occupied the north side of the store.  It was made of onyx and white marble and was beautifully lighted with colored globes.  The fountain was built for Mr. Loeb by the Liquid Carbonic Company of Chicago.  Another feature of the store was the balcony in the rear.  This space had green carpet, comfortable chairs and several small tables for serving hot and cold drinks. 

            There was a large mirror in the rear of the room downstairs.  Drugs in bottles and packages were in closed cabinets with glass doors. The cabinets on the north side of the room contained attractive displays of stationary, perfumes and toilet articles on one side and cigars and candies on the other. 

            The well-known photographer, J.J. Pennell, took a picture of the Loeb store, which we can show you at our Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets any day Tuesday through Sunday from 1 until 4 in the afternoon.  Stop by and see this picture and the many displays we have of Geary County History.