The Crazy Drug Company

These two photographs were found in a huge, unsorted pile in an “antique” mall in Wichita Falls, Texas. There was some question at first, as to whether they were even related.

The prints are the same size and seem same age. There is also a photo-lab number on the reverse of each that although obscured a bit, seem the same. Let's assume that they are probably related.

Starting with this detail of the print just above, I found a PDF of the 1915 journal of the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD).

A paragraph on page 26 of volume 19 lists the incorporation of several, apparently new drug companies, including the Crazy Drug Company of Mineral Wells, Texas. ($10,000).

Assuming there is not likely to have been TWO "Crazy" drug companies I now had possible date and location details to narrow the search a bit.

The fact that the photographs were found in Texas added strength to the clue.

I’d like to say that it was a long hard struggle but it wasn’t. After a few minutes of searching I found the “Portal to Texas History.” It’s an excellent research site examining the history of Texas, town by city. The site has a very fine search system and “Crazy Drug Co.” turned up a city directory of Mineral Wells from 1920. This page explains a lot.

It lists the businesses in the Crazy Water Pavilion that occupied the four hundred block on north Oak in Mineral Wells, Texas. All the odd numbers would be shops and businesses in the pavilion. The even numbers would be across the street.

The block begins with the Crazy Drug company at 401 North Oak and ends with, sure enough, The Western Union Telephone company.
Many of the firms include the word "Crazy" in the business name but a few do not.

While researching the "Crazy" Hotel and surroundings one of the first things I noticed in the “Portal to Texas History” site was a duplicate of the photograph that I found (repeated at the right) in the junk shop, although their copy was not as clear. (See below)

The one at the right was apparently shot at nearly the same time and from about the same point as the found photograph at the top right of this page and just above.

It appears to be from a few steps back and to the left and probably a bit earlier.

Another detail from the lower right corner of the original photograph, showing a penny scale in front of a "BATHS" sign.

From “Portal to Texas History”: The "Crazy Flats" drinking pavilion, with rooms for rent, replaced a two-story Crazy Water drinking pavilion in 1909. The first Crazy Hotel was built in 1912, and an annex was added to it in 1914. A fire in the Drug Store of the "Crazy Flats" (SE corner of the Crazy Flats building) on March 15, 1925, destroyed the entire Crazy block.

Here are two photograph taken apparently just outside the entrance to the Crazy Well Flats. Note the signs for Crazy Cigar store and the Western Union Telegraph office which are in the same building.

And last, here is a look at the burned out building from an entirely different angle.

Then on the right, a postcard shot of the Crazy Hotel before the fire about 1913. The Crazy Drug Co. Appears on the left and the pavilion with the shops is on the right. At least that's how it looks to me.

From “Portal to Texas History” :
This picture shows the front of the first Crazy Hotel, which was destroyed by fire March 15, 1925. Built in two stages and joined together, the first (back) section was built in 1912, and the second (front) section was completed in 1914. A handwritten note on back of photograph states, "Crazy Hotel 1913. Front of Hotel Facing South Mineral Wells, Tx." This picture is included on page 15 of A.F. Weaver's book "TIME WAS...", and was probably taken before the second section of the hotel opened for business. The back of Crazy Flats (the second Crazy Water Drinking Pavilion) can be seen to the right, north of and behind the hotel in this picture.

This photograph belongs to the “Portal to Texas History” site.

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Area 51 and a Half You are probably not authorized to see these.

Don't take my picture! Oh! You DID didn't you! This is a collection of photographs that disappear on the way home from the photo processing shop.

And don't miss
Cabinet Card Gallery
One Man's Treasure
Penny Tales
Square America
Tattered and Lost
Vernacular Photography
The best
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sites on the web.

And for postcards try
THE DAILY POSTCARD.
POSTCARDY

All images are the property of Lost Gallery and the author. Permission must be granted for their use. All rights reserved.

THE KIDS It is always a mystery how a photograph of any of these precious children could end up lost or abandoned. Here are a few. You will probably say "Ooh..." at least once.

