BACKGROUND: Origin of the building – The “Cottage Grocery Store” (built in the 1870’s) was moved from its original foundation on North Cheshire Street in Burton (today’s post office site) to Century Village grounds in 1959. It was staged and displayed to the public for many years as a Marshall’s Office. It was determined in 2012 to restore the building as an 1880’s apothecary shop and 1945 doctor’s office as a fitting tribute to Geauga County’s rich medical and healthcare heritage.
FUND-RAISING EFFORTS: In 2013 fund-raising began, led by Geauga County Medical Society’s Dr. Patra Duangjak, who orchestrated a summer evening fund-raiser attended by 60 medical professionals and friends of the Society. Since that event, two more years of fund-raising by Geauga County Historical Society volunteers followed before enough money had been collected from very generous individuals and groups, enabling GCHS to proceed.
PREPARATIONS: Serious major structural concerns were addressed. The 140+ year old building was significantly out of plumb. After consulting several structural engineers, a plan was devised to reinforce supporting floor and attic joists, and replace footers at the front of the building. Because the physical structure of the building had been in such poor condition, it was deemed impractical to try to “restore” it along historical guidelines. Therefore, the interior was totally gutted. A new floor plan was drawn. New walls and ceilings were installed, complete with necessary insulation, a heating system, and a new electrical system.
STAGING: At this point historical research came into play. The ceiling in the apothecary section was treated to an 1880’s reproduction tin tile design. The chosen wallpaper came from a reproduction of a late 1800’s wallpaper pattern. Paint colors were based on colors used in that time period.
LAY-OUT OF THE BUILDING:
1. The front of the building houses a reproduction 1880’s apothecary (pharmacy).
· There are NUMEROUS pharmacy drug bottles and patent drug (quack medicine) bottles on display.
· A bank of authentic apothecary drawers can be opened to reveal colorful explanations of what they once contained.
· The store counter illustrates the types of medicines one could have purchased in the 1880’s: solid forms, liquid forms, topical treatments, inhalants. · A central mirrored display on the back wall houses three colorful “show globes.”
2. Adjacent to the apothecary display is the “compounding room,” filled with the tools and components which a pharmacist would have used to mix and create the medicines he would have sold to his customers. It is planned that during Geauga County Historical Society’s festivals, demonstrators will be on hand to show how the various tools were used in the making of pills and medications.
3. On the south wall of this part of the building, one will see displays illustrating medicine in the 1800’s and in some cases, medicine specifically related to Geauga County.
· Herbalism, the “Doctrine of Signatures,” and Humoral philosophies of medicine (used in the first half of the 19th century) will be illustrated. Bleeding, cupping, leeching, and “puking and purging” artifacts will support the explanations.
· The rise of patent (Quack) medicines and both electrical and odd health mechanisms in the second half of the 19th century are illustrated and discussed. · Geauga County’s numerous epidemics in the 1800’s are listed and described.
· Germ theory and the discovery of anesthesia for surgery are also illustrated, with examples of how Geauga County was affected.
4. The Geauga County Medical Society will be featured in a special exhibit. Its original “Minutes” book (1868-1948) will be on display along with related information about Geauga’s medical profession.
· A newspaper article History of Geauga’s Hospitals will be found in a scrapbook.
· Four medical bags used by Geauga doctors will be on display, along with artifacts and photos related to those doctors. Bags range from the mid 1800 to the mid 1900-time period.
· Selected Geauga doctors from the past will be featured in a yearly changing display.
5. The back two rooms represent Dr. Walter C. Corey’s office, circa 1945. (Dr. Corey was instrumental in founding Geauga Community Hospital, now University-Geauga Medical Center).
· The first room is the patients’ waiting room, complete with many 1945 artifacts (magazines, calendar, telephone, typewriter, radio, etc.) Including photos of Dr. Corey’s hospitals and office building.
· The second room is the exam/surgery room featuring many artifacts that actually belonged to Dr. Corey. Special displays include Ophthalmological items (Corey began his career as an ophthalmologist), baby items (Corey delivered over 4000 babies in his life-time), and surgical tools (Corey as a country doctor had to perform many surgical procedures for his patients throughout his career).
6. The final component of this complex is the newly constructed “shed” on the outside of the south wall. This houses the “Dr. Caldwell’s Syrup Pepsin” medicine wagon which had, for many years, graced the exterior of Roose’s Drugstore in Middlefield, Ohio.
A TRIBUTE TO ALL WHO MADE THIS PROJECT A REALITY: Geauga County Historical Society wishes to thank a host of individuals and groups who, together, made this project come alive:
· Donors who supported the project through their monetary support
· Donors who provided building materials, artifacts and staging items (approximately 85% of all items came from Geauga County residents)
· Experts who were consulted and who gave advice
· Individuals who provided historical background, details and stories
· Volunteers who painstakingly researched every item and every story portrayed in this exhibit
· Skilled volunteers who reconstructed the shell of the building as well as the interior structure and the display cabinets
· The electrician who gave the building its updated power
· Volunteers who papered and painted
· Volunteers who staged the displays and created the signage
· Volunteers who cleaned up after all the work was done
Approximately 95% of all work was accomplished by volunteers! This testifies to the fact that the project was truly a labor of love for all involved. We hope that Geauga County residents will take advantage of the opportunity to visit our new display building at its Grand Opening on Sunday, July 17th, 2016 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
Image Courtesy of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_pharmacy_in_the_United_States
