Rexall Soda Fountain Opens, 1914
BELL, ROBINSON, PAINTER, STUBER, BRADLEY, DECK, HULL, LITTLE, GARDNER, BENEFIEL, FERREN
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/24/2015 at 07:30:39
REXALL SODA FOUNTAIN
Leon, Decatur County, IowaThe Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, April 09, 1914IT WAS SOME OPENING
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Bell & Robinson's Fountain Opening Attracted an Enormous Crowd.
A Credit to the City.
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The big free opening of the Red Cross soda fountain at Bell & Robinson's Rexall drug store last Saturday was the biggest thing in this line ever pulled off in Leon. This enterprising firm had recently installed the finest soda fountain in southern Iowa, and one of the finest west of Chicago and decided they would give a free opening to their customers and friends, and from the way the store was jammed all day and until almost midnight that evening it was evident that nearly everybody accepted the generous invitation. They commenced thronging into the store early in the morning and there was no let up during the entire day. An effort was made to have all the visitors register, but during the heaviest rush hours this was impossible, and several hundred people were served who did not register. However the young ladies in charge of the registration booth recorded the names of 976 persons during the day, and it is safe to say that at least 1200 persons were served during the day.
No expense was spared to make the opening of the new fountain an event long to be remembered. Each lady was presented with a fresh carnation, a cake of soap and a recipe book, while the men were given a Rexall pennant, and the children were presented with toys, buttons and miniature rubber water bottles, and everybody was served with their choice of anything on the elaborate menu card free of charge. Over fifty gallons of ice cream were served. Everything was free and the proprietors and their assistants were on the jump all day.
Mr. Charles Stuber, the special dispenser in charge of the fountain, was the busiest man in Iowa that day. He was ably assisted by a large corps of assistants, young ladies being employed to serve the drinks at the tables. A special souvenir menu was used on which were forty different kinds of drinks, and every one listed was served during the day. During the evening the Leon orchestra furnished music and in the afternoon Miss Mabel Bradley played on the piano. So great was the crowd that many persons were unable to gain admission to the store, and this is the only regret of the proprietors, for they wanted everybody to partake of their hospitality.
We are presenting two views of the store, one showing the beautiful new fountain and the other a scene taken during the afternoon, which while it only shows part of the store will give our readers some idea of what the attendance was.
Bell & Robinson spent a large sum of money on this occasion and their liberality was certainly appreciated by everybody. The boys have the finest drug store in southern Iowa, and we doubt if there is a finer one in the state of Iowa. It is an establishment of which everybody in Leon and Decatur county is justly proud. And it will be found just as nice all the year round as on opening day. Everything connected with it is absolutely sanitary and cleanliness is one of the rules at this drug store.
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The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, May 06, 1915THE REXALL FOUNTAIN'S BIG OPENING DAY.
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The second annual opening of the fountain at the Rexall Store last Saturday was a decided success. The store, which has the reputation of being the finest drug store in southern Iowa, was decorated with the flags of all the foreign nations. Old Glory, of course, outshining them all. Bell & Painter had issued an invitation through the newspapers, inviting everybody to call at the opening and be their guests and very early in the morning the crowds commenced to arrive, and long before noon it was hard to gain entrance to the store.
At the door Misses Helen Deck and Dorothy Hull greeted the visitors, and after registering the ladies were presented with carnations, the gentlemen with cigars, and the children with colored whirlers and whistles. Of course, the big Rexall fountain was the attraction for the visitors. A special menu card with all the latest drinks, plain and fancy, and everything in the way of ice cream and fancy dishes, adorned each of the long row of serving tables which extended the entire length of the store.
Irving Little was in charge of the fountain as chief dispenser, and with his assistants, Misses Ruby Gardner, Amy Benefiel and Freda Ferren, everyone who cared to eat or drink was served in just as careful a manner as on any other day of the year. The K. of P. orchestra furnished splendid music during the afternoon and evening.
The only regret of the proprietors is that at times during the day and evening the crowd was so great that many could not get inside the doors.
Some idea of the vast number of people who attended this fountain opening can be gained from the following figures: On the register at the door 1610 persons signed their names, 735 more than registered at the opening a year ago, and many visited the store during the day and evening who did not register on account of the big crowd. 1,000 carnations, 400 cigars, 720 whistles and 300 colored whirlers were given away. 50 gallons of ice cream and 557 ice cream cones were used, and hundreds of gallows of soft drinks, it being impossible to obtain figures.
The Rexall Fountain is well known for the sanitary and cleanly manner in which it is operated, and the enterprising proprietors, Bell & Painter, are to be congratulated upon the success of their second annual opening. The fountain is one of the most expensive in the state, and everything is served at any fountain in the largest cities can be secured at this fountain. The expense of the opening like this one is something enormous, but Bell & Painter are mighty good fellows and want to treat the public once a year. Everybody who ever visited the Rexall Store, either at their openings or at any other time, is always treated right, for that is the motto of the firm, and is responsible for the big business which they have built up and which is increasing each year.
NOTE: In the early 1960's I recall having a cherry coke at this fountain, which was located along the south wall of the store, near the pharmacy in the rear of the store. I don't recall when the fountain was removed, however.
Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015
Decatur Documents maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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