307 Ridge Road

307 Ridge Road. Downtown Ridgeway Business Improvement Area. Physician Nathaniel Brewster started a drug store in Ridgeway as early as the 1870's, with his office in one corner of it. By 1886 both were located here at 307 Ridge Road. Dr. Brewster, whose lineage could be traced to the Mayflower, had served as a surgeon on battleships during the American Civil War. He had settled in Ridgeway by the time of the Fenian Raid in 1866, and was allowed to tend the dying and wounded during the Battle of Ridgeway after being held prisoner by the Fenians for about 10 minutes. John Swartz was a local blacksmith who married Dr. Brewster's daughter Alice. At some point Swartz took over the business, and it became J.N. Swartz Drug Store and Fancy Goods. , In April of 1913, almost the whole of this town block was destroyed by fire, including the building then located here. Swartz rebuilt rapidly and reopened again by June - note the name and year at the top of the building. Six years later in 1919 the store was sold to brothers Melvin and Robert Stuwart, and it became Stuart's Drug Store and was operated for many years by one or the other of the brothers, and then by Bob's wife Hazel. Their merchandise was decidedly upscale, featuring such items as imported pipes and French perfumes. There was also a soda fountain, and later a luncheonette with homemade soups and pastries, and it was a gathering place in the community. In 1958 Bob's daughter Betty and her husband Ray Hadden bought the business, followed in 1978 by Gus Au Yeung. In 2008 it became Boggio and Edwards I.D.A. Pharmacy, managed by Donnie Edwards. , Businesses located in the smaller south side of the building have been Lamping's Jewellrey (pre-1913), Hibbard's Office and Collard's Insurance. Research and text by Ada Sherk