Racey's Ice Cream, which was "brought on " from Knoxville, was the first to be sold in Harlan other than the homemade kind. Racey's delight was sold at the popular L.V. Lee Drug Store, located in the back of the First national Bank. (It is now The Bank Of Harlan.)In front of the door the word "drugs" is still imprinted in the first side walk.

The store was small but still room ehough for two or three marble top tables ans wire ice cream parlor chairs. Old-timers who visited the store often recalled the soda glasses with the flair top set in metal containers with handles. Grape juice was a very popular drink.

Lee's first drug store was built by "Aunt" louise Bailey, grandmother of Dr. Clark Bailey and Virgile Eversole. The building was of "box strip" about 20 by 40 feet and located on Central Street where Burr's is today.

Builds Steps Across Street

Doctor lee saw the necessity of customers crossing the street without getting their feet muddy. he built small piers or steps across the street leading to his store for customers to step on. the steps were arranged so thst wagon wheels could go between them.

In one small section of his store, a small space near the window was used by a Mr. Woodson of Middlesboro. He was a watch repairman, better known as a "tinker." he also did engraving.

It was very fashionable to go to Leee's and have your initials engraved on your watch by the "tinker." That was an added luxery. Lee's was not the first drug store to be built in Harlan.

Eager, First Druggist

W.W. "Pappy" Eager, was the owner of the first one, which was the built across the street from Lee's near Kay's store. It was a small frame building. In the winter "Pappy" Eager would take a wagon and a team of mules down to the mill pond when the river was frozen solid and sawed out chunks of ice for his drug store.

the children hated to see the ice cutting time because it ruined their "skating place." When "Pappy" Eager needed his ice in the summertime, he chopped out a big chunk and pulled it out of the sawdust for use.

It took several buckets of water to wash off the sawdust before it could be brought inside.

"Goodie Garden" Opened

The store was later sold to Dr. W.P. Cawood and Abner jones. the first drug store had homemade ice cream only on Friday's and Saturday's. The children crowded the store on those days. it was several years later before it was "brought on" from Knoxville.

Following the early drug store era, old-timers recall the first real "ice cream parlor" where nothing was sold except ice cream and maybe candy. It was known as the "Goodie Garden," located in the back of the Harlan national Bank facing Central Street. It was a very popular store for several years.

picture....EARLY DRUG STORE---The word "drugs" is still imprinted today in the sidewalk on First Street in front of the door where Dr. L.V. Lee owned one of the first drug stores here in harlan. (Now part of The Bank of Harlan). The awning kept the sunlight from streaming through the door in the agternoons. Dr. L.V . Lee and his only clerk, Lee Ward, are shown posing in the front of the store.

Sunday December 6, 1953

Volume 52 Number 284

Pages 1 & 8

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