Oldest Established Business in Belleville cont'd. % m l ' · · · · · · · · M* X Letterhead from first stationery printed for Albert Geen. BBflB Rev. A. L. Geen (1849-1941) as hononary chieftain Sho-jeneh in Mohawk tribal costume. Photo of Front Street about 1865 shows part of old Holden name on building, corner Front and Victoria. part of the business over the years that many customers have assumed that he was a Mr. Geen. When the Ontario College of Pharmacy held their Centennial year convention, Geen's were presented with two plaques which now adorn the wall near the pharmacy. One is in recognition of the store being open since 1835; the other honoured the Geen family for 100 years of ownership. Like his father, Percival Geen was an active churchman, a member of fraternal organizations, and is well remembered in the business world, St. Thomas parish, and by the general public for his kind, friendly manner and honesty. He passed away at Belleville Hospital in April 1972. Geen's have always maintained a modem look, keeping up with the times has required renovations from time to time, and a new store front about every 20 years. With the volume of business and staff crowding the pharmacy, the present renovation work is at the rear of the store where the dispensing area will be doubled. The office, formerly behind the pharma- and Williams Pink Pills had hit the market - but were not displayed in the front shop. The 'backshop' of the store had 333 drawers filled with drugs, all labelled in Latin. Selling narcotics without a prescription was permissible, and Swansdown Flour was the main cosmetic of the day. Percival Wiles Geen at age ten started helping in the family business by packaging, making up quinine capsules, and grinding ingredients for livestock conditioning powders. At 16, he was officially apprenticed to his father, and graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1907. When he married Jessie McGee in 1914, he was making $15 a week. That same year saw the outbreak of World War I and Percival Geen served overseas with the 155th Battalion. His older brother had died from wounds suffered in the Boer War. A news clipping from The Gazette, July 23, 1929 stated: "Rev. A.L. Geen, the oldest Anglican clergyman in this district, celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday by rising an hour earlier than usual and attending two funerals, at one of which he officiated." A clipping from the Intelligencer in 1933 noted that Rev. A. L. Geen had just completed 62 years as proprietor of Geen's Drug Store, and went on: "Not only is he the oldest merchant in the city, but the oldest active druggist in Ontario, and probably in Canada." The last paragraph stated that he was still at his desk or behind the counters of his mercantile establishment. Percival Geen became a shareholder in the Drug Trading Company soon after it was formed about 62 years ago, and through his efforts the I.D.A. group was started in Belleville in 1934 with local stores becoming members of this buying and advertising group. He purchased the business from his father in 1936. The Rev. A. L.* Geen passed away at Moodie cottage in April, 1941, and newspapers eulogized the "grand old man" of Belleville. In the same year, Alwyn, the only son of Percival Geen, received his Pharmaceutical Diploma. World War II was on, Alwyn served overseas with the Air Force, and returned to work with his father. Greenwood EASTERN RENTALS LIMITED 130 ADAM STREET BELLEVILLE, ONTARIO 962-9266 MANPOWER TEMPORARY SERVICES 266 Adam Street, Belleville, Ontario ! Geen Drugs Limited came into being when father and son incorporated the business into a private company which included Lyle A. Twiddy, a registered pharmacist who now has 34 years of service at Geen's. In fact, Lyle has been so much a 32 968-5221 Office Services - Sick and Vacation Replacements Peak Load Help \\fell give you all the help you need.