Published in the Big Spring Daily, Thursday, July 23, 1931:
Dr. McIntyre's Drug Store Fifty Years Ago
The old McIntyre drug store, picture above has played a continuous part in Big Spring's mercantile history from it beginning in 1883 until the present day, when it is being administered by the practiced hands of Shine Philips and C. W. Cunningham.
The story of the store involves four well-known names, that of its original founder and owner, Dr. McIntyre, father of Miss Gertrude McIntyre, B. Reagan, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Philips. Dr. McIntyre is vividly rememberd by all old timers. He wore the professional Van Dyke beard, which stamped the medical man of that day. He was a Scotch Canadian with a decided personality.
In Chicago
Dr. McIntyre obtained his degree in medicine from the Bennett Eclectic Medicine School in Chicago. After his wife died, he yielded to the urge to go West, young man, and with his two small daughters settled in the boom town of Big Spring.
He first located his drug store on what was called Front Street, in those days, and is now called First. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of the Big Spring Herald building. It was soon moved to Main Street, and occupied the site north of the Big Spring Hardware.
The store remained in this location until Mr. Reagan bought it and for several years after that. When business moved up town Mr. Reagan moved with it to the present location of Cunningham & Philips No. 1, who were his immediate successors.
In one side of Dr. McIntyre's store was the town's first post office, which was not at all bad for the doctor's trade.
Liver Pills
Although the store little resembles the modern pharmacy at first glance, on analysis it is not greatly different. It possessed a soda fountain with one pump and, as the picture shows, a generous cigar and candy case, covered with glass. Dr. Carter's Little Liver Pills advertise themselves in a very prominent sign.
Dr. McIntyre practiced medicine as far west as Monahans. Many a time when the call arrived at train time the freight or passenger trains of the T. & P. waited on him to collect all the possible remedies he might need.
If the call came from north of south, and calls came from as far as 75 miles in all directions, he would have to drive or travel horseback.
One of his side-lines was pulling teeth. He used to laugh over an experience he had with a woman who was quite determined that her tooth should come out until he had his forceps on it. Then she changed her mind and jumped up and ran out of the drug store pushing Dr. McIntyre over on his back. His only consolation was that she left her tooth in his forceps.
There was one unique idea that Dr. McIntyre had about merchandising. He refused to be "out" of anything; especially cigars. When he got down to the last cigar in the box, it stayed there until a fresh order came in, so he wouldn't have to report that he had been out. No matter how many customers wanted to buy that that last cigar, it was never for sale.
Dr. McIntyre's Drug Store Fifty Years Ago
The old McIntyre drug store, picture above has played a continuous part in Big Spring's mercantile history from it beginning in 1883 until the present day, when it is being administered by the practiced hands of Shine Philips and C. W. Cunningham.
The story of the store involves four well-known names, that of its original founder and owner, Dr. McIntyre, father of Miss Gertrude McIntyre, B. Reagan, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Philips. Dr. McIntyre is vividly rememberd by all old timers. He wore the professional Van Dyke beard, which stamped the medical man of that day. He was a Scotch Canadian with a decided personality.
In Chicago
Dr. McIntyre obtained his degree in medicine from the Bennett Eclectic Medicine School in Chicago. After his wife died, he yielded to the urge to go West, young man, and with his two small daughters settled in the boom town of Big Spring.
He first located his drug store on what was called Front Street, in those days, and is now called First. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of the Big Spring Herald building. It was soon moved to Main Street, and occupied the site north of the Big Spring Hardware.
The store remained in this location until Mr. Reagan bought it and for several years after that. When business moved up town Mr. Reagan moved with it to the present location of Cunningham & Philips No. 1, who were his immediate successors.
In one side of Dr. McIntyre's store was the town's first post office, which was not at all bad for the doctor's trade.
Liver Pills
Although the store little resembles the modern pharmacy at first glance, on analysis it is not greatly different. It possessed a soda fountain with one pump and, as the picture shows, a generous cigar and candy case, covered with glass. Dr. Carter's Little Liver Pills advertise themselves in a very prominent sign.
Dr. McIntyre practiced medicine as far west as Monahans. Many a time when the call arrived at train time the freight or passenger trains of the T. & P. waited on him to collect all the possible remedies he might need.
If the call came from north of south, and calls came from as far as 75 miles in all directions, he would have to drive or travel horseback.
One of his side-lines was pulling teeth. He used to laugh over an experience he had with a woman who was quite determined that her tooth should come out until he had his forceps on it. Then she changed her mind and jumped up and ran out of the drug store pushing Dr. McIntyre over on his back. His only consolation was that she left her tooth in his forceps.
There was one unique idea that Dr. McIntyre had about merchandising. He refused to be "out" of anything; especially cigars. When he got down to the last cigar in the box, it stayed there until a fresh order came in, so he wouldn't have to report that he had been out. No matter how many customers wanted to buy that that last cigar, it was never for sale.
