Muscatine in Muscatine County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Pioneer Drug Store

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

1. Pioneer Drug Store Marker

Inscription.
Dougherty drug store 1845-1910. The town’s first system-connected telephone installed June 1, 1881. Hardware store 1910-1999 — operated by Dethoff, then Coder, then Silberhorn — sold first Westinghouse refrigerator west of the Mississippi River. Rebuilt in 1859 after flash flood destroyed original 1840 building; restored in 2001 by Historic Muscatine Inc.

Erected by Rotary Club of Muscatine.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Disasters • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 41° 25.301′ N, 91° 2.688′ W. Marker is in Muscatine, Iowa, in Muscatine County. Marker is on East 2nd Street just west of Sycamore Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, at the left/east edge of the front facade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 124 East 2nd Street, Muscatine IA 52761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Papoose Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carry A. Nation (about 400 feet away);

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Mississippi River Record Flood Crest (about 700 feet away); Muscatine Journal (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Address by President Lincoln (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Muscatine.

Also see . . . First Telephones Placed in Use in Muscatine. Excerpt:

From Muscatine Journal & News-Tribune, Centennial Edition, 31 May 1940: The City of Muscatine granted to the Hawkeye Telephone company on April 23, 1881, the privilege to erect and maintain a telephone system for private and public use in Muscatine, and the first exchange was established in the same office with the Western Union Telegraph office at 110 Iowa avenue. The exchange has been in continuous operation ever since and has been owned by the legitimate successors to the Hawkeye Telephone company. The first telephone of this company was installed on June 16, 1881, in the J. B. Dougherty Drug store at 124 East Second street. When the first switchboard was installed here it served 54
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

2. Pioneer Drug Store Marker
The marker is mounted at the left/east edge of the front façade.
subscribers.

(Submitted on January 3, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Pioneer Drug Store Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

3. Pioneer Drug Store Site

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 75 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 3, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.