Thursday, September 13, 2012

Hudson in 1905: Part 17

The following is an excerpt from the booklet Illustrated Hudson, N.Y., published in 1905.

M. H. ROWE--Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Etc. No. 707 Warren street. This is the old Henry Best Pharmacy, and was established over fifty years ago. It has been under the direction and management of the present proprietor for six years, a gentleman who enjoys the gratification of possessing one of the handsomest drug shops in the city. The store is fitted up with the finest plate glass showcases and mirrors, modern fixtures, and medicine cabinets. The floor and walls are of special material, and an exquisite soda fountain sets off the whole. The stock carried comprises drugs, medicines, druggists' supplies, paints, oil, glass, etc., with a fine line of perfumeries and cigars. Two experienced prescription clerks are employed, and physicians' prescriptions are compounded with the greatest care and accuracy, only the purest drugs and ingredients being used for that purpose. A specialty is made of garden seed, a full line of which is constantly carried. Mr. Rowe is a native of Columbia county.

707 Warren Street today--Sideshow

2 comments:

  1. The showcases and interior fittings lasted until the late 80's when one of those companies (this one from boston) pillaged the buildings of this town leaving them empty shells of their former glory.

    The same thing happened at my then shop @ 711.

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  2. For the record.
    707 Warren St. was operated by the Basen Family for many years & it sold a variety of goods, mainly smoking products, newspapers, magazines, varieties, etc.
    The Basen family was a hard working family dedicated to serving Hudsonians while making an honest living.
    It was one of if not the busiest stores on Warren St. with many hundreds of customers on a daily basis from 5:30am to closing.
    The last Basen to own the establishment was Julius Basen who operated the store w/ family. I then purchased the business in the mid 1980's & operated the store until I became addicted to substance abuse. The business was sold in the late 1980's to Howard & Kathy, last name slips my mind, could be Richter?
    But the store was the focal & meeting point of the start of the day for hundreds of Hudsonians, 7 days a week, 365 a year, never closed a day.
    I'm sure that many stories were shared, political items & deals struck, plus loads of gosssip shared & created everyday.
    I have been clean & free from addiction now for over 20 years.
    What became of the glass showcases, the humidors, the wall display cases I can not say.
    But Hudson could use a place like Basen's again.

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