Dee and the Business School
The beautiful Dee. A curious story; What do you see?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

"What are they doing?"

Album - The Poole Twins - Page Three

This is one of only two snapshots in the lot that shows the twins together but not dressed alike.

This page includes some class pictures with lots of names of the children. Scroll down.

From two separate "antique" malls in Amarillo come this set of photographs.

The photographs are of two women who were twins. Their photographs were in a jumble with several others but the connections were obvious. From the subjects and the sparse notations on the reverse of a few, this album of the Poole Twins was assembled.

A few of them are identified on the reverse but most are not. It is difficult to tell them apart.

It appears the two were both teachers. They must have touched many lives.

They are pictured individually, occasionally with a friend or a group but mostly just the two of them. Most importantly, they are pictured with some of their school classes.

According to City Directories of the time, they apparently lived together all their lives. They lived at 503 S Gillespie, Pampa, TX and then they moved to a home at 321 Tuke, in Pampa, across the street from the school where they taught. Both buildings are gone now.

How did these family photographs become abandoned photographs? We will probably never know. But here we pay tribute to two women who apparently dedicated their lives to teaching children.

I wish I had known them.

The Poole Twins.

Oops.

Nothing on reverse.
That may be the teacher on the lower right.

This one was in the set but I'm not sure if it includes the twins or not.

Retake. No, it's not one of the children. The teacher is one of the twins!

On Reverse:
September 1945-46
left
1. Guynell Turner
2. Mary Lynn Gill
3. Patsy Ann Lawson
4. June Trayler
5. Jerry Stanley
6. Elinor Ann Ely
7. Myrna Montdomery
8. Helen Lacke
9. Betty Stanley
10 Tommie Glynn Wells
11. Inez Bryant
12. Noretta Terry
13. Mary Myles Mathers
14. Jimmy Talbert
15. Shirley Oliver

On Reverse:
September 1945-46
left
1. Bob Holcomb
2. Ernest Wilkerson
3. Jimmie Bean
4. Robert Clark
5. Billy Hines
6. Albert Stribling
7. Gayle Russell
8. Ann O'Laughlin
9. Sarah O'Laughlin
10. Gaynell Sulivan
11. Mary Ellen Huff
12. Charlie Stamford
13. Lois Jean Hudhins
14. John Smith
15. Kay Janelle Russell
16. Glenda Hill
17. Bill Watson
18. Alvin Tracy
19. Don Kintchen

On reverse:
1. Lynn Gracey
2. Don McLaughlin
3. Jacquelyn Gill
4. Karen Lyons
5. Jimmie South
6. Mickey Gill
7. Tim Flowers
8. Roy Bright
9. Donna Bynum
10, Michael McCormick
(There is some writing trimmed from top and bottom.

This doesn't look like either of the twins. May have been a friend.

On reverse:
Hazel Lewis
Elbert Muncy
Marion Patterson
Jimmie Adcock
Gilbert Forrest
Norma Jo Terry
Anna Marie Crosier
Marie Lea Crosier

On Reverse:
Miss Poole (clipped)
Elbert Muncy
Marion Patterson
Jimmie Adcock
Gilbert Forrest
Norma Parks
Anna Marie Crosier
(another name has been trimmed off)

On reverse:
left
1. Gayle Russell
2. Sarah O'Laughlin
3. Akbert Stribling
4. Robert Clark
5. Billy Hines
6. Lois Jean Hudgins
7. Ann O'Laughlin
8. Gaynell Sullivan
9. Mary Ellen Huff
10. Kay Janelle Russell
11. Bob Holcomb
12. Jimmie Bean
13. Ernest Wilkinson
14. John Smith
15. Charlie Stamford

On reverse:
1. Carrol Smith
2. Bobby Hendrix
3. Dale Greenhouse
4. Aither Turner ?
5. Duane Gill
6. Marvin Philpott
7. Jennie Hosier
8. Sammi Jo Bowers
9. Patricia Jobs?
10. Charlotte Christpoher
11. Maudine Davis
12. Sarah Lou Harnly
13. Richard Morris
14. Archie Lard
Sept 1946-47

