James Drug East

The James Drug building is one of Ely’s earliest structures.  It was built by Abijah James in 1888 to house his medicinal drug business (see the history of James Drug West). Abijah ran the drug store on the west side and rented this side to other businesses until 1967 when the drug store expanded to include both sides of the building.  Initially, this side of the building appears to have been vacant. By 1913 it housed the Federal Post Office and from 1938 on, it was occupied by various retail shops. Read interesting details of this building’s history below. 

Backstory

In 1913 the Federal Post Office moved their offices to this side of the building. The following excerpt from the March 21, 1913, Ely Miner Newspaper describes the move and some of the challenges a postmaster faced in Ely’s early days….

 The Ely Post Office which had been in the old location for fourteen years was moved Saturday night and Sunday to the rooms next to the drug store….. 

The Postmaster has gone to considerable expense in the new quarters, and he hopes the patrons will do all in their power to keep the place sanitary and in shape. Contrary to the general opinion, the post office is not a loafing place for tobacco chewing and smoking he-gossips and loafing and spitting on the floor must be stopped.  Neither are the fixtures or walls for the posting of advertising matter….. The office forces will do all in their power to give good service but let it be understood right now, impositions will not be tolerated…..

The Post Office remained in this location until the U.S. Treasury Department built the new Federal Building on Second Avenue in 1938. The next known business in this location was Agnew’s Variety Store, followed in 1940 by Tauzel’s Department Store. Ivan Tauzel, the Department Store proprietor incurred smoke and water damage during the 1947 building fire. As is often the case with tragedy, some good did result. Mr. Tauzel was able to run profitable ‘fire’ sales for quite a while after the event.

In 1964, the Mr. Tauzel closed his business.

In 1967, George Berttula, the druggist and business owner, opened the wall between the buildings and expanded the drug store. 

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1888 – James Drug opens on the west side; the east side is vacant

1913 – The U.S. Post Office is located in the east side of the building 

1938 – The Post Office moves to Second Avenue

1938 (about) – Agnews Department Store

1940 – Ivan Tauzel moves his clothing business into the building

1947 – The building burns; Elaine James repairs it

1959 – George Bertala buys the building and business from the James Estate

1964 – Ivan Tauzel closes his business

1967 – George Bertala expands the drug store (west-side) to include the east side of the building

1977 – Lee Schumacher buys the business

1999 – James Drug closes after 111 years of business

2008 – the Abney brothers buy the building but do not run a business here

2015 – The John Ott Family buys the building and begins renovations

June 5^th, 2018 – Potluck opens to the public

The Sanborn Insurance Maps 1900-1924.

1900 AND 1907 Ely City Directories

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022.

Ely Since 1888 (The Blue Book. Ely, Mn. The Ely Echo. 1988.

The Anniversary Committee (author), Centennial Roaring Stoney Days – In Commemoration of Ely’s 70the Birthday 1888-1958; Edition Second Edition October 30, 1982, Ely Minnesota; Ely-Winton Historical Society, 1958 (publisher)

Ely Miner Newspaper (1913, 1985)

Ely Phone Directories from 1949 to 2020 (available at the Ely-Winton Historical Society)

Information from Lee Schumacher (owner of James Drug)

Information from David Wigdahl (owner Potluck)