835 W Main - Old Madison Apothecary

It is believed that M. J. Child operated the West End Drug Store at this location as early as 1850. Later, the building housed the drug store of C.R. McLeland.

The building is described as “a brick structure neatly finished.” It is located in a convenient place on the west end (of Madison). Inventory included a “good assortment of drugs, medicines, fancy articles, stationery, paints, oils, varnish, painters’ supplies, cigars, tobacco, etc, etc.,” according to the Weekly Courier, Oct. 31, 1884.

Members of the Heberhart family operated the drug store for some time. The 1897 Sanford map continues to show the building at 835 W Main Street as a drug store. The 1909 Hoffman City Directory of Madison lists W. G. Heberhart as the owner of The West End Drug Store. The sign in front of the store advertises: Drugs, Paints, Glass, Oils. This photo of the store also shows a unicycle. Heberhart was reported to be an avid cyclist.

The new owner in 1914 was William G. Rogers, who also owned Rogers Drug Store at 101 E Main Street, according to the Hoffman City Directory. While many proprietors lived above their shops, Rogers is listed as living in a residence at 423 Poplar St, with his wife Sarah.

By 1923, the drugstore at 835 W. Main St was now operated by William H. Wetzel, who resided at 823 Walnut St. A photo of Wetzel’s store shows a modernized façade, featuring black and white Carrara glass bulkheads, with the name “WETZEL’S,” advertising “Drugs” and “Paints” in large letters across the front of the building. First floor windows were full-size glass panels with an inset doorway including a transom and glass side panels.

In 1956, Wetzel sold the business to two employees, Robert L. Perry and Brooks E. Davis. Wetzel subsequently ran for office and was elected Mayor of Madison. He served from 1958 – 1960. The new owners changed the name from Wetzel’s to Perry & Davis, with the slogan,

“The Friendliest Drug Store,” according to the 1957 city directory. Davis lived above the store at 835-1/2 W. Main St. Perry and Davis continued their partnership through 1971. At that time, Davis sold his half of the business to Kenneth E. Dunbar. Davis then ran for Mayor of Madison, was elected, and served from 1972 – 1975.

The Perry and Dunbar Drug Store continued until Dunbar retired at the end of 2006. The drugstore was then sold to Erik and Jennifer Grove, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

The Groves opened and operated the store as Madison Apothecary from 2007 until 2022. They had renovated the store as well as the apartment above, where they lived. Prior to its closing, this drug store was one of the longest-running drug stores in Indiana. In 2005, the Perry and Dunbar Drug Store received Indiana’s Century Award after 153 years of operations as a drug store. At the time the Madison Apothecary closed, the drug store had been in continuous operation for 172 years.