Excerpt of the book "Writer and Engraver's Picture of Graham County's Progress Since Its Organization" (1906)

Grecian Drug Store

(pages 38-40)

Grecian Drug Store, telephone number one, Drug Store number one. The proprietor and owner of this store, Mr. Frank Grecian, was born in Iowa and moved to Osborne county, Kansas, in 1878. He attended school at Manhattan and has been in the drug business 15 years.

Four years ago Mr. Grecian moved to Hill City from Natoma, bought the drug store then being closed out by Mr. King, beside considerable new stock, and opened the Grecian Drug Store with about $1200 stock. Today it would invoice close to $7000.

One of the chief features of this drug store is the prescription department, presided over by Mr. Grecian, an expert and licensed pharmacist. Mr. Grecian, pharmacist number 2683, has been in the business since 1887.

Hill City people place great confidence in Mr. Grecian's prescription and compounding department.

In addition to drugs, the store carries all kinds of paints and oils, drug sundries, leather goods, toilet articles, delicate perfumes, soaps, stationery and patent medicines.

About two years ago Mr. Grecian put in a large stock of jewelry and engaged a competent jeweler. This department is now in charge of Mr. James T. Little. Mr. Little was for three years an apprentice to A. C. Erdice, a Swiss watch-maker. Later he worked for the H.E. Wurth Watch Manufacturing Company of Kansas City, Mo. Although Mr. Little has been in Hill City only since the first of March, he has established for himself an enviable reputation as a watch repairer.

One of the many features of this progressive, up-to- date store, is a fine $1000 soda fountain which was bought three years ago. Last year, to complete this department, Mr. Grecian added an ice-cream plant and is supplying many of the neighboring towns with ice cream. The success of this undertaking among our own people is told by the many customers which crowd the tables and counters on summer afternoons and evenings.

A fine $500 cash register, the best and most complete machine in this part of the state, speaks of the prosperity of the store.

Mr. Grecian when speaking of the future of our county says he considers it most promising.

His sales, including all departments, are at least a third heavier than they were last year and are sufficient to warrant him in contemplating several material improvements in the business in the coming year. He has added to his assistants, until now four regular clerks are employed with an additional two on the busiest days.

Mr. Grecian married Miss Nellie Joy of Emporia, and to this union was born one child, a bright and attractive boy.