Emerson's & Other Pharmacies

            Emerson’s Pharmacy opened in June of 1933 on Penobscot Avenue in Millinocket. Ten years later, it moved to the ground floor location in the Masonic Block where the pharmacy and drug store remained until its closing in the late 1990’s.

The store founder and pharmacist, Clarence (C.L.) Emerson, was a graduate of the University of Maine School of Pharmacy. His wife, Winifred “Wena” became owner of the business after Clarence’s death in 1960. Their son C. Robert Emerson, a graduate of the Fordham School of Pharmacy in 1956, was the Emerson Drug Store pharmacist for 38 years.

An article in a 1946 Millinocket Journal describes Emerson’s Pharmacy. At the time of the move to the Masonic Block, WWII was still going on. As a result, getting “the proper fixtures” for the newly located business was difficult. As time went on, the “drug store” made improvements. In addition to the pharmacy, “the most modern of Cosmetic Bars” was added. There was a sixteen-foot-long greeting card display and a selection of beauty and cosmetic name brands (DuBarry, Chantilly, Yardley, Max Factor & more). Also, Emerson’s featured Sealtest ice cream at its soda fountain, both to serve at the fountain and to take out in packages.

In the early days of Emerson’s Pharmacy, druggist/pharmacist Clarence Emerson would have “compounded” or mixed ingredients to produce a tablet/pill/liquid to be dispensed for an ailment. In the 1930’s, 40’s and even later, a local pharmacist would prepare creams, ointments, suspensions, capsules, powder papers and more. All information was found in the US Pharmacopeia Guide which gave the chemical date on each subject. The pharmacist of that time was relied on for health information and treatment of minor ailments.

Clarence Emerson was also known as the man behind the formation of the semi-pro basketball team known as the Emerson Pills (late 1930’sand 1940’s). Several Stearns HS players after high school joined the Pills as well as some GNP workers and others from the area. They gained fame statewide and even won a trip to Indianapolis to play in the National Basketball tournament.

Gonya’s pharmacy started in 1926 and was located on the corner of Penobscot Avenue and Central St. At that time, it was the only air-conditioned pharmacy north of Bangor.

 E. J. Warren had a pharmacy/drug store in the 1920’s with Thomas Boyd as the pharmacist. Later this became Whalen’s Drug Store. A 1946 Millinocket Journal featured Whalen’s in one of its “throwback” articles. The pharmacy advertised “cut rate prices and your prescription available twenty-four hours a day including delivery.” A line of hospital accessories that could be purchased included bedpans, hot water bottles, thermometers, nurse’s charts and more. Whalen’s was located in what would later be Wilson’s Jewelry, now Baby Ruthies.