Mill Town Messenger | Jan 2016

Overview

The newsletter from the Newport Historical Society reports local museum activities, preservation projects, and community history, with a focus on pharmacies, ephemera donations, and Winter Carnival heritage. It highlights completed building improvements, membership support, and new museum merchandise for 2016.

Feature articles recount pharmacy origins and evolution in Newport, a docent’s discovery of personal ledgers and scrapbooks that enrich collections, and practical museum needs and volunteer opportunities. Contact, membership, and donation details conclude the issue, encouraging community engagement.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.

Main Points

• Evolution of Pharmacies: Newport’s pharmacies have transitioned from small, personalized apothecaries and local drug stores to modern pharmacies that are part of larger chains and businesses, reflecting broader trends in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Historical Drug Stores: Key historical pharmacies in Newport included Sugar River Pharmacy, Corner Pharmacy, and John R. Kelly Drug Store, each with a lineage of local pharmacists and community service dating back to the mid-1800s.
• Pharmacy Locations and Changes: These original drug stores have closed, with their locations repurposed, and newer pharmacies like Rite-Aid, Sugar River Pharmacy, and Z Pharmacy now serve the community.
• Role of Pharmacists: Newport pharmacists have historically provided personalized, compassionate service, and the town continues to value the presence of multiple locally accessible pharmacies.
• Home Remedies to Modern Medicine: Early Newport residents relied on home remedies and medicines prepared by merchants or doctors, with handwritten medical recipe books from the 1790s still preserved in the local museum.
• Community Contributions: Donations of ephemera, such as ledgers and scrapbooks, help preserve Newport’s local history and provide insights into daily life, economic activity, and notable residents.
• Museum and Historical Society: The Newport Historical Society Museum actively collects, preserves, and displays local artifacts, with ongoing improvements and community engagement through sales, donations, and special exhibits.
• Emphasis on Health and Laughter: The community values both medical care and holistic well-being, promoting laughter as beneficial for health alongside traditional medicine.

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