Watt Bros. Pharmacy opened in 1938, but with Walgreens and CVS on nearly every block, not to mention Wal-Mart, it's a wonder they've been able to remain in business. With my interest in helping to strengthen community ties (stoked by books like Bowling Alone and The Great Good Place), I figured I should transfer my prescriptions from the big chains to Watt Bros. They're right across the street from where I work, so it's not like it would be a great inconvenience! So after work last week, I took in a prescription that needed a refill.
When I told the pharmacist (I don't know whether it was John Watt or one of the others) my last name, Hartshorn, he told me that there's a cookie ingredient called Hartshorn ammonia (similar to baking powder). I knew that in earlier times a deer's antlers (i.e. a hart's horn) could be used to make ammonia, so this made sense.
The pharmacist asked where I lived, and when I told him, he not only knew where that was, he knew the woman who used to live there! Among other things, I learned that her son died just a couple of months after she did.
While we were talking, a man sitting behind the counter eating made a good-natured sarcastic comment. The pharmacist informed me that he was a smart-aleck orthodontist. I replied that I could have guessed the first part.
Even with all of the conversation, my prescription was filled faster than it would have been at a big chain. In addition, I learned some interesting things about my name, about the former owner of my house, and about at least one orthodontist.
In over 20 years of getting my prescriptions filled at big chain stores, I've never returned with a story to tell.
They are great too, because they deliver to the elderly that can't get out too. Wonderful family owned business.
Posted by: Mary Cockrell | March 15, 2009 at 02:27 PM
I'm glad they're still there.
That's interesting about hart's horn.
Posted by: Don Smith Moorman | March 16, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Thia a good news in the same way,with a interest in helping to strengthen community ties that would be a better. Keep up the good work.
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