Tag Archives: Harry Williams

Memories of little pharma

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Topeka Daily Capital
Dec. 2, 1959

It has been announced that the country’s biggest drug store will be built here soon, and every time it’s mentioned, I can’t help thinking back to Snider’s Drug Store in Britton, Okla.

It was a store that would be totally out of place in today’s scheme of drug stores. That is, it was just a drug store. No appliances, no jewelry, no automobile parts, no clothing – nothing except drug store items. We had a soda fountain, tobacco counter, prescriptions (filled promptly and accurately) and the usual assortment of patent medicines and other drug items.

My dad put in coffee once, by popular demand, But the owner of the cafe across the street stormed over and said they’re damn well better be no more of that, so there wasn’t. Back in Britton, you just didn’t try to sell anything that wasn’t strictly in your line. Continue reading →

Colliers, Brilliantine and Floyd: barbershop memories.

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Topeka Capital-Journal
Nov. 3, 1986

One day recently I had a late-afternoon haircut and was the only customer in the place. I also was the only man in the place. My barber (barberess, beautician, hair stylist, coiffeuse, friseur, cosmetologist, clipper, cropper or whatever) was a woman.

Two or three more of the above were sitting around, waiting for the place to close. There also was a child – a little girl, naturally. I was at their mercy, but they didn’t take advantage of it. Maybe it was because the little girl was present.

Driving home, I thought about how times have changed. I remembered some of my first haircuts and the barbershop back in Britton, Okla., where I grew up. You don’t see anything like it these days. Continue reading →