James Pharmacy facts for kids
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James Pharmacy
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 Pennywise Ln., Old Saybrook, Connecticut |
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| Area | .25 acres (0.10 ha) |
| Built | 1820 |
| Architectural style | Federal and Colonial Revival |
| Part of | Old Saybrook South Green (ID76001984) |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000845 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 5, 1994 |
| Designated CP | September 3, 1976 |
The James Pharmacy is a really old and special building in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It started being built around 1820. This building is famous because it was the home and workplace of Anna Louise James. She was the first African-American woman to become a pharmacist in Connecticut! Anna owned and ran the pharmacy for many years. This building is also where a famous author, Ann Petry, was born and grew up. Ann Petry was Anna James's niece. The James Pharmacy was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It's an important part of the Old Saybrook South Green historic area.
Contents
Exploring the James Pharmacy Building
The James Pharmacy building stands near the southern end of Old Saybrook's historic town center. You can find it where Main Street and Pennywise Lane meet. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood.
What the Building Looks Like
The building has an L-shape and a gabled roof. It is covered with wooden clapboards. There's a single-story section that fills the inside corner of the L-shape. This part has three arched window bays. These bays are separated by flat columns called pilasters. The lower part of these bays has siding, and the upper part has fixed windows with many small panes.
To the right of this section is the main part of the building. The entrance is on the left side. It has pilasters and a triangular decoration called a pediment above it. On the right side, there's a bay window from the 1900s. The triangular part of the roof above the entrance has siding in a sunburst pattern. In the center, there's a carved design of a mortar and pestle. This symbol is often used to represent pharmacies.
The Inspiring History of James Pharmacy
The building was bought around 1898 by Peter and Bertha (James) Lane. They were an African-American couple. Peter Lane was one of the first African-American pharmacists in Connecticut. Bertha's younger sister, Anna, later joined them.
Anna James: A Pioneer Pharmacist
Anna followed Peter into the pharmacy business. She earned her pharmacist's license in 1911. This was a huge achievement! Anna faced challenges because of her gender and her race. Despite this, she successfully ran the pharmacy business.
Anna James continued to operate the pharmacy until she retired in 1955. Many people came to her pharmacy. This included some very famous summer residents of the area. Among her customers were the well-known actress Katharine Hepburn and the famous businessman Howard Hughes.
See also