Published in the Big Spring Daily, Thursday, July 23, 1931:
Dr. McIntyre's Drug Store Fifty Years Ago
The old McIntyre drug store, picture above has played a continuous part in Big Spring's mercantile history from it beginning in 1883 until the present day, when it is being administered by the practiced hands of Shine Philips and C. W. Cunningham.
The story of the store involves four well-known names, that of its original founder and owner, Dr. McIntyre, father of Miss Gertrude McIntyre, B. Reagan, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Philips. Dr. McIntyre is vividly rememberd by all old timers. He wore the professional Van Dyke beard, which stamped the medical man of that day. He was a Scotch Canadian with a decided personality.
In Chicago
Dr. McIntyre obtained his degree in medicine from the Bennett Eclectic Medicine School in Chicago. After his wife died, he yielded to the urge to go West, young man, and with his two small daughters settled in the boom town of Big Spring.
He first located his drug store on what was called Front Street, in those days, and is now called First. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of the Big Spring Herald building. It was soon moved to Main Street, and occupied the site north of the Big Spring Hardware.
The store remained in this location until Mr. Reagan bought it and for several years after that. When business moved up town Mr. Reagan moved with it to the present location of Cunningham & Philips No. 1, who were his immediate successors.
In one side of Dr. McIntyre's store was the town's first post office, which was not at all bad for the doctor's trade.
Liver Pills
Although the store little resembles the modern pharmacy at first glance, on analysis it is not greatly different. It possessed a soda fountain with one pump and, as the picture shows, a generous cigar and candy case, covered with glass. Dr. Carter's Little Liver Pills advertise themselves in a very prominent sign.
Dr. McIntyre practiced medicine as far west as Monahans. Many a time when the call arrived at train time the freight or passenger trains of the T. & P. waited on him to collect all the possible remedies he might need.
If the call came from north of south, and calls came from as far as 75 miles in all directions, he would have to drive or travel horseback.
One of his side-lines was pulling teeth. He used to laugh over an experience he had with a woman who was quite determined that her tooth should come out until he had his forceps on it. Then she changed her mind and jumped up and ran out of the drug store pushing Dr. McIntyre over on his back. His only consolation was that she left her tooth in his forceps.
There was one unique idea that Dr. McIntyre had about merchandising. He refused to be "out" of anything; especially cigars. When he got down to the last cigar in the box, it stayed there until a fresh order came in, so he wouldn't have to report that he had been out. No matter how many customers wanted to buy that that last cigar, it was never for sale.
Dr. McIntyre's Drug Store Fifty Years Ago
The old McIntyre drug store, picture above has played a continuous part in Big Spring's mercantile history from it beginning in 1883 until the present day, when it is being administered by the practiced hands of Shine Philips and C. W. Cunningham.
The story of the store involves four well-known names, that of its original founder and owner, Dr. McIntyre, father of Miss Gertrude McIntyre, B. Reagan, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Philips. Dr. McIntyre is vividly rememberd by all old timers. He wore the professional Van Dyke beard, which stamped the medical man of that day. He was a Scotch Canadian with a decided personality.
In Chicago
Dr. McIntyre obtained his degree in medicine from the Bennett Eclectic Medicine School in Chicago. After his wife died, he yielded to the urge to go West, young man, and with his two small daughters settled in the boom town of Big Spring.
He first located his drug store on what was called Front Street, in those days, and is now called First. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of the Big Spring Herald building. It was soon moved to Main Street, and occupied the site north of the Big Spring Hardware.
The store remained in this location until Mr. Reagan bought it and for several years after that. When business moved up town Mr. Reagan moved with it to the present location of Cunningham & Philips No. 1, who were his immediate successors.
In one side of Dr. McIntyre's store was the town's first post office, which was not at all bad for the doctor's trade.
Liver Pills
Although the store little resembles the modern pharmacy at first glance, on analysis it is not greatly different. It possessed a soda fountain with one pump and, as the picture shows, a generous cigar and candy case, covered with glass. Dr. Carter's Little Liver Pills advertise themselves in a very prominent sign.
Dr. McIntyre practiced medicine as far west as Monahans. Many a time when the call arrived at train time the freight or passenger trains of the T. & P. waited on him to collect all the possible remedies he might need.
If the call came from north of south, and calls came from as far as 75 miles in all directions, he would have to drive or travel horseback.
One of his side-lines was pulling teeth. He used to laugh over an experience he had with a woman who was quite determined that her tooth should come out until he had his forceps on it. Then she changed her mind and jumped up and ran out of the drug store pushing Dr. McIntyre over on his back. His only consolation was that she left her tooth in his forceps.
There was one unique idea that Dr. McIntyre had about merchandising. He refused to be "out" of anything; especially cigars. When he got down to the last cigar in the box, it stayed there until a fresh order came in, so he wouldn't have to report that he had been out. No matter how many customers wanted to buy that that last cigar, it was never for sale.
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