Taylor's Pharmacy was founded by William J. Taylor and, according to an article in the Winter Park Herald , was opened in October of 1948 in the Ramsey Building. The Ramsey Building was located on the corner of Park Avenue and the Boulevard, now Morse Blvd., and dates back to 1882. Oliver Chapman and Loring Chase, founders of Winter Park, built a two-story wooden building, 30 X 65 feet, and leased it to John Ergood and Robert White, Jr. The two men opened a general merchandise store called "The Pioneer Store," also known as "Ergood's Store". The second floor served as the post office, town hall, school and church.
In 1900 William Schultz, Jr., who had purchased the "Pioneer Store" in 1897, moved the "Pioneer Store" to the White Building at the corner of Park and Welbourne Avenues.
At this time, 1900, Emmet L. Maxson established "Maxson's Drug Store" in the building formerly occupied by the "Pioneer Store" located at Park and the Boulevard, now Morse Blvd. This was the building Chapman and Chase had built in 1882.
In 1908 Dr. J.A. Trovillion purchased the building from the Maxson Estate. Dr. Trovillion installed a modern soda fountain, rewired the building hiding the wiring under a decorative metal ceiling. He continued the business as "Trovillion Drug Store" until 1914 when he sold his interests to Vernon Estes of Orlando.
Estes soon sold to Ben Freer who operated the business as "Freer's Drug Store" until 1919 when he incorporated under the name of the "Winter Park Pharmacy." In 1920 Dr. Roland F. Hotard bought the "Winter Park Pharmacy" and sold it in 1925.
From 1925 to 1948 the building was occupied by various businesses including a shoe store, a jewelry store, a law office, and doctor's office.
In 1948 William J. Taylor opened "Taylor's Pharmacy" and operated "Taylor's Pharmacy" at this location until 1987 when it moved to 230 N. Park Avenue.
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| Mr. and Mrs. Taylor on the opening day of Taylor's Pharmacy in 1948. This photograph was loaned to the Winter Park Public Library History and Archives Department by the Taylor family. | The interior of Taylor's Pharmacy on it's opening day in 1948. This photograph was loaned to the Winter Park Public Library History and Archives Department by the Taylor family. |
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| An early photo of the front of Taylor's Pharmacy. This photograph was loaned to the Winter Park Public Library History and Archives Department by the Taylor family. | An early photo of the interior of Taylor's Pharmacy. This photograph was loaned to the Winter Park Public Library History and Archives Department by the Taylor family. |
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| An advertisement for Taylor's Pharmacy that appeared in Winter Park Topics , March 11, 1949. | An undated postcard of Park Avenue showing Taylor's Pharmacy. |
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