Mortar & Pestle at Fordham Drug Store

Next time you are at 514 South Elm Street, at the building that housed Fordham's Drug Store from 1898-2002, look up to the sky and see this apothecary mortar and pestle. Pharmacists used them to prepare prescriptions or for grinding pills. Trituration is the process of crushing, grinding, and mixing solid substances-- the task of the above bowl-like mortar and heavy pestle. When we started investigating the origin and meaning of the Rx symbol, we found many answers (read here). One thought is that it comes from the latin word "recipere" meaning "Take, thou."

In the early years of Fordham's, the Drug Store was on the street level and the doctors were upstairs, just below this decorative feature on the roof. Fordham's was a dynamic place with a soda fountain that catered to children. They also had liquor for sale, as long as the ABC man wasn't around (reference). For a while, the short story writer O. Henry worked at Fordham's. We're sharing this bright blue sky with Skywatch Friday.

Comments

[Dina]

That is really a unique picture for SkyWatch--a mortar and pestle in the sky!

I remember drug stores with soda fountains. My favorite drink was a chocolate phosphate.

[Katja Brown]

I think it is neat to hear that O. Henry has worked at Fordham's!

[Lesley]

that is a neat addition to the roof. a sign would have been too common.

[Magical Mystical Teacher]

You always find such interesting and/or quirky things to photograph in your fair city!

A MAN WHO LOOKED UP AT THE SKY

A man who looked up at the sky
Saw ravens and clouds flying by.
He had to look up,
The sky filled his cup—
He’s my kind of sky-watching guy!

© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

http://magicalmysticalteacher.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/breathing/

[Laloofah]

What a pretty, unique, fun and informative post! That mortar and pestle is great (and so handsome against that blue sky), much better than a boring sign. I'm glad this Greensboro landmark appears far enough inland to escape damage from Irene!

[Jane Mitchell]

When I was little, I used to think Rx stood for Rexall--probably the only drugstore in the small W. Va. town where I grew up.

[barb farr]

Great bit of information.

[Oakland Daily Photo]

Very cool post. It could be considered folk art, don't you think? It would be so easy to miss if you didn't look up. Thanks for looking up.

[Tatjana Parkacheva]

Very good photo.

Regards!