The Ware Building

The Ware Building. Stroll Through History. , George Wonder Ware built this building to house the Ware Drug Store in 1900., By the turn of the century, brick buildings had largely replaced the original wooden structures that once lined State Street. However, the horse was still king in terms of transportation. The front of every business still included a hitching post, and Saturdays found the dirt streets of Jerseyville bustling with buggies and wagons. , Throughout the years, multiple drug stores operated in Jerseyville, and in 1929, George Ware recalled when pharmacists made their own elixirs, tinctures, pills, and powders from herbs, roots, and leaves. They also made vanilla extract (4 ounces cost 25 cents) and baking powder (1 pound cost 35 cents). Back then, whiskey sold for 50 cents a pint, and the sale of Laudanum (a 10% solution of opium powder in alcohol) was unregulated., Ware's was the first of three drug stores housed on this corner. Thrifty Drug operated here from 1946 until 1958 and Kranich Drug Store from 1958 until 1983. , After Kranich's closed, businesses located in this building included Video Stop, The Red Rooster and other gift shops, a couple of financial companies, and Mike's Pizza.