Oswald’s Pharmacy will mark its landmark 150th anniversary in Naperville this year with special products, a time capsule and partnerships to preserve the business’ legacy in the community.
The pharmacy is the second oldest business in Naperville and the oldest continually owned family pharmacy in the Midwest. Current owner Alex Anderson is the sixth generation to operate the store, which was founded in 1875. The business was originally located in downtown Naperville, but in 2004 moved to the Naperville Plaza shopping center at 88 Gartner Road.
“One hundred and fifty years is a huge milestone for any small business, and it’s all thanks to customers that have been supporting Oswald’s for five decades or more,” Anderson said in a press release.
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“We wouldn’t be here without the generations of families who’ve supported us — some for 50 years or more. This summer’s all about celebrating where we’ve been, the community that’s carried us and what’s still to come.”
As part of its celebration, Oswald’s has launched a new line of apothecary and soda products to pay homage to its roots in the pharmacy business and to the soda fountain the pharmacy opened in 1917 (and closed in 1960). According to an article on the company’s website, the pharmacy acted as a hybrid business “combining the science of medicine with a general store” in the years following the Civil War.
Oswald’s is also working with Naper Settlement to curate artifacts from the family’s personal 20th century collection. These items will become part of the museum’s archive.
Additionally, Oswald’s is partnering with the Naperville Heritage Society to raise money for the Settlement, Naperville’s nonprofit history museum. The pharmacy, which partners with a different nonprofit every year, is donating a portion of its proceeds from its special 150th anniversary product line and a custom puzzle featuring vintage Naperville postcards from the museum’s collection to the nonprofit.
“From longtime Napervillians to newcomers to the community, Oswald’s has impacted the lives of everyday people for 150 years,” said Jeanne Schultz Angel, Naper Settlement’s associate vice president of humanities. “This legacy in Naperville’s history is an amazing reflection of the growth and change in our community and we are honored to take part in this rare and impressive anniversary.”
Oswald’s also is inviting community members to submit items for a 150th anniversary time capsule. It will be sealed in the fall inside the original Oswald’s building on Jefferson Avenue, where the current Ramsay’s Kitchen restaurant is located.
Items should submitted by Aug. 31 and reflect the spirit of present-day Naperville. A panel made up of representatives from Oswald’s and the heritage society will choose what is included. More guidelines on time capsule submissions can be found on Oswald’s website, oswaldspharmacy.com.
“We’ve always matched our community’s needs as both Naperville and greater America changed with the times. From a soda fountain during Prohibition to the go-to spot for the Beanie Baby craze of the ’90s, serving as a community hub is what’s kept us going,” Anderson said. “We welcome the community to be a part of preserving Naperville’s present-day history through this time capsule initiative and are eager to see what people send in.”
The 150th anniversary celebrations will continue in late September to “showcase the artifacts joining the museum, highlight the milestone and thank customers for their longstanding support with a specialty sale,” according to the release.