Oakland’s Corner Drug Store By Mike Robinson

Certainly, one of the most famous stores in Oakland was the Corner Drug Store which was owned by Mr. T. G. Wells and operated by the entire Wells Family. Mr. Wells was often referred to as Pop Wells, Doc Wells, and probably other names. It was said that Doc Wells could fill your prescription or if you didn’t have one, he could give you one; hence this is where the name Doc Wells came from. His son, Robert Lee worked the counter and soda fountain and was truly a gentleman to put up with the behavior of his dad. This store had a bell on the door that alerted the store clerks when someone entered. Often Doc Wells would be in the far back corner where he worked on his potions and prescriptions. The Corner Drug Store was quite unique and truly had a variety of items of interest to youngsters of the 50’s and 60’s. There was a magazine rack that had the popular comic books of the day which was always under the watchful eye of Doc Wells. If a kid opened one of the comic books Doc Wells would immediately scold them and remind them, they had to buy the comic book to read it. The store also had baseballs, bats, and gloves. The baseballs cost a quarter and were not the best of quality. After the baseballs were hit, they would be what we called “whap-sided” or no longer round and after a little more use the balls would expose their insides which was sawdust. One of my favorite items sold in the store were kites and kite string. The kites cost 15 cents and a ball of string cost 5 cents. For a quarter I could get a kite and two balls of string that would have 500 feet of string each. My mother said I kept Doc Wells in business just by purchasing kites and string. My brother Clyde financed many of my kite flying ventures when he was home on leave from the Marines. I thought he was rich because he always had a quarter to give me and then tell me “Go fly a kite.” As I got older the soda fountain became of more interest. At this time, I was mowing yards and had my own money which I could spend on my favorite selection which was a chocolate milk shake. I was reminded a couple of years ago by Mike Ramage that I once treated him and Paul Ross to a milk shake at the Corner Drug Store. One of my favorite pictures from my high school days was of Linda Smith and me enjoying a coke float at one of the little tables at the back of the store. My Dad’s favorite item from the drug store was the King Leo Soft Peppermint Sticks which he got in a tin can. Great business, great Oakland family and great memories. What did you buy at the Corner Drug Store?