Question: The insignia on their hats and jackets are clues to the service organization to which these men belong. Can you identify the gentlemen? If you were able to name their organization, you may also be able to guess the topic of the document they are perusing.
Last week’s answer: Last week’s photo was taken circa 1910 and featured the residence of Frank S. Gardner at 41 Tappan St. A partner in Gardner & Davis, Druggists, Gardner was a highly successful entrepreneur and a leader in civic affairs. His home was architecturally outstanding and the grounds included a green house. Dressed for business, Gardner is seen mowing the lawn while his young daughter Mary watches from her swing seen at the far left. Three women are on the porch; the one at the far right may be Gardner’s wife Julia.
Gardner passed the New York state pharmacy exam in 1886 and joined the Baldwinsville firm of Mason and Molby, Druggists. Two years later, Gardner partnered with William B. Davis. The pair bought out Mason and Molby and soon moved into 7 Syracuse St. They offered a full line of drugs, stationery, schoolbooks, toiletries and patent medicines, including several of their own. “Our Sure Magic Balm,” “Lamson’s Balsam,” “Our Sure Corn Cure” and “Our Sure Cough and Lung Syrup” were developed and manufactured by Gardner & Davis. The latter product reportedly had annual sales in excess of 1,000 bottles.
In less than 10 years the successful firm expanded and opened a second store in the Upson block on the southeast corner of the Four Corners. The south side store was closed prior to the outbreak of WWI. Following the devastating Upson block fire in 1922, the business relocated across the street to the northeast corner of Oswego and East Genesee Streets.
Prominently located and well regarded, Gardner and Davis was a “go-to place” for everything from cigars, drugs and patent medicines to artists’ supplies, perfumes, soda fountain treats and postcards.
A month after the death of his partner of 41 years, Frank Gardner retired. Gardner and Davis was sold to Earl Wood and Walter McCarthy and for another 37 years business continued at the “go-to place” under the name Corner Pharmacy.
CORRECTION: In last week’s History Mystery, we incorrectly identified one of the people who responded to the previous week’s question. Mike Williamson correctly identified the organizations listed on the sign, not Mike Williams. We apologize for the error.
Contact Editor Sarah Hall at [email protected] or leave a message at 434-8889 ext. 310 with your guess by 5 p.m. Friday (please leave the information in the message; we are not generally able to return calls regarding History Mystery responses). If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo, your name and guess will appear in next week’s Messenger, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
