Robert W. Pope Drug Store

Date of photo is about 1883 - 1885

The Robert W. Pope Drug Store on East Court Street was located on the lot across the street from the current Beacon Newspaper office in Woodsfield, Ohio.  Robert W. Pope built the house next door for his family. In the late 1940's the building was the Secrest Auto Parts store.  John Ogden, the owner of this photo lived in an apartment above the Secrest Auto Parts Store.

At the time this photo was taken the building was the Pope Drug Store.  One of the men in the front of the store was likely Robert W. Pope. His children: Bessie in front of store - on steps of house with mother Sarah Pope are Annie Pope (Diehl), Johnny Pope, Mattie Pope (died as young child), Grace Pope (Parker) and one other.

John Ogden speculates regarding the people in the photo: I would guess the tall person standing in the back is a servant and the smaller ones around the seated mother are the children. She (tall woman standing back to left on steps) was not identified. I would guess Robert Pope is standing on the street, and possibly the fellow seated is Edgar Armstrong, who worked as a clerk in the store when he was in college studying to be a dentist. In the 1880 census Annie age 10, Bessie age 7, Mattie age 4, Grace age 1. Looking at the age of Bessie who was identified as standing in front of store and the census info, I would date the picture circa 1883-5.

John Ogden provided the following items from the newspaper, the Spirit of Democracy (SoD), as further evidence of the date of the photo:

SoD, Tuesday, August 8, 1876 - Mr. Robert Pope will erect a business house on Main cross street East, within the coming year.

SoD, Tuesday, September 26, 1876 - Mr. Robert Pope is having a frame building erected, which he intends for a Drug Store and grocery. Helbling & Stoehr are doing the work.

Provided by John Ogden

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