Grand Falls Drug Store Ltd. has been serving the people of Grand Falls-Windsor since 1914. Mr. Thomas H. A. Morrissey was the store’s first druggest. However, it was really Thomas P. McCarthy who guided the store through its early years. He established it as one of our town’s most solid businesses. In 1918 he was hired as pharmacist and manager of Grand Falls Drug Store Ltd. He worked with mortar and pestle to compound various medicines such as salves, ointments and powders, and he still found time to interact with his customers. He used to live in an apartment above the store with his family, and he ran his business 7 days a week. In 1932 he moved to a new home on Queen Street. He was known as Mr. Mac to most people. The Candy Store was on one side of his store and the Royal Stores was on the other side. Mr. McCarthy died in 1956 and his daughter, Patrica, and his son, Bill, looked after the store. Eventually Patricia, along with her husband, George Winslow, took control of the store. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became a pharmacist. She looked after the pharmacy aspects of the store and her husband handled the business aspect.
The front of the building, the interior lay-out, and the merchandise may have changed with the times, but Grand Falls Drug Store Ltd. has remained firm in its original location on High Street. Since September 1,1985, it has been owned and operated by Roy Green. He employs two more pharmacists, Steve Boyd and Ted Dawe. He also employs eight more people. A complete assortment of gifts, magazines, newspapers, confectionary items, and much more are available there. The popular Soda Fountain that was a major attraction in the early years is no longer there, but the big attraction now is the Purely Natural Water Products that our sold there. This water is demineralized water by reverse osmosis. Mr. Green delivers this water to schools, businesses, homes, etc.. Five cents from every gallon of water sold is donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation. A couple of years ago Mr. Green came to our school and gave everyone a free bottle of water. The Drug Store also sells the Ultimate Ice Cube made from the purified water.
When four of my classmates and I visited Grand Falls Drug Store Ltd. one day after school to get pictures to go with my report, we tasted the water. It was really good! We also liked the back of the store. Mr. Green has restored the shelves to what they were like in the olden days. He has a lot of old medicine bottles on display on the shelves. Ms. Warr said she would like to see the old Soda Fountain put back in the original spot. It could serve the Purely Natural Water instead of soda! Wouldn't that be great?
Brooke Goulding (2005-2006)