Crandall Pharmacy was known to be a pillar of the small community in Mexico, New York. The pharmacy was started in 1941 by Douglass Crandall, a young graduate of Albany School of Pharmacy. With the help of his father, Ward Crandall, he acquired his first store: a tiny storefront on a busy road. 

Photo flickr cc: Bill Badzo, adapted by Wandering Educators. 

Shortly after the Second World War, his brother, Edmond Crandall, graduated from Albany School of Pharmacy, as well. Edmond decided to move to Mexico, New York, and help his brother with the pharmacy. He started as a 25% shareholder. 

The first store had three aisles and a counter. Crandall Pharmacy was what was known as a professional pharmacy, meaning that they only sold pharmaceuticals and health and beauty aids. These health and beauty aids included shampoos, conditioners, soap, and over-the-counter medicines, such as Motrin. These were not the same as the pharmacies that we know today. 

Over time, Edmond Crandall would slowly become a partner instead of a shareholder, and by 1952, he was a full partner with his brother; they were officially a family business. 

In 1962, the Crandall brothers were able to buy the store next door that was going out of business. The two spaces were only separated by a firewall, so without much construction, they were able to double the size of their store. They were not only able to expand the size of the store, but were also able to enlarge their merchandise variety, including Timex watches, magazines, cosmetics, etc. 

When the seasons changed, so did the merchandise. During the end of summer and the beginning of the school year, Crandall Pharmacy sold school supplies to the neighborhood to help the families get ready for the new school year. Similarly, during Christmas, Douglass Crandall stocked the storefront with the most popular toys of the year for people to get their Christmas presents. 

Crandall Pharmacy was a pillar of the community, providing medicines with a smile. Mexico, New York was a very self-sufficient town and did not need big business or corporations to keep their economy thriving. Crandall Pharmacy was one of two pharmacies that served the town, along with many other small businesses that did very well for themselves and were all community-focused and friendly.

Although this was something that the Crandall brothers truly enjoyed doing, they knew that a person can't work forever. Both Douglass and Edmond had children. However, their children were not interested in going to school for pharmacy. Knowing this, when Wayne Drug Co. offered to buy the store to expand their business, they knew what they would do. Wayne Drug Co. was a bigger business than Crandall Pharmacy, with multiple stores around New York State. Douglass and Edmond sold their pharmacy in 1986; it would become Wayne Crandall Pharmacy. 

The pharmacy ended up closing in 2006, and the space is now an antique store. Although not a pharmacy anymore, the business in the building still serves the community in one way or another, being a small business in a small town.

Photo WIkimedia Commons: Dougtone

Isabelle Crandall is a second-year student at Nazareth University studying History and Adolescent Education. She loves everything history but enjoys family histories and genealogy the most.