On reverse:
(A few autographs on the left side.)
Miami School
1. Carral Smith
2. Dale Greenhouse
3. Bobby Hendrix
4. Richard Morris
5. Marvin Phillips
6. Charlotte Christopher
7. Maudine Davis
8. Sarah Lou Har--
9. Jennie Hosier
10. Sammie Jo Bowen
11. Sam Holt Barber
12. Earl Craft
13. Calvin Irvien
14. Joe Richard I--
15. Archie Lard
16. Doyle Smith
17. Auther Turner
18. Duane Gill
19. Dub Schackford?
20. Otis Frost
21. Dorothy Brown
22. Belva Lou Lawson

This seems to be the same list of names that appears on the next photograph.

On reverse:
Nov. 42 1st to 7 ch
M. K. School
1. Mary Lea Crosier 1st
2. Anna Marie Crosier 2nd
3. Gilbert Forrest 2nd
4. Jimmie Adcock 3rd
5. Howard Parks 3rd
6. Marian Patterson 5th
7. Vollimae Parks 6th
8. Elbert Muney 6th
9. Raymond Crosier 6th
19. Hazel Lewis 7th
11. Norma Jo Terry 3rd
12. Naomi Crosier 7th
13. Charles Vinsin 5th
14. George Vinson 3rd
15. Dane Vinson 1st

(note: although this is on the reverse of the photograph on the left, it appears to be description of one of the class photographs, or perhaps it was just her record of who was in her class that year.)
On reverse:
Miss Poole Sept 41-42
Canadian Tex. 1st to 7th
1. Mary Lea Crosier 1st
2. Anna Marie Crosier 2nd
3. Gilbert Monrow Forrest 2nd
4. Jimmie Adcock 3rd
5. Norman Howard Parks 3rd
6. Marion Patterson 5th
7. Vollimae Parks 6th
8. Wesley Elbert Muncy 6th
9. Ramond Crosier 6th
10. Hazel Lewis 7th
11. Norma Jo Terry 3rd
12. Naomi Crosier 7th
13. Charles Vinson 5th
14. George Vinson 3rd
15. Dane Vinson 1st

Miss Joe Poole
Pampa, Texas
Snapped: Monday,
October 21, 1940

On Reverse:
January 1, 1955-6
New Year's Dance
Avalon
Charlie Mills
Jackie Jodie
Buck
Souvenir Studio
113 East ???
Amarillo Texas ph. 2-8124

Good to know the girls got out and had some fun now and then.

I don't know. They just look uncomfortable to me.

This is the last photograph from the Poole Twins Album. On the reverse it is identified as "Miss Opal Poole". This could possibly be an aunt or a grandmother on the paternal side of the family. Or perhaps an older sister. We don't know at this point.

The photograph below appears also on page two about half way down. The notations on the reverse tell us that Opal is in the photograph but it does not tell us for sure which one she is.

Can't get enough?
Go to
Album - The Poole Twins - Page One
Album - The Poole Twins - Page Two
Album - The Poole Twins - Page Three (This one)

Go back to THE MAIN INDEX PAGE

There are now more than 4,000 photographs in the Lost Gallery.
Or try out the NEW BACK PAGE INDEX

The most popular photographs An album of the most requested photographs in the Lost Gallery.

Area 51 and a Half You are probably not authorized to see these.

Don't take my picture! Oh! You DID didn't you! This is a collection of photographs that disappear on the way home from the photo processing shop.

And don't miss
Cabinet Card Gallery
One Man's Treasure
Penny Tales
Square America
Tattered and Lost
Vernacular Photography
The best
FOUND PHOTOGRAPH
sites on the web.

And for postcards try
THE DAILY POSTCARD.
POSTCARDY

All images are the property of Lost Gallery and the author. Permission must be granted for their use. All rights reserved.

THE KIDS It is always a mystery how a photograph of any of these precious children could end up lost or abandoned. Here are a few. You will probably say "Ooh..." at least once.

Dee and the Business School
The beautiful Dee. A curious story; What do you see?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

"What are they doing?"