Nelson's Drug Store

Originally known as the Converse Building, it was built c. 1905 in an Italianate style and was graced in front by a water fountain installed in 1909 by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). The fountain was a fully operational drinking fountain, for horses on one side, and people on the other. One of the first tenants of the Converse building was The Confectionery Shop, in 1909 which sold ice cream, cigars and chocolates.

Eddie Nelson, a U.S.C. graduate and pharmacist, was set up on a blind date with Helen Wilson by one of Helen's sisters. Helen, herself was a UCLA graduate and public school teacher. In 1934, they married and two years later they bought what would become the first Nelson's Drug store on the southwest corner of Michigan (now Glendora Ave) & Foothill. In 1943, Eddie and Helen Nelson moved their pharmacy north from it's residence on Michigan & Foothill to the Converse building. Helen and her sister Louise worked at the store alongside Eddie. Early on in Eddie's career he had been a "soda jerk", he enjoyed it so much they decided to add a soda fountain. Eddie would run his soda fountain alongside being the pharmacist. Nelson's soon became "the place to go" in town and they started serving up light lunches, convenient to the workers on the main street. Helen and Eddie had a bustling social life in Glendora and were members of the Glendora Country Club, Bridge club and Dance Club.

Around 1965, the building was stripped of it's Italian style and overhanging corner offices and “modernized” at least twice to its present vernacular “style.” The first modernization removed the cornices and decorative items, leaving the extended corner windows on the second floor. The second reconstruction, flattened the area at the corner windows and added some other decorative features.

After Eddie passed away in 1976, Helen sold the store to the Lee family. In 1992, Dean Lee sold the business to his son, Dan. The building was renamed the Lee Building.

Price, Ryan. The Converse Building. The Glendoran. Jan/ Feb 2009.

Kobzeff, Mildred. Helen & Eddie and Their Place. The Glendoran. May/Jun 1997.