Round Corner Drug in Lawrence

Brinton Webb Woodward established the Round Corner Drugstore in 1855. Woodward came to Kansas from Pennsylvania with the intent of settling down in Leavenworth, Kansas. He came to Lawrence for a visit and decided to stay and open a drug store. Woodward borrowed $2,000 from his father to help him begin his business. In 1855 the first drug store in Kansas was officially opened at 634 Massachusetts Street.

During the Civil War, the store stayed opened and thrived. In August of 1863 the city of Lawrence was to have its most morbid moment in history. Quantrill's raiders burned the original drug store at 634 Massachusetts. Woodward narrowly escaped death when a horse reared in the street as a distraction while Woodward crawled into a nearby well.

When Woodward died, his two sons inherited the drugstore. The two sons, Brinton D. and Chester Woodward had complete ownership up until the 1950's when Melville Fisher bought interest. Fisher's sons, Tom and Chuck took the corporation and co-owned it with a group of partners. Jim Salyer bought into the corporation in 1970 in time for the merger between Round Corner Drugstore and Rankin Drugstore in 1974. In 1984, Salyer bought out the rest of the partners in the store. Salyer sold the drugstore business to Tom Wilcox, but still owns the building.

The drugstore has gone through many owners and remodeling of the inside. The store and its promise to patrons have remained the same for the last 147 years.

Round Corner Drug by Katelyn Anderson
On the corner of Massachusetts and 8th Street stands the oldest drug store in Kansas. The Round Corner Drug Store, its name given by the shape of a round entrance to the building, has been open for the last one hundred and forty-seven years.
	The window facing Massachusetts Street advertises products and services that the store is selling.
Brinton Webb Woodward established the Round Corner Drugstore in 1855. Woodward came to Kansas from Pennsylvania with the intent of settling down in Leavenworth, Kansas. He came to Lawrence for a visit and decided to stay and open a drug store. Woodward borrowed $2,000 from his father to help him begin his business. In 1855 the first drug store in Kansas was officially opened at 634 Massachusetts Street. During the Civil War, the store stayed opened and thrived. In August of 1863 the city of Lawrence was to have its most morbid moment in history. Quantrill's raiders burned the original drug store at 634 Massachusetts. Woodward narrowly escaped death when a horse reared in the street as a distraction while Woodward crawled into a nearby well. When Woodward died, his two sons inherited the drugstore. The two sons, Brinton D. and Chester Woodward had complete ownership up until the 1950's when Melville Fisher bought interest. Fisher's sons, Tom and Chuck took the corporation and co-owned it with a group of partners. Jim Salyer bought into the corporation in 1970 in time for the merger between Round Corner Drugstore and Rankin Drugstore in 1974. In 1984, Salyer bought out the rest of the partners in the store. Salyer sold the drugstore business to Tom Wilcox, but still owns the building. The drugstore has gone through many owners and remodeling of the inside. The store and its promise to patrons have remained the same for the last 147 years.
		The tile entrance of the store proudly displays the Round Corner name.
		The store gets its name from the structure of the building on the corner of 8th and Massachusetts.
Where the ATM stands now was once a trolley station where people could hitch rides up to the KU games.
The back of the store leads into a parking lot through a small walkway that has replaced the alley.
Bibliography "Drug Store Got Early Start in City." Lawrence Journal World. February 4, 1988. Plaque on building. Sunflower Broadband. "Douglas County Cornerstones". 2002. http://www.sunflower.com/cornerstones.shtml
This is a Photo Explorations Project at West Junior High School, Lawrence, Kansas. Karen Musacchio, instructor. © Katelyn Anderson 2002. Historic Places / Student Projects / Community Connections / West Jr. High / USD 497

Round Corner Drug

by Katelyn Anderson