Chapman's Drug Store Building - Still a Bustling Corner

Today the blog features another impressive two storey building in downtown Reston, easily recognizable with its red brick front and light brown sides.  Contrasting brick in a fan pattern used around the window and down the corner shows the pride in its craftsmanship. I haven't found the name of the builder who was tasked by Dr. Chapman in 1907 to create it but maybe one of my readers knows. 

Doctor Alva Burton Chapman first arrived in Reston in 1900. Reston was only intended as a quick stop to visit his cousin George on his way to B.C. He found the growing village in need of his services and decided to send for his wife Abbie and stay. His first office was built in 1902 on the east side of Main Street with his home beside it. Surprisingly, he later moved his house back to 5th Street where it still stands in order to make room for the bank. A.B. served as Major Chapman in the WW1 Medical Corps from 1915-1919.  He was wounded while retrieving injured soldiers at Vimy Ridge and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.  

Drugstore owners in this building - According to Trails Along the Pipestone (1981) page 498

1907-10 - Dr. A.B. Chapman
1910-18 - Burt Brown
1918-27 - Lloyd Fumerton
1927-36 - Harry Neil
!936-64 - Lyall McMorran
1964-78 - Wayne Morrow
1978 - 81 - Grant Schiltroth

The Drug Store is seen in this postcard view with the open upstairs window as it looked in 1913.  The Made in Canada Train seems to be the shop local campaign of its day. 

Besides a drug store, the building held the telephone switchboard and office space for the municipal administrator before their building was built in 1917. A dentist office on the second floor was a long standing tenant along with the physician's office. Miss Salisbury and Mrs. Clark (wife of another doctor) sold the latest fashionable hats in competition to Munro's Store on the second floor in the 1920's. Progressive advances over the years included electrifying the building in 1925 and the addition of an x-ray machine in 1930 for use of the dentist as well as the doctor.  A ice cream and cold drink counter at the back of the store was a popular place on Saturday nights starting in 1936.  A liquor department was added in the late 1950's.   After the Schiltroth’s built a new building across Second Avenue and moved over in 1981, the building was a clothing store, The Tog Shoppe, owned by Ted and Lorna Birch.  After renovations and updating in 2006, the building became known as Unique Scrapbooking owned by Pat Hamel and her daughter Leah Hume. Along with scrapbooking materials, they sold balloons, cake decorating supplies and more.  The bus depot and Sears catalog outlet were added.  As the building celebrated 100 years, they took on modernizing the second floor for office and classroom space.  Today, the building has come full circle to be owned again by Nancy Schiltroth who added much needed rental suites on the second floor. It houses a hugely successful second hand venture on the main floor, Hidden Treasures. Not many times when I go in do I leave without a treasure or two.

"Essentials" purchased from the drugstore by the Boultons in 1957- 58

Pictured to the left is original building owner Doctor and Mrs. Reita Chapman posing with faithful dog, Monty. A 90th birthday party was held in Reston Park in his honour in 1953 and 460 people signed the guest book. He was instrumental in building his community - The Masonic Hall, Memorial Theatre, United Church and Hospital were all built with his firm support. He was also involved in the School Board, Memorial Park and Agricultural Society. His hobbies including hunting and making violins. His medical and community advise was reportedly sought long after he retired. Dr. Chapman remained in the community until 1961 when he passed away at age 98 and was buried in Seeleys Bay, Ontario beside his first wife Abbie Berry Chapman who had died in 1938. He had remarried to Reita Taber in 1954. 

The McKee Archives at Brandon University includes some other pictures of the drugstore including some interior shots like this one.  More are available online here.   

Corrections, additions and comments (link at the bottom of this post) are always welcome. Thanks again to the John and Verna Olenick for the street scene postcards used here and picture and information about Dr. Chapman.