Impressive Exhibitions: August 2019
In the small town of Pettigrew, Arkansas, nestled in the heart of the Ozarks region, the Mooney-Barker Drugstore stood as a beacon of community and commerce for over six decades. The drugstore, which opened its doors in 1917, was one of the many establishments that made Pettigrew a bustling hub during the booming timber industry in Northwest Arkansas that began in the 1880s.
The Mooney-Barker Drugstore was a joint venture between Arthur and Helen Mooney Barker, and Helen's father, Dr. W. H. Mooney. Arthur served as the store's druggist, jeweler, and pawnbroker, providing essential services to the town's residents, especially during tough times. Dr. Mooney, meanwhile, kept hours out of an office off the back of the drugstore, offering medical services to the community.
The drugstore was not just a place to buy medicines and jewellery. It was a social hub, with Helen managing the soda fountain, a popular gathering spot for locals. By 1912, Pettigrew boasted ten sawmills, general stores, hotels, restaurants, barbershops, blacksmiths, doctors, livery barns, a bank, a dentist, a millinery shop, a photo studio, and drugstores, including the Mooney-Barker Drugstore.
Over the years, the Mooney-Barker Drugstore became a time capsule of goods spanning most of the 20th Century. When it closed its doors in 1980, the store's contents were preserved, offering a unique glimpse into the past. In 1985, the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, located in Springdale, Arkansas, was given access to these contents.
While specific details about the Mooney-Barker Drugstore collection at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History are not readily available, it is likely that the collection represents a preserved or recreated historic pharmacy exhibit or collection of artifacts representing early 20th-century drugstore practices in the Ozarks. For precise information about the history of the Mooney-Barker Drugstore collection and its significance at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, it is recommended to consult the museum’s official resources or contact them directly.
The Mooney-Barker Drugstore served its customers through good times and bad until its closure in 1980. Today, its legacy lives on, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past and the rich history of the Ozarks region.
The soda fountain at the Mooney-Barker Drugstore, managed by Helen, was not only a place to purchase beverages but also functioned as a social gathering spot, thus integrating home-and-garden like atmosphere into the heart of the establishment. As the collection of artifacts from the Mooney-Barker Drugstore was preserved and later showcased at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, it helps portray a vivid picture of the lifestyle in the Ozarks region during the 20th Century.
