Historic Springville drug store offers service and memories of a different time

Springville has a historic little drug store located at 214 South Main Street that dates to 1909.

It has a history of 11 owners up to the current owner, Garrett Crane, who purchased the building and drug store in 2005.

Crane continues to operate under the pharmacy under the name S.O.S. Drug Company.

That name dates to 1951 when the new owners were Woodrow and Nila Selly and Nila’s father, Mr. Olson and they named the business S.O.S. representing the ownership of Selly, Olson, and Selly.

The store was sold to Roland and Faye Oldroyd who did not have money to change the name and thought SOS was an appropriate name for a drug store.

One of the interesting stories of the drug store is the classic soda fountain common to drug stores in the 1940s and 50s.

If you are old enough to remember soda fountains of that era you know what a “classic soda fountain” is.

It was a place where friends could meet and socialize.

The soda fountain at the drug store has been a gathering place for more than 80 years.

The soda fountain remains a popular feature of this carefully crafted “old-fashioned small-town drug store.” Crane is constantly working on refining and improving the decor of his little drug store. (Helmick is a Serve Daily contributor.)