Snouder's Drug Store facts for kids
Snouder's Drug Store was a very old business in Oyster Bay, New York. It first opened its doors in 1884. This store was special because it had the first telephone in Oyster Bay! For many years, it was the only phone in town. When Theodore Roosevelt became Governor of New York State and later President, news reporters would gather at Snouder's. They used the phone to send news from Oyster Bay. The phone service and a fun soda fountain, added in 1889, made Snouder's a popular place to meet friends. The building is now a special Town of Oyster Bay Landmark. It was also featured on the Oyster Bay History Walk audio tour.
Contents
The Story of Snouder's Drug Store
How It Began
The building where Snouder's Drug Store stood might be very old. Some clues suggest it was built as far back as the late 1600s! Snouder's Drug Store itself opened in 1884. It was the oldest business that kept running in Oyster Bay for a long time. A man named Abel Miller Conklin started the drug store.
Mr. Conklin used to be a druggist in New York City. But his doctor told him to move to the countryside for his health. So, he moved to Oyster Bay in 1880. His first drug store was on South Street, but we don't know the exact spot. In 1884, he moved the store to its final location. His son-in-law, Andrew Snouder, helped him run the business.
The First Telephone in Town
Andrew Snouder used to work in clothing and shoes. He started helping his father-in-law, Mr. Conklin, who was not well. Sadly, Abel Conklin's health did not get better, and he passed away. Andrew Snouder took over the store. At first, he kept the name Conklin's Drug Store.
In 1887, Andrew Snouder did something amazing. He installed a telephone! This was the very first telephone in all of Oyster Bay. For several years, it was the only one around. Even Theodore Roosevelt, who would later become president, didn't have a phone at his home, Sagamore Hill. So, Mr. Snouder would often relay messages for him.
A Popular Meeting Place
The telephone made Snouder's a very busy place. In May 1900, Andrew Snouder even set aside a special part of the store just for telephone service. This allowed the switchboard, run by Miss Ellen Ludlam, to stay open late. In the same year, Andrew officially changed the store's name to Snouder's Drug Store.
The telephone also brought many news reporters to Snouder's. They would use the phone booths to report on Theodore Roosevelt. This happened when he was Governor and later when he became President. Teenagers and children also loved to gather here. They used the phone, but they also came for the tasty treats! Mr. Snouder had a soda fountain installed in 1889. This soda fountain became a fun social spot for kids for many generations, all the way into the 1970s.
Snouder's Drug Store closed its doors in December 2010 after many decades of serving the community.
