Wedge-Spicer Drug Store

Wedge-Spicer Drug Store, 104 South Broadway

One of the oldest masonry structures in Albert Lea, built 1874, the building has housed several drug and variety stores. There was once a barber shop in the basement, customers entered by an outside stairway on the north side of the building. The round arched second-story windows have brick Italianate hood molds.

Lester Wedge Spicer, of the firm of Barlow & Spicer, druggists and stationers, was born in Albert Lea, October 20, 1876. Spicer graduated from the College of Pharamacy, University of Minnesota in 1897.

As a member of the City Council he was cited as being among the civic leaders who were responsible for the paving of rutted streets, replacing boardwalks with concrete sidewalks, and for helping to create the meatpacking firm that evolved into the Albert Lea plant of Wilson & Co. And as an enthusiastic historian, he was one of the founders of the Freeborn County Historical Society 60 years ago. Spicer also wrote a series of historical articles for the Tribune. He also served as county coroner.