Downtown Kent signs, old and new

Fine New Store Opens To-morrow.

Thompson Drug House in a Pretty New Home.

After several weeks of repairing and changing, the former Cone room at the corner of Main and Water streets, in the Rockwell Block, will be thrown open to-morrow morning by Hale B. Thompson, druggist, who is moving from his old stand on South Water street.

Mr. Thompson will have a model store, with many enlarged departments and several new lines of goods. A fine new candy department has been added. The cigar stock, and in fact, every other department, has been enlarged. The drug line will be complete.

Mr. Thompson will have souvenirs for his guests who call during the day or evening and invites all to pay the new store a visit.

There will be music during the afternoon and evening.

Source: Lois Ragan, Obituaries and Miscellanea, Kent Courier, 1892-1928, p. 48. Article dated by hand, Oct. 1911. Collection of the Kent Free Library.

Thompson's Drugs

Thompson's Drugs closed this year after 128 years in downtown Kent. I've alway liked this sign. I'd guess that it dates from the late forties. This photo was taken on Saturday, 24 April 2004, the day of a big auction at the store.

I began to look for other interesting signs, old or new, in downtown Kent.

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