Anderson Drug closing represents end of an era

By Jack Puterbaugh
Isanti County local historian

The closing of the Anderson Drug Store represents the end of an era. Don Anderson who the store is named after became part of the store, when it was owned by Guy Runyan.

I remember the fountain in the store where it was possible to buy a one dip ice cream cone for a nickel. Malted milks and sodas went for fifteen cents.

The fountain was a place that provided part-time employment for high school students. It was also a place where it was fun to hang out after school.

However, the Anderson Drug Store was known for something else that was usually whispered about. This requires a bit of background.

After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, a county was required to pass a countywide referendum to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages. Isanti County did not pass such a referendum. Since 3.2 percent beer was considered to be non-intoxicating the sale of that beverage was permitted, and there were four establishments, known as “beer parlors,” in Cambridge. To get around the prohibition on the sale of whiskey and other alcoholic beverages, the two Cambridge drug stores adopted a novel scheme to dispense alcohol. That system involved the sale of “medicinal alcohol.”

It was possible for a doctor to write a prescription for medical purposes. It appears that “some” doctor(s) would write prescription pads in blank, and then furnish the pads to the drug stores.

There were evidently a lot of patients who needed alcohol as part of their medical treatment. In the early 1950s, the State Liquor Control Commissioner revoked the medicinal liquor permits for the two drug stores in Cambridge.

At the time it was reported that the two drug stores in Cambridge dispensed more medicinal alcohol than all of the rest of the drug stores in the state.

In the meantime the Anderson Drug Store provided a valuable Home Town service, and I am sure it will be missed.

See more articles from Jack on our Featured Stories page.